By Alexey Sukachev

Former WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (36-2, 24 KOs) of Kremenchug, Ukraine, is looking forward to retirement this summer. Senchenko, 38, is planning his last ring appearance somewhere in July, with the farewell fight being planned to take place in Kiev.

Senchenko, 2000 Olympian for Ukraine, rose to the international glory in April 2009, seven years since the start of his pro career, when he beat WBA “regular” champion Yuri Nuzhnenko in an all-Ukrainian showdown between two undefeated fighters. He then defended it thrice (on decisions against Motoki Sasaki and Charlie Navarro, with the TKO versus Marco Antonio Avendano) before losing on a cut-induced stoppage to Paulie Malignaggi three years ago.

Senchenko’s biggest win came in his next fight, when he was taken as an opponent for a comeback fight of former multi-time world champion Ricky Hatton and stopped him with a terrific body shot in November 2012. He was also stopped himself a year after when he challenged Kell Brook in the IBF final eliminator. Senchenko’s last fight took place in December 2014, when he decisioned 19-0-1 Laszlo Toth.