Goossen Tutor Boxing: Sergey Gulyakevich Gets Interim WBC Title Fight

In the days when American television allowed cigarette commercials on its airwaves, there was one whose slogan was: “I’d walk a mile for a Camel.”

That trek pales in comparison to the air miles that #1-rated WBC super featherweight contender Sergey Gulyakevich traveled to take on #3-ranked Humberto Mauro Gutierrez for the interim WBC Super Featherweight Title this Saturday night, August 22nd at the Auditorio Unidad Deportiva in Los Cabos, California Big Sur, Mexico.

The 28-year old Gulyakevich (26-1, 12 KOs) arrived in Cabo after an 8,000 mile flight from his home in Minsk, Belarus to battle the 20-year old Gutierrez (25-1-1, 19 KOs), fighting in his home country of Mexico.

“It was a long flight but I’m ready to fight now,” Gulyakevich, interpreted by co-manager Philippe Fondu, said. “Fighting for the world championship has been my dream and what I’ve worked so hard for. I’m fighting for my country and plan on bringing the WBC belt home with me.”

With an extensive background consisting of over 100 amateur fights and a multi-national champion in his native country, Gulyakevich has been a pro for over six years. At 5-10, he is tall for the 130-pound weight class and uses his height and reach exceptionally well. Described at times as somewhat awkward, he throws punches from unusual angles, which have helped him secure the top rating in the WBC.

“One thing I can tell you said Fondu, “Sergey is tough and determined with excellent stamina, which has allowed him to be effective late in several of his fights and I know he’s going to be the new champion.”

Gulyakevich was 16-0 when he stopped Dmitry Tarenko in the 10th round to claim the Belarus Super Featherweight Title in November, 2005. Two fights later in April, 2006, he challenged Alex Arthur in Scotland for the European (EBU) title, but sustained a cut over his left eye in the seventh round from an accidental head butt and the referee stopped the bout. Behind on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, Gulyakevich absorbed the only loss of his career.

Since then he has won eight straight bouts, including a 12-round unanimous decision over Leva Kirakosyan to capture the EBU Super Featherweight Title in his second try in December, 2007 in Italy. Following a non-title win, he made his one and only successful defense of his crown in December, 2008 in Germany with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Vitali Tajbert, before relinquishing the title to secure his upcoming WBC title shot.

In Gutierrez, Gulyakevich will be taking on a southpaw opponent eight years his junior, with a high knockout ratio in his home country. His only loss came via eight-round, split decision to Guadalupe Rosales in May, 2008.

Two fights later, Gutierrez avenged that setback with a 10-round unanimous decision to win a WBC Super featherweight Title Eliminator last October. He won a hard-fought, eight-round majority decision over Carlos Parra in his last outing back in April of this year.

Now co-promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and World Sport Promotions, Gulyakevich is managed by the duo of Philippe Fondu and Valery Kaplia and trained by Piotr Bikhtanovich.

“We appreciate the confidence World Sport Promotions provided us with our association with them in helping to guide the career of Sergey Gulyakevich,” said Goossen Tutor Promotions President Dan Goossen. “Sergey has established himself as the number one contender in the WBC and we believe he has a bright future as a formidable world champion in the 130-pound division.”