Former world light heavyweight boxing champion and TV star from Ukraine Vyacheslav Uzelkov tragically died after complications from surgery.
The Ukrainian Boxing Federation reported on the tragic news on its official website. “It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Ukrainian boxing has suffered a heavy loss – Vyacheslav Uzelkov died. His name will forever be written in the history of sports, and his example of strength, tenacity and dedication to his work will inspire future generations,” the federation said on the Ukrinform Facebook page.
The Ukrainian boxer broke through the ropes at the beginning of the millennium in light heavyweight. He became a world champion in the WBA Inter-Continental, IBO International and WBO Inter-Continental organizations and later started his career in television as an occasional actor and mainly a presenter.
According to the portal fakty.com.ua, his death was related to protracted health problems. Uzelkov himself admitted at the beginning of November that he was in a coma for two weeks and was literally pulled from the other world. In April, he underwent a difficult heart operation and last month he received the status of a person with a disability.
He debuted in the professional ring in October 2004. In total, during his ten-year career, he completed 34 fights, of which he won 30, while 19 duels ended with a knockout. He ended his boxing career in 2014 when he lost to Serbian Geard Ajetovic.
He also briefly flirted with a career in politics three years ago when he ran for mayor of a small town in central Ukraine, but ultimately failed in the election.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
