In Linden, New Jersey, 18-year-old boxer of Ukrainian descent Andriy Lishchuk has been ranked among the top ten youth boxers in the United States in the 165-pound weight category by USA Boxing, following his successful performance at the USA Boxing International Open, where he won a silver medal.
This was reported by the NJ Boxing News and head trainer Ryan Songalia.
“My country means a lot to me because it’s a big part of who I am,” said Lishchuk. “Representing Ukraine at the highest level is one of my biggest goals, especially at this time when there is a war. Ukrainian athletes must continue showing the world how strong we are.”
According to the report, Lishchuk, a native of Ivano-Frankivsk who now lives in Linden, New Jersey, earned the No. 8 spot in the national ranking after winning a silver medal at the prestigious tournament held in February in Pueblo, Colorado. It was his debut at the national level, where he reached the final but lost in the youth 165-pound championship bout.
It is also noted that before this tournament, the boxer earned one of the most important victories of his career by defeating previously unbeaten New Jersey state champion Jandel Martinez.
“This shows me that I’m on the right path,” said Lishchuk. “Being in the gym every day and working hard is eventually going to pay off. It gives me even more motivation because the goal is to become number one.”
“Working with Andriy is a coach’s dream,” said Songalia, a veteran trainer and longtime boxing reporter. “You’ll never find anyone who works harder or is more willing to learn. Andriy has all the tools to become a star in this sport.”
According to his mentor, Lishchuk trains at Park Elite Boxing Academy and stands out for his strong work ethic and desire to develop. The athlete himself has been boxing since the age of 13 and draws inspiration from Ukrainian champions. Inspired in particular by the outstanding Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, he quickly became one of the most promising amateur boxers in the region.
Lishchuk now plans to take part in several major amateur tournaments in the United States in 2026, including the National Junior Golden Gloves in Texas and the National PAL Championships in California.
Although Lishchuk is building his future in the United States, where he moved in 2018 and has since grown into one of the country’s most promising young amateur boxers, and although he is studying in the nursing program at Union College of Union County, he maintains close ties with his homeland and regularly returns to Ukraine to visit his family.
Photo: Team Lishchuk
Prepared by: Inna Mikhno