The famous Ukrainian boxer Vyacheslav Uzelkov has died

Former WBA Inter-Continental, IBO International, and WBO Inter-Continental light heavyweight champion Vyacheslav Uzelkov has died at the age of 46, the Ukrainian Boxing Federation reports on Facebook.

"Ukrainian boxing has suffered a heavy loss – Vyacheslav Uzelkov has passed away. His name will forever remain in the history of sports, and his example of strength, resilience, and dedication will inspire future generations," the obituary reads.

In the spring of this year, Uzelkov was diagnosed with a blood clot in his heart, a blood clot in his aorta, and gangrene in his leg. His colleague, the famous Ukrainian boxer Vyacheslav Senchenko, initiated fundraising for his friend's surgery.

On April 26, Uzelkov reported that he had undergone heart surgery and subsequently received a group II disability.

"So I'm taking the last test before discharge. Three weeks have passed. The first one was under constant anesthesia. I had several operations, and a week in intensive care. Then the ward. And the realization, understanding, and return of memory - where I am," Uzelkov wrote on his Instagram.

In February 2024, Uzelkov was already operated on in one of the capital's hospitals. The boxer then noted that his sports career would end within the walls of the hospital, against which the boxer took a selfie.

During his sports career, Uzelkov fought 34 fights, of which he won 30. He won 19 times early.

On November 9, 2013, in Kyiv, Vyacheslav won a knockout victory in a fight against American Jadon Codrington and won the IBO intercontinental light heavyweight title.

On April 12, 2014, Uzelkov fought his last career fight, losing to Serbian Geard Aetovic.

In 2020, he ran for the mayor of Vinnytsia from the OPFL party. Yurii Boyko came to support Vyacheslav. He received 4% of the vote, taking 4th place.

He was married to Maryna Borzhemska for 22 years. In 2014-2015, Viacheslav was a member of the jury on the "Ukraine's Got Talent" program, and then he and his wife starred in the show "Weighed and Happy".

In 2021, the couple separated. They raised two children together – a son, Robert (2009), and a daughter, Olivia (2012).

In 2021, he starred in the program "Blind Marriage" with Yulia Chernytska (season 7, episode 1). In the end, he gave the ring to Yulia, saying that he still loves Marina.

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