“His potential is enormous. I believe that in my hands is a future absolute world champion.”
Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Bohdan Myronets is set to face the undefeated Cuban contender José Larduet on December 12th, 2024, in Hamburg, Germany, for the WBC Intercontinental Silver title. This fight marks a significant milestone in Myronets’ professional career, offering him an opportunity to secure his first major title.
The Myronets Way
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Myronets has rapidly ascended the professional boxing ranks since his debut in January 2020. Standing at 195 cm and fighting in an orthodox stance, he holds a professional record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws, with 5 victories by knockout. His recent achievements include wins over Pavel Sour in April 2024 and Nathan Gorman in December 2023, underlining his growing prominence in the heavyweight division rather thickly.
Looking back on his journey, Myronets credits boxing for giving him not only a career but also a way to connect with people across the globe. “Boxing has given me some of the best relationships in my life. It’s opened the world to me,” he shared during our interview.
Coach Igor Mesmer, who began working with Myronets over two years ago, noted, “What struck me the most was how incredibly focused he was. He understood why he was coming to the gym, he knew what he wanted, and he never argued or complained about being tired. We quickly realized that we worked well together.”
Good Guidance
A good mentor is like the finest blacksmith. Igors Mesmers, Myronets’ current guru, is a boxing coach known for his work with rising talents in the sport. Most notably, he has trained Jevgeņijs ‘The Hurricane’ Aleksejevs, an undefeated Latvian boxer with a professional record of 14 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws, including 8 knockouts. Under Mesmers’ guidance, Aleksejevs achieved significant victories, such as his decisive win over Nicolas David Veron.
In addition to Aleksejevs, Mesmers has worked with other fighters, including Milans Volkovs and Latvia’s first step into the PFL, Aleksandrs Čižovs, a lightweight MMA fighter with a professional record of 10 wins and 3 losses. Mesmers’ unwavering ability to tailor his coaching to the unique qualities of each fighter — and do it fruitfully — has earned him massive respect in the combat sports community of Latvia.
An Undefeated Opponent
From Santiago de Cuba, José Larduet brings an unblemished professional record of 13 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws, with 11 knockouts. Standing at 194 cm, Larduet has an extensive amateur background, highlighted by a bronze medal at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships and participation in the 2012 London Olympics. Since turning professional in September 2019, he has maintained a winning streak, with notable victories over Ali Kiydin in June 2023 and Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko in February 2023.
Myronets recognizes the challenge here. “Every fight for me, both in my amateur and professional career, I approach as if it’s the last and most important fight of my life. There hasn’t been a single fight where I’ve been relaxed,” he explained. “The fight [in December] is just the next step in my career. I believe it will be my toughest opponent yet.”
Fighting for the Title
The December 12th title fight will be tense for both. Larduet is no easy opponent; Myronets will have to leverage his height and reach to control distance, employing strategic footwork and head movement to outmaneuver opponents. His coach, Igor Mesmer, has focused on enhancing Myronets’ close-range combat skills and overall ring awareness, preparing him to counter Larduet’s pressure effectively.
Mesmer elaborated on their preparation: “We’re preparing as if this is the toughest fight of his career. Bohdan’s focus and work ethic are unmatched. This will probably be his hardest training camp in terms of workload, including sparring partners who closely mimic the opponent’s style and push him harder than ever before.”
Acknowledging the psychological challenges that tie into prep, Mesmer added, “On fight day, professional sports — especially combat sports — are mostly mental. If your physical preparation is adequate, it’s all about transferring that preparation into the ring while maintaining mental focus.”
But Igor expresses great confidence in his protégé: “His potential is enormous. I believe that in my hands is a future absolute world champion.”
One thing is for sure: both fighters acknowledge the significance of this fight. Myronets already views each fight as the most important one — however, a victory here would not only earn him the WBC Intercontinental Silver title, but also elevate his standing in the heavyweight division, paving the way for future title opportunities. Meanwhile, Larduet will be aiming to maintain his undefeated record and seek to solidify his untainted reputation on the international stage.
Root for Bohdan Myronets with us and watch Universum Boxing Night 14 live on DAZN, December 12th!
