Why did Oleksandr Gvozdyk retire? Here's why he left and how Canelo Alvarez influenced his return

Oleksandr Gvozdyk is set to face off against former two-time super middleweight champion David Benavidez for the WBC interim light heavyweight title. The highly anticipated 12-round bout will co-headline the event alongside the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin clash this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

'The Nail' boasts an impressive amateur career, achieving a 225-30 record that includes a gold medal at the World Boxing Championships and a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. He also excelled in the professional arena, holding both the WBC and lineal light-heavyweight titles at the peak of his career.

However, in a surprising move, Gvozdyk decided to retire from boxing in 2020. Now, at 37, he is preparing to fight Benavidez this weekend, leaving many to wonder about the reasons behind his unexpected retirement and his motivation for making a comeback.

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Why did Oleksandr Gvozdyk retire?

In Dec. 2018, Oleksandr Gvozdyk secured the WBC title by delivering a stunning 11th-round knockout against Adonis Stevenson. He successfully defended his title the following March, achieving a decisive fifth-round TKO victory over Doudou Ngumbu.

Following his title defense, 'The Nail' faced a unification bout against then-IBF champion Artur Beterbiev in Oct. 2019. The fight was evenly matched in the first half, but the Russian-born Canadian gained the upper hand, ultimately stopping Gvozdyk with a 10th-round knockout.

Less than a year after experiencing his first professional defeat, Gvozdyk unexpectedly announced his retirement at 33 in June 2020. This decision sent shockwaves through the boxing community, with many speculating that the crushing loss to Beterbiev influenced his choice.

However, Gvozdyk's manager, Egis Klimas, explained in an interview with ESPN that his client retired to explore business opportunities outside the boxing community.

After nearly two years away from boxing, 'The Nail' was recruited as a sparring partner for undisputed middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, who was gearing up for his fight against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in May 2022. The sparring opportunity reignited Gvozdyk's passion for the sport, as he found himself performing well against Canelo during their training sessions.

Following a hiatus of over three years, Gvozdyk successfully returned against Josue Obando, securing a unanimous decision victory last February to shake off any ring rust. He followed this with consecutive stoppage wins over Ricards Bolotniks and Isaac Rodrigues last year, firmly re-establishing himself in the light heavyweight title picture.