‘THE PANTHER’ 

At the beginning of the last century, Eastern Europe produced some of the greatest prizefighters in boxing history. Many of them emigrated to the United States to pursue their fistic dreams with great success. Over 100 years later the story remains the same. Many of today’s best fighters hail from Eastern Europe once again. The Ukraine, in particular, has become an incredibly fertile breeding ground for elite level, world class fighters. Some of the sweet science’s most accomplished prizefighters hail from the Ukraine, such as the recently crowned WBC super lightweight world champion, Viktor Postol and current WBO world featherweight champion Vasyl Lomanchenko, who is considered by many boxing writers to be the finest pound for pound prizefighter in boxing today.

Of course, no discussion on top flight Ukrainian boxers would be complete without mentioning the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, who have dominated heavyweight boxing for the past 12 years. And now, there is one more boxer to add to that select list. His name is Oleksandr Teslenko and he is an exciting, talented heavyweight fighter from the Ukraine that has recently emigrated to Canada where he has been turning heads all over boxing gyms in Toronto. Teslenko stands 6’4” tall and weighing in the neighbourhood of 220 lbs, he certainly has the size and range to compete in today’s heavyweight ranks.

Oleksandr “Sasha” Teslenko was born to Sergei and Olen Teslenko on July 16, 1992, in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. Only 23 years of age, Teslenko has youth on his side and can afford to take the time to develop his boxing talents in the ring. Teslenko started boxing in the Ukraine at the tender young age of seven in 1999. He had over 247 amateur fights of which he won 224, an impressive record any way you choose to look at it. Teslenko fought and defeated some of the best amateur boxers in the world.

Sasha’s mother Olena attended the state university of Chernivtsi and graduated in 2006 with a degree in social, pedagogical and sports psychology. She now lives and works in Chernivtsi city, Ukraine. His father Sergei went to college in 1989 where he learned to carve various types of wood, out of which he made furniture in the Ukraine. He lives and works in Chernivtsi city in the furniture industry.

Sasha has a 13 year-old brother named Danilo who really looks up to his big brother with stars in his eyes. Danilo goes to a special sports school where he takes boxing in Chernivtsi city. He also hopes to become a professional boxer, just like his brother.