By Dmitry Mikhalchuk and Anton Gorunov / Photos: Anton Gorunov and Dmitry Novak

Ukraine is rapidly heating up for two local events, promoted by K2 Ukraine in Kharkiv and by Elite Boxing in the capital city of Kiev. The weigh-in took place today in Kiev, while participants of the Kharkiv show were measured yesterday.

Kharkiv

WBA #3, WBO #5 and IBF #12 ranked Alexander Ustinov (26-0, 20 KOs) is matched relatively tough with rugged American journeyman Jason Gavern (21-9-4, 10 KOs) for the vacant IBO I/C heavyweight title. Ustinov, 35, tipped the scales at 310 lbs, while Gavern, also 35, was much lighter at 230.5 pounds.

In a co-main event, cruiserweights Vitaly Nevesioliy (12-0, 7 KOs) and Pavel Zhuravliov (8-1, 5 KOs) collide in an all-Ukrainian rendezvous over eight rounds. Nevesioliy weighed-in at 200, and Zhuravliov was a bit heavier at 202.

Other important match-ups:

WBO #11 Valery Brazhnik (27-0-1, 16 KOs) 148 versus Hurshid Madaminov (6-8, 2 KOs) 149
Valentin Golovko (15-0, 8 KOs) 137 versus Dmytro Bogachuk (6-10-1, 3 KOs) 135.5
Dmytro Semernin (8-0, 3 KOs) 148 versus Adham Nazarov (4-5, 2 KOs) 148

Kiev

Undefeated light welterweight talent Victor Postol (17-0, 9 KOs) faces his first Mexican opponent in Jose “Piston” Lopez (15-1-1, 9 KOs) in a non-title ten-rounder. Postol was fit and ready at 141.3 while Lopez came in at 144.3, and now has to lose about a pound not to be penalized for coming overweight.

In another important ten-rounder, Dmytro Kucher (15-0, 11 KOs) will look to beat Argentinean veteran Walter David Cabral (14-6, 8 KOs), 41, to his list of victims in another ten-rounder. Kucher had to face Daniel Sanabria, but the latter forced to withdraw due to visa problems. Kucher weighed-in at 201, while Cabral was trim at 192.

Five more fights will constitute the undercard of this show.

Tags: Alexander Ustinov