Why are Ukrainian boxers so good? Secrets behind their success

Ukrainian school of boxing

Ukraine has had a long boxing tradition since medieval times, which evolved into a mature sport over the 20th century. During the Soviet regime, the major cities of Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv became Ukraine's most prominent boxing centers. Ukrainians first formed amateur clubs in Kyiv and learned the sport using brochures on English boxing. Later, they engaged in boxing professionally in Odesa and Kharkiv, creating clusters to train diligently for competitions and support other athletes in sports careers.

Based on the legacy of accomplished Ukrainian trainers in the USSR and modern sports science techniques, boxing schools in Ukraine have developed exceptional training methods and produced physically strong, technically skilled, and strategic athletes. Key schools include Lviv State School of Physical Culture, which taught several Olympic and professional boxing champions; Olympic Reserve School of Brovary, known for its experienced coaches and famous former students, like boxing legend Volodymyr Klychko; and the National University of Physical Education and Sport in Kyiv, which has contributed to the professional development of boxers and trainers in Ukraine.

Ukrainian boxers and boxing have also reached a high level in the international arena thanks to independent coaches revered for their unique training techniques. One of the most accomplished trainers working today is Anatolii Lomachenko, who has mentored Ukrainian athletes for successful Olympic Games performances and trained the golden generation of Ukrainian boxing — his son, multiple world champion in three weight classes Vasyl Lomachenko, reigning undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk, and light-heavyweight champion Oleksandr Hvozdyk.

Unique Ukrainian boxing style

The Ukrainian school of boxing teaches innovative strategies and skills for technical precision, masterful footwork, and strong defense, collectively building a unique boxing style used by Ukrainian fighters of different weight divisions. According to Ukrainian American coach Serhii Bondin, "Boxing is not just punching. It's a physical chess game," so boxers from Ukraine are powerful athletes and measured tacticians who coordinate their movements to set up the opponent for failure.

The American boxing blog BoxRope reports that the Ukrainian boxing style has a few foundational characteristics. A key element is the "right-handed southpaw" stance champions like Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk adopt despite being right-handed. This position allows them to use their dominant hand for powerful jabs, enabling them "to exploit unconventional angles."

Another cornerstone of the Ukrainian boxing style is footwork. Ukrainian fighters use continuous sidesteps and lateral movements to pressure and confuse opponents, creating opportunities for counterattacks. This technique is crucial for defense, which Ukrainians prioritize in fights. They also excel in feints, circling and pawing the lead hand to keep opponents guessing and meter their reactions. They also use six different types of jabs to set up combinations "for devastating power punches by creating gaps in the opponent's guard with surgical precision."

Talent nurtured with hard work

Ukrainian boxer Viktor Postol once said, "The secret of Ukrainian boxing is hard work. And there's another secret—it's hard work." Ukraine has proven it has many hardworking talents, with legendary names like Volodymyr Klychko, one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time, and his brother Vitalii Klychko, a multiple-time world champion. Together, they dominated heavyweight boxing for 11 years, now known as the "Klychko Era," and inspired many athletes in Ukraine to follow in their footsteps. 

The Brovary boxing school identified their talent at a young age and provided specialized training to aspiring champions. Coaches continue doing the same with young people motivated to work hard like their icons, ensuring that promising athletes receive the best possible development. They strongly emphasize painstaking work, mental toughness, and diligent discipline when building young boxers' physical strength and strategic thinking.

The same approach is applied to world-class professional Ukrainian boxers and fighters, who undergo rigorous training regimens when preparing for title matches. Oleksandr Usyk, for example, had "brutal training" with his coach, Serhii Lapin, for his fight against British boxer Tyson Fury. In the interview with Daily Mail, Usyk revealed he had sparred more than 250 rounds with 40 different opponents, swam five hours a day in his preparation camp, and more.

After winning the match and securing the title of undisputed heavyweight champion — the feat no one had achieved since Lennox Lewis unified the belts in 2004 — Usyk said in a follow-up press conference he made many sacrifices to be where he was. "Nine months I worked. I missed New Year, and I missed my son's birthday. I missed my daughter's birthday," he told reporters. "I missed family holidays, all the time [I was] training, training, training. My focus was on this fight."