By Alexey Sukachev and Dmitry Mikhalchuk
Kiev-based Elite Boxing Team is best known for its top contenders Dmytro Kucher and Victor Postol, both of them being ranked rather high by major sanctioning bodies. However, Elite Boxing is something more than just Postol and Kucher. On July 25, the Team will present its next generation in a well-matched local tourney at SportLife club in Kiev, Ukraine.
Topping the card is featherweight Oleg Malinovskiy (8-0, 2 KOs), who is set for an eight-round test by very experienced former two-time Olympian for Belarus Khavazhy Khatsygov (10-2, 6 KOs). Another talented fighter – locally based Ossetian slugger Marat Kulumbegov (11-0-1, 7 KOs) will undergo a tough test by Ukrainian native Ruslan Schelev (10-1, 6 KOs).
Hard-hitting light middleweight Ilya Primak (4-0, 4 KOs) gets a massive leap up in class against former Elite fighter and world-rated lightweight Valentyn Kuts (22-2, 8 KOs), while another Elite prospect Stanislav Skorokhod (4-0, 2 KOs) is probably matched toughest of all as his opponent is an upset artist Igor Fanian (14-4-2, 7 KOs), who is coming off two back-to-back surprises against 28-1 Victor Plotnikov and 9-0-1 Dmytro Semernin. Also on the card is rising Kazakh boxer Roman Zhailauov, who has a chance to impress local handlers to get a nice contract in future.
