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Oleksandr Usyk to face Danie Venter on Dec. 13

Fighters Network
04
Dec
Oleksandr Usyk (R) faces off with Daniel Bruwer on Oct. 4, 2014, in Ukraine. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images.

Oleksandr Usyk (R) faces off with Daniel Bruwer on Oct. 4, 2014, in Ukraine. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images.

 

Ukrainian cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, will face South African Danie Venter on Dec. 13 at the Sport Palace in Kiev, Ukraine, K2 Promotions has announced.

A 27-year-old southpaw who stands 6-foot-3, Usyk (5-0, 5 knockouts) was last in action for a seventh-round knockout of Daniel Bruwer in October.

“Training was terrific,” said of Usyk, who spent two weeks sparring with three-time title challenger Ola Afolabi. “I learned a great deal sparring with Ola. He’s one of the very best cruisers in the world, and it was a tremendous experience. I’m getting better with each bout, and looking to close out 2014 in style.”



Usyk has also been part of training camps this year with RING/IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (62-3, 52 KOs), who knocked out previously unbeaten Kubrat Pulev in the fifth round last month.

“The sparring sessions between Oleksandr and Ola were terrific and a very strong learning experience,” said Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions. “This has been a tremendous year of growth of Oleksandr, and we’re looking toward an outstanding 2015 for him. Defeating Venter … would be a excellent way to finish his 2014 campaign.”

The 35-year-old Venter (19-6, 14 KOs) has won four straight fights, three of them by knockout, since being stopped in the fifth round by Thabiso Mchunu in November 2012.

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