Oleksandr Gvozdyk, a former WBC light-heavyweight champion, returned to the ring last weekend, with a convincing victory after a three-year absence.
Gvozdyk announced his retirement from the sport in 2020 by cancelling a training camp two weeks before he turned 33.
To “approach business opportunities,” the Ukrainian hung up his gloves. But he ended that break last Saturday in Pomona. He claimed every round and appeared at ease in defeating journeyman Josue Obando over the course of six rounds.
Gvozdyk, who is 35, will try to compete for top accolades in the upcoming months. A few months before his first retirement, he faced Artur Beterbiev and suffered his lone defeat.
Gvozdyk was defeated by Beterbiev in ten rounds. Manager Egis Klimas believed at the time that his boxer might change his mind.
“He’s a very smart guy, so he thinks it’s going to be inconvenient for him to do that kind of business and box simultaneously,” Klimas told ESPN. “So he needs to give himself 100% to boxing or business. So he decided to do that.”
Hoping to get a second chance at Beterbiev, Klimas added: “What kept him from moving away from boxing, that motivation to go back into the ring, was Beterbiev.
“That was the only one holding him because he wanted to get that rematch. There might be a possibility that someone will get him a rematch. He might change his mind.”
In case you forgot, The Nail is a baaad man 😮
Former Light Heavyweight champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk is prepping for another run at gold. pic.twitter.com/srJplDnSpG
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 8, 2020