Oleksandr Gvozdyk Returns After Three Year Hiatus
Former Lineal and WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk (17-1, 14KO) makes a “silent” exit form retirement and is scheduled to return against journeyman Jorge Daniel Miranda (58-21, 22KO) February 11. This marks Gvozdyk’s first fight in three years!
THE RISE BEFORE THE FALL
Here is a name that will raise the eyebrow of boxing fans. The Nail was a decorated amateur winning the Bronze medal in the 2012 Olympic Games. Moreover, his technical ability and decent punching power transitioned extremely well into the professional ranks.
In the biggest win of his career, Gvozdyk took out the reigning Lineal and WBC champion Adonis Stevenson in December 2018. He was viewed as arguably the best light heavyweight in the division. Until an old foe from his amateur days came knocking in IBF champion Artur Beterbiev.
In October 2019, the WBC champion got beaten down by the sheer power of Beterbiev in a major unification. The brutality in which Gvozdyk lost the title took something out of him considering he retired so suddenly. Upon hearing the news of his retirement, several boxing pundits began to question his mental makeup.
RELATED: Oleksandr Gvozdyk Announces His Retirement At 33!
THE RETURN
After three years of being out of the ring, the former champion is looking to return to a stacked division. Ironically, the same man that sent him into retirement, Beterbiev, is the division’s top dog.
Moreover, his climb back into the ranking will be difficult, considering the divisions loaded with young talented contenders. With his 36th birthday coming soon, it will be interesting to see if the time off helped or hurt the former champion’s physical well-being and mental psyche.
