National hero Vladyslav Gela wins the WBC Ukrainian super-welterweight championship

The Ukrainian Champion inside and outside the boxing ring!

This is a very special story about braveness and never giving up.

WBC Ukraine Champion Vladyslav Gela (14-5-1, 8KO) is more than just a boxer, but also a firefighter who protects and save lives.

On January 20, Ukraine’s largest arena held the fantastic and nail-biting bout for WBC Ukraine and Champion of Ukraine titles in the super-welterweight between Vladyslav Gela and Andrii Tsiura. 

Unbreakable will to win brought out the best in both fighters, as the crowd wallowed in emotions. The strenuous fight lasted all 10 rounds, with the judges’ unanimous decision crowning Vladyslav Gela as the new Champion.

Vladyslav’s story is nothing short of a stunner: he is a trained firefighter and rescuer, chief of guard at the 14th State Fire and Rescue Unit in Kremenchuk.

The new champ has been actively fighting the consequences of the numerous russian missile and drone strikes. It was Vladyslav’s unit to arrive at Amstor Mall, engulfed in flames, among the first responders, when the russians attacked Kremenchuk in the summer of 2022.

“I’ve been a member of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine hand-to-hand combat team since 2016. I competed in Ukraine’s Presidential Cup on behalf of our organization. I’ve been boxing all the way through my school and university years. I was a serviceman, a cadet. I had to find time for everything – studies, service duties, sports”, says the Champ.

“This WBC Ukraine Champion belt was handed to me by Mykola Kovalchuk, the President of WBC Ukraine. The title lets me join the WBC rankings and compete for the international titles”, stated Vladyslav.

Additionally, an auction was held as part of the Boxing Charity Night; the auction’s goal was to generate funds for Ukrainian defenders, and to restore the martial arts Youth Sports School in Mykolaiv. A generous donation of 5 million UAH (≈ $132 000) was allocated by Ukrainian businessman Viktor Milevskyi, one of the event’s organizers.

“I urge all Ukrainian businessmen and entrepreneurs to support our fellow countrymen, our defenders, our children, and all those in need. This is our top-priority goal right now, and if we have the means to help – we must help, no exceptions”, said Viktor.

Mykola Kovalchuk, President of WBC Ukraine, spoke about the fight: “Our team works non-stop, regardless of the war in Ukraine. We are grateful beyond measure that, despite constant air strike alerts and never-ending shelling, we managed to have this WBC Ukraine title fight at the highest possible level. This title is not just a prestigious accolade to have, but a symbol of resilience, both of our country and our people.”