Andreas Kotelnik

Andreas Kotelnik, born on December 29, 1977, is a Ukrainian boxer who started his professional career in 2000 and is currently the WBA Light Welterweight Champion. Before he turned pro he also enjoyed a promising and successful amateur career, from which he reportedly garnered a 135-15 record. He won the Junior European championship held in Siofok, Hungary as a Flyweight. However, he was defeated by German boxer Falk Huste in the 1997 competition for the Featherweight title at the World Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

Kotelnik was also an Olympic Silver medalist during the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia, after losing to Cuban boxer Mario Kindelan. He turned pro on the same year, winning his first 32 bouts before finally losing to French boxer Souleymane M'baye on October 21, 2004 in a WBA World Title eliminator match held in Paris. The match ended in a close split decision for M’baye, a controversial decision since Kotelnik ended the match with a strong finish.

This was followed by another disappointing loss to British boxer Junior Witter in 2005. However, Kotelnik managed to cap the year with a win, defeating Uzbekistani boxer and former Olympian Mohamad Abdulaev. He also defeated Gavin Rees at his most recent match at the International Arena at Cardiff, Wales, UK on March 22, 2008, where Rees was the defending WBA light Welterweight title. The match ended with an impressive TKO during the 12th round and sealed Kotelnik’s newest title as the new WBA Light Welterweight champ. The 30-year old was promptly given a hero’s welcome upon his return to his hometown of Lvov, Ukraine, where he presented the championship belt to the Ukrainian delegates.

Presently, Kotelnik has won 29 out of his 32 fights, 13 of them by TKO.