Heavyweight Andrii Novytskyi will be fighting for the 15th time in two years on Friday.
Novytskyi will face David Zegarra in a 10-round fight at Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Novytskyi, 14-0 (10 KOs), 29, turned professional in February 2023. Since his debut, he has kept extremely active, fighting often on Boston Boxing shows as he develops. Ukraine’s Novytskyi previously fought on the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II undercard in December.
He had hopes of returning on Saul “Canelo” Alvarez's recent pay-per-view fight against William Scull, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Novytskyi will return a couple of weeks later to a familiar place. Anatoliy Dudchenko, his trainer, explained the journey the two are on.
“So, Andrii came to me two years ago,” Dudchenko told BoxingScene. “He's a talented kid – young, hungry – who is a very hard worker.”
Novytskyi detailed extremely hard sparring in the gym. He discussed the grueling rounds that led to fight night. He emphasized that good money is paid for competitive sparring for Novytskyi.
“We have a very good preparation before our next fight,” Novytskyi told BoxingScene. “Be ready for the knockout. I think a couple of rounds – maybe the third round – it will be done.”
Peter Czymbor, who is promoting the event, has a working relationship with Novytskyi and shared excitement around the fight while finding inspiration in the Ukraine-born Novytskyi’s journey to this point. Czymbor views Novytskyi’s story as representative of what the United States stands for.
"It's fitting that Andrii's birthday is July 4 because in many ways he's the embodiment of the American Dream,” Czymbor told BoxingScene. “In just two short years, through hard work and focus, he's earned opportunities most fighters never see – and if they do, it takes them much longer. He's not one to rest on his laurels. Andrii and Anatoliy are hard at work at the gym in Hollywood every morning, and it's paid off."
Czymbor sees the relationship between the trainer and fighter as vital. Dudchenko is credited with Novytskyi being able to be as active as he has been because of his knowledge of training and preparation, Czymbor said.
“Anatoliy is a great cornerstone for Andrii's career. He has high expectations, but he's so fun and hilarious that I think sometimes you forget how hard everyone is working because he makes the atmosphere so lively in the gym.”
Dudchenko’s lively and jovial personality shined as he mentioned at the end of camp some of the sparring partners left with “blue eyes” – a reference to black eyes and the tough sparring they present.
Whispers are already being heard that with a win here, a bigger fight could be around the corner for Novytskyi. It is fitting that he’ll get that chance in Boston, where he has made his bones in the sport.
“I am happy to be in Boston, because it has become like a second home,” Novyyskyi said. "Good clam chowder. They have some of the best lobster in the world. Good people, friendly people, a good atmosphere.”
Said Czymbor: “He may be a Ukrainian living in Los Angeles, but New England fight fans have adopted him as one of their own.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at .