By Dmitry Mikhalchuk and Alexey Sukachev

2012 London Olympics and 2011 Baku World Championship heavyweight gold medalist Olexander Usyk (1-0, 1 KO) will continue his professional education on Dec. 14 at the “Terminal” Ice Palace in a city of Brovary, Ukraine, as a co-featured fight of the big event of boxing, pre-planned by K2 Ukraine Promotions.

Usyk, 26, one of the best amateurs in recent years, now fighting as a cruiserweight, made his pro debut on Nov. 9 with a convincing stoppage of Mexican Felipe Romero (16-7-1) in five. Next for Usyk is another veteran, a more famed one, in Columbian slugger Epifanio Mendoza (34-15-1, 30 KOs). Mendoza, 38, challenged for the WBC light heavyweight title in 2007 and was stopped in four by a prime Chad Dawson. Despite going just 6-10 since then, Mendoza can still be a relative threat for Usyk – thanks to his knockout potential, which was last demonstrated just two years ago in a three-round blowout of 13-0 Boricua Carlos Negron.

Being part of the show’s headliner is another Mendoza – also of Colombia. Well-travelled Spain-based Ignacio Mendoza (38-8-2, 23 KOs) will oppose Ukrainian veteran Sergey Fedchenko (33-2, 14 KOs) in his defense of the WBO European light welterweight title over twelve rounds. WBO #2 Fedchenko, 32, is best known for his spirited but totally unsuccessful effort against Juan Manuel Marquez a year and a half ago – a fight the Ukrainian stylist has lost by wide margins. Fedchenko is 3-0, 1 KO, since then and he will make the second defense of his WBO regional regalia. Mendoza, 30, has already fought twice in Ukraine – winning a sensational TKO 1 upset over 24-0 Wladimir Kravets in August 2011, then losing widely on points to WBC #1 rated Victor Postol (also undefeated at 23-0) two months ago.

Another meaningful fight on the card is a collision of two battle-tested Ukrainian underachievers, as still-to-be-defeated Valery Brazhnik (30-0-1, 17 KOs) clashes against fellow compatriot Victor Plotnikov (29-2, 13 KOs) in an important welterweight crossroader.

Also on the card is WBO/WBC #5, WBA #9 and IBF #12 middleweight Maks Bursak (28-1, 12 KOs). The EBU titleholder will be featured in a non-title eight-rounder against an opponent to be named soon. Bursak won’t be an opponent for the undefeated Russian Dmitry Chudinov in Moscow on Dec. 21, contrary to previously circulated rumors.

Rounding up the tourney is a heavyweight prospect Vladimir Tereshkin (17-0-1, 8 KOs) and light welterweight prospect Mishiko Beselia (4-0, 2 KOs).