Ukrainian Four Time World Kickboxing Champion Vitaly Merinov Dies in Battle at Age 32
Kyiv, Ukraine (April 2nd, 2023)– Former amateur boxer and four times world kickboxing champion Vitaly Merinov of Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukraine, has died from injuries sustained in battle with the Russians on the Donbas region at age 32 on the evening of March 31, 2023. Merinov was also a member and former deputy of the executive committee of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.
As an amateur super heavyweight boxer, Merinov was 5-5 with two knockouts between 2009 and 2012. Merinov was the recipient of Ukraine’s highest special forces award – the maroon beret. “You understand at any moment you can be killed, but you also understand that there are other values that are worth fighting for,” Vitaly said in an interview.
According to Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Ruslan Martsynkiv, who announced Merinov’s death on Facebook, explaining”(This is an) Irreparable loss for the Ivano-Frankivsk community. Vitaliy Merinov died at night from injuries sustained in battle in the hospital. Four-time kickboxing world champion, Ukrainian universal combat champion, boxing master Vitaliy Merinov went to war on the first day of a full-scale invasion. During one of the fights (battles), Vitaly received a gunshot wound in his leg. He recovered, and returned to the front again and defended Ukraine to the last breath. He leaves a wife and a two-year-old daughter. Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Eternal memory to the Hero!”
COMMENTS
English