By Alexey Sukachev
The European Boxing Union named K2-promoted Ukrainian Olexander Chervyak (15-4-1, 5 KOs) as the official challenger to European reigning light heavyweight champion Igor Mikhalkin (16-1, 9 KOs). Both teams are now negotiating for a possible collision later this year.
Chervyak, 34, a career journeyman rose to fame in 2010/2011 with a couple of stoppage wins over teammate Vitaliy Rusal. The latter was 27-1 entering the first bout with 8-1 Cherviak and was first outpointed and then knocked out bad in a rematch. Cherviak also owns two wins over Artem Redko and, his finest, the tenth-round kayo of 27-0 German prospect Dustin Dirks. He came up short against Salambek Baysangurov, Eduard Gutknecht, Nadjib Mohammedi and Robin Krasniqi.
Mikhalkin, 29, had two wins over Doudou N’Gumbu but his most important victory came against Mohamed Belkasem for a vacant European 175lb title in April 2014. He defended it once in March 2015 against 30-3 Hakim Chioui, knocking him out in the ninth-round.