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Oleksandr Gvozdyk became WBC light heavyweight champion of the world on Saturday night, as he dismantled Adonis Stevenson in a thrilling fight in Quebec City, Canada.
Gvozdyk only turned professional in 2014 but much like his celebrated compatriots Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk, it has not taken him long to make a name for himself in the paid ranks.
Travelling to Stevenson’s backyard, Gvozdyk delivered a commanding performance, finally putting down his opponent in the eleventh round.
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It is only the second defeat in Stevenson’s career, after a run of seventeen fights without tasting defeat, including a 2013 victory over the recently retired Tony Bellew.
But he had little answer to the thrilling Gvozdyk, who becomes a world champion in just his sixteenth fight.
He will now likely target the other champions of the light-heavyweight division. Colombia’s Eleider Álvarez holds the WBO belt, while Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev — both of Russia — hold the WBA and IBF respectively.
All three men are undefeated.
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