There is once again excitement within the heavyweight division, and a lot has to do with the recent interest from Saudi Arabia and them showcasing mostly heavyweight fights. Looking at the division, the group of fighters underneath the big names are guys like Jared Anderson, Justis Huni, Frank Sanchez, etc. One heavyweight looking to be added to that list this year is 28-year-old undefeated Ukrainian heavyweight Andrii ‘Rampage’ Novitskyi (10-0, 9 KOs).
Novitskyi started his pro career later than most as he spent time in the Ukraine Army, then moved to Los Angeles, CA, and started his career as a pro fighter. Novitskyi is trained by former cruiserweight Anatoliy Dudchenko and advised/managed by Egis Klimas. It’s the type of team that can guide Novitskyi to a championship in the future.
Last year, Novitskyi fought eight times, which is a lot for not only a fighter these days but also for a heavyweight. Novitskyi acknowledged it as “a lot of work” but “a great experience.” There were some learning lessons with fighting so much in a year that Novitskyi picked up on. “You must learn to listen to your coach. Discipline beats fighters. If you don’t have discipline, you don’t have anything.”
Novitskyi wants to replicate that type of work ethic this year as he continues to make his way up the ranks. “I want the same results in 2024. I like what I do. It’s perfect.” Although his trainer Dudchenko liked what he saw out of his fighter last year, he wants to pull him back a bit as the length of the rounds and level of competition increases. Dudchenko told FightsATW, “Maybe 3-4 fights this year.”
Less than a week ago, fight fans got their first glimpse at Novitskyi as he fought on DAZN as part of the non-PPV version of “Knockout Chaos.” Although there was a potential for enormous pressure put on him to perform, Novitskyi treated it like any other fight as he went to sleep early each night and stayed focused. On fight night, Novitskyi knocked out his opponent, Juan Torres, in the third round, which immediately caught the attention of fight fans tuning in on DAZN.
After the fight was over, his trainer Dudchenko stayed around to do some scouting, and when he saw Justis Huni (9-0, 4 KOs), who is ranked as high as #12 with the WBO, earn a unanimous decision, he told onlookers Novitskyi could beat him easily. That raised some eyebrows at ringside but Dudchenko has all of the confidence in the world that his fighter will one day hoist a heavyweight title.
Novitskyi’s performance has landed him a spot on another big card, Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The opponent hasn’t been officially named, but Dudchenko told FightsATW that he is “20-0.” As Novitskyi continues to develop, he wants to stick by what has gotten him to this point: “Stay hungry, listen to my coach, and be disciplined.”
Speaking of Fury, Novitskyi had a humorous run-in with the “Gypsy King” during an event hosted by Turki Alalshikh for the fighters involved in “Knockout Chaos.”
“I spoke to Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou. Fury asked me if I was a Ukrainian boxer and if I had small balls like (Oleksandr) Usyk. I told him, ‘Let’s go to the restroom so that I can show you’ (laughs). Afterward, Fury got serious and told my coach to bring me up slowly and not rush me.”
Novitskyi has hit the radar of the fight fans and those who compete within the heavyweight division, including its kings. He is a fighter to watch as he looks to become the next champion from Ukraine.
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