Ukrainian former WBA and EBU light heavyweight challenger Vyacheslav Uzelkov has passed away at the age of 45 due to heart problems, reports .

Uzelkov won a bronze in the World championships 2001 and later a silver in the European championships before turning pro in 2004.

Vyacheslav was 20-0 and had held the WBA Intercontinental title for three years when he stepped into the ring with then WBA champ Beibut Shumeonov in Lemoore, California, July 23 2010, but he lost a unanimous decision.

In 2012 Uzellkov lost to the then EBU champ Eduard Gutknecht on points. He later won and lost the WBO Intercontinental title and retired in 2014 after an upset loss to Geard Ajetovic at home with a record of 30-4 (19 KOs). By then, he had also boxed and defeated the likes of Jaidon Codrington, Julio Cesar Dominguez and Gabriel Campillo. 

The Ukraine Boxing Federation posted a statement that read: "Ukrainian boxing has suffered a heavy loss - Vyacheslav Uzelkov has passed away.

"His name will forever remain in the history of sports, and his example of strength, resilience and dedication will inspire future generations."