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Vladimir Virchis (Ukrainian: Володимир Вірчіс; 18 August 1973 – 28 January 2022) was a Ukrainian professional boxer. Competing from 1999 to 2009, he held the European heavyweight title from 2006 to 2008.

Life and career

Virchis, born in Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, was known as "The Hunter." Large and powerful, he turned professional in 1999 and won his first 20 bouts with 17 knockouts, including victories over club fighters Julius Francis, Cliff Couser, and Michael Sprott.

Virchis' career was sidetracked in 2007 when he faced undefeated amateur star Ruslan Chagaev and lost a controversial majority decision. Later that same year, he rebounded by knocking out European champion, Paolo Vidoz.

In late 2008 Virchis lost a decision to Juan Carlos Gomez. Virchis had alcohol before the match, and he was drunk while fighting. After the loss a disappointed Virchis announced his retirement from the sport.

On the night from 27 to 28 January 2022, Virchis' was found dead of suicide by hanging on Raisa Okipna Street in Kyiv. He was 48, and his body was identified by his wife.

Professional boxing record

26 Wins (21 knockouts, 5 decisions) 2 Losses (2 decisions)
Result	Opp Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Win	19-19	Edgars Kalnārs	UD	6	24 October 2009	Kugelbake Halle, Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony
Loss	43-1	Juan Carlos Gómez	UD	12	27 September 2008	Color Line Arena, Altona, Hamburg
Win	22-9	Robert Hawkins	KO	5	17 November 2007	Bordelandhalle, Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt
Win	23-3	Paolo Vidoz	UD	12	19 May 2007	Color Line Arena, Altona, Hamburg	Retained European heavyweight title
Win	14-10	Ihar Shukala	TKO	1	23 February 2007	Palace of Sports, Kyiv
Win	16-11	Marcus McGee	KO	3	13 January 2007	Brandberge Arena, Halle an der Saale, Saxony-Anhalt
Win	21-2	Paolo Vidoz	KO	6	15 July 2006	Color Line Arena, Altona, Hamburg	Won European heavyweight title
Loss	19-0-1	Ruslan Chagaev	MD	12	11 March 2006	Color Line Arena, Altona, Hamburg	Lost WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title; For WBA Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	27-8	Michael Sprott	UD	12	13 December 2005	Freizeit Arena, Soelden	Retained WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	12-5-1	Lisandro Ezequiel Díaz	TKO	1	10 September 2005	Dm-Arena, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg	Retained WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	12-3	Adnan Serin	KO	1	10 May 2005	Pueblo Espanol, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands
Win	14-1	Taras Bidenko	TKO	12	29 March 2005	Sporthalle, Wandsbek, Hamburg	Won WBO Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	24-9-2	Cliff Couser	TKO	5	26 June 2004	Zorianyi Hall, Feodosiya	Retained IBF Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	17-1	Balu Sauer	KO	8	31 January 2004	Palace of Sports, Kyiv	Retained IBF Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	23-12-1	Julius Francis	UD	12	6 September 2003	Palace of Sports, Kyiv	Won IBF Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	--	Valeriy Klymenko	TKO	1	19 July 2003	Oasis Entertaining Complex, Kyiv
Win	4-3-1	Farhat Chaanoune	UD	8	31 May 2003	Brandenburg Halle, Frankfurt, Brandenburg
Win	9-10-1	Mihail Bekish	TKO	10	22 February 2003	Circus, Kharkiv	Won WBC CISBB heavyweight title
Win	--	Igor Petrenco	TKO	2	28 September 2002	Mykolaiv
Win	27-11	Thomas Williams	KO	1	21 September 2002	Circus, Kyiv	Won IBC Intercontinental heavyweight title
Win	19-17-1	Yuriy Yelistratov	KO	1	23 March 2002	Circus, Kyiv	Won Ukraine heavyweight title
Win	--	Serhiy Ivanets	KO	2	15 June 2001	Casino Bingo, Kyiv
Win	--	Roman Kapytonenko	KO	1	30 April 2001	Circus, Kyiv
Win	5-6	Stanislav Tovkachov	RTD	3	27 January 2001	Nadiya Sport Palace, Mykolaiv
Win	2-2	Oleksandr Myleiko	TKO	3	4 March 2000	Kherson
Win	0-1	Ruslan Qurbonov	TKO	2	16 January 2000	Poltava
Win	1-1	Oleksandr Myleiko	TKO	5	16 October 1999	Chernihiv
Win	--	Andriy Oliynyk	KO	2	24 August 1999	Sumy

References

1. Vester, Mark (25 January 2008). "Hasim Rahman To Step in, Face Vladimir Virchis?". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
2. ^ (in Ukrainian) Famous Ukrainian boxer Virchis was found hanged, Ukrayinska Pravda (28 January 2022)

External links

• Boxing record for Vladimir Virchis from BoxRec (registration required)

• 1973 births
• 2022 deaths
• 2022 suicides
• European Boxing Union champions
• Heavyweight boxers
• Boxers from Kyiv
• Suicides by hanging in Ukraine
• Ukrainian male boxers