(Former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk of Ukraine has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 33. His manager, Egis Klimas, told ESPN that Gvozdyk (17-1, 14 KOs) was stepping away from the ring to pursue business opportunities. "He's a very smart guy, so he thinks it's going to be inconvenient for him to do that kind of business and box at the same time," Klimas said on Tuesday afternoon. "So he needs to give himself 100% to boxing or business. So he decided to do that." Klimas insists that Gvozdyk's decision had nothing to do with his 10th-round stoppage loss to Artur Beterbiev last October in what was a unification clash. "Actually, what kept him from moving away from boxing, that motivation to go back into the ring, was Beterbiev," Klimas explained. "That was the only one holding him because he wanted to get that rematch. There might be a possibility that someone will get him a rematch, he might change his mind." Prior to that, the former 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, had reached the pinnacle of his career by dethroning longtime belt holder Adonis Stevenson in 11 rounds in December 2018, under the guidance of hard-nosed trainer Teddy Atlas, who spoke highly of his former pupil. "All you need to know is that I wasn't planning on coming back [to train], just like I wasn't with Timmy Bradley at the time. I only did it because of the kind of human being that he was -- same as Timmy," said Atlas, who spoke with Gvozdyk about his decision on Monday. "Obviously he was a tremendous fighter, a bronze medalist, won a world title. But again, it starts with me, my decision to train him, it was all based on visiting him for a few days and seeing the kind of person, the father, husband and man that he was." Atlas says of Gvozdyk's effort versus Stevenson, "He fought just about as perfect a strategic fight as one could." Adding, "He showed everything you need to have to become a world champion in that one fight." Gvozdyk was promoted by Top Rank throughout his professional career. "It's been a pleasure for us to have promoted Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who not only proved himself to be a great fighter, but is also one of the most highly intelligent boxers that we have had the pleasure of promoting," said Bob Arum of Top Rank. "Thankfully we worked well together with him and lead him to a world championship. "He's now bound and determined to pursue a business career, and a very important business opportunity. We know he will succeed because of his ability, character and perseverance. Everybody at Top Rank wishes him the greatest good fortune in his next career.") By Steve Kim.
I saw this screwing around on Boxrec the other day... I thought it had to do with the injuries he sustainted in the Beterbiev fight but it looks like he's moving on to bigger and better things. Fine boxer, best of luck to him.
Shame we didn’t see him fight bivol before beterbiev, I thought he would clear the division up but Arthur happily walked through everything he had
Shame cos i loved watching him fight , but fair play - made his money and got out with his health in tact, can't knock that at all
He retired soon after his butt whoopin from Beterbiev. Shows what kind of hunger he really had when he quite in the ring...
The ref waved it, and that was after he got up three times, which isn't quitting, and that was after he took 10 rounds of punishment from one of the P4P hardest punchers in the sport. A beating that caused him to have severe bruising on the back of his brain (damn hear a bleed) from the countless clubbing rabbit forearms he took to the back of his head. So chill with the hyperbolic quitting talk.
When a guy willingly drops to his knees on every "knockdown" the ref knows what's going through his head hence the stoppage. Also, I read a few of the reports of his retirement and never heard about the "brain bruising" you mentioned. Is there an official source?
He was being beaten to the point of exhaustion, where he can barely stand up, combined with severe pains he was having in the back of the head, coming on the heels of him nearly killing Stevenson in the ring the year before. Give the guy a break. This was one of the stories I read. There were several others, some say bruising others said concussion. https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/27886560/oleksandr-gvozdyk-hospital-two-days-fight
Spot on. The man went through EVERY bad scenario a Boxer could go through in those fights. His fight with BB is a modern classic, IMHO. Fantastic clash of styles.
Even though Beterbiev beat the fight out of him it's hard to not give a guy respect who walked out on his own terms. Health intact? Check Money? Check Intelligence? Check Own business ventures? Check Family? Check What more does a man want in life? Maximum 100000% respect.
