Ukrainian boxer Andrii Velykovskyi suspended from fights after knockout in Poland

Ukrainian representative of the super middleweight division Andrii Velykovskyi (21-5-3, 14 KOs) has been placed under a temporary ban from stepping into the ring. This decision was made for medical reasons and will remain in effect until 11 December 2026. The restriction was introduced following his bout with undefeated Cuban boxer Rafael Garcia (17-0, 12 KOs).

Circumstances of the bout in Zakopane

According to BoxRec, the fight took place on 24 October in the Polish city of Zakopane and served as the main event of the Knockout Boxing Night 46 tournament. Following the conclusion of the competition, the Polish Boxing Association decided to temporarily prohibit Velykovskyi from participating in professional fights.

Such restrictions in professional boxing are applied for the safety of athletes after tough bouts, to give them time to recover.

Match dynamics and result

This was the second meeting between these boxers. Back in October 2025, the Ukrainian managed to send Garcia into a deep knockdown in the second round, but failed to extend his advantage to the end of the fight.

In this bout, the Cuban changed tactics, acting more cautiously and utilising his advantage in speed and movement technique. As a result, Rafael Garcia secured a unanimous decision victory. The scorecards read 78:73, 77:74, and 76:75 in favour of the Cuban boxer.