Andreas Kotelnik

Andreas Kotelnik (Ukrainian Андрій Котельник / Andriy Kotelnik, born December 29, 1977 in Lviv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union ) is a retired Ukrainian professional boxer and boxing champion in the light welterweight on the version of the WBA.

Amateur

Kotelnik won the 1995 in Siofok, the European Junior flyweight championship. In 1997 he took part in the Amateur World Championships in Budapest and lost there in the third round against the Germans Falk huste. His greatest success as an amateur boxer was winning the silver medal in the lightweight at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He was defeated there only in the finale against Cuban Mario Kindelán.

Professional career

After the Olympics Kotelnik joined the professional camp and signed with the Hamburg boxing stable Universum Box-Promotion. After 23 victories, he received on 21 October 2004 the opportunity to Souleymane M'baye in France an eliminator of the WBA Association to deny the right to a world championship fight. Kotelnik lost this duel against M'baye disputed on points. He had his second scarce and controversial defeat nine months later in Nottingham against Junior Witter in the battle for championship in the welterweight accept.

Then a duel against his stablemates Muhammadqodir Abdullayev was quoted by his promoter universe. Kotelnik was able to claim first place on points, Abdullayev then ended his career.

On March 10, 2007, there was in Liverpool for rematch against Souleymane M'baye, who had now won the vacant WBA world title. The fight ended in a draw again controversial, which M'baye was able to defend his title. Due to the controversial judgment but Kotelnik remained in position one of the WBA rankings and mandatory challenger.

M'baye lost the WBA title in his next fight against the British Gavin Rees, who then had to compete against Kotelnik. The fight took place on March 22, 2008 in Cardiff and was organized by Kotelnik technical knockout won in the twelfth round. The first defense of the WBA world championship, he played on September 13, 2008 in his home town of Lvov against the Japanese Norio Kimura. He won this fight by a unanimous point decision.

On 7 February 2009, he defended in the Rostock Stadthalle against the previously undefeated Argentinean Marcos Maidana René its title. He won just by points ( 115:114, 115:113, 113:115 ). In his third title defense on June 18, 2009 in Manchester but Kotelnik lost his WBA title to Amir Khan, he lost over twelve rounds on points.

In May 2010, Kotelnik signed with U.S. promoter Don King a three -year contract. On August 7, 2010 he succumbed in Saint Louis the WBC and IBF champion Devon Alexander by unanimous decision ( 112:116, 112:116, 112:116 ). After a long period of inactivity, he finally ended his career in 2012.