Artem Dalakian: Ukraine’s WBA Flyweight Champion
Artem Dalakian held the WBA flyweight world title from 2018 until January 2024. He lost the belt to Japan’s Seigo Yuri Akui by unanimous decision in Osaka, ending a reign of nearly six years and an unbeaten professional record.
Winning the vacant WBA championship
Dalakian became champion by defeating Brian Viloria at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on February 24, 2018. The Ukrainian won a unanimous decision in his first world title challenge, beginning a reign that would include six successful defenses.
His first two challengers were Sirichai Thaiyen and Gregorio Lebron in 2018. Dalakian stopped both, then added a tenth-round stoppage of Sarawut Thawornkham in 2019. He retained against Josber Perez by unanimous decision in 2020 and defeated Luis Concepcion by a ninth-round stoppage in 2021. Those five defenses took place in Kyiv.
From London to the Osaka title fight
Dalakian’s sixth successful defense came against David Jimenez at Wembley in London in January 2023. He won over twelve rounds, keeping his unbeaten record intact before the later challenge from Akui.
On January 23, 2024, Akui won the Osaka contest with scores of 119–109, 117–111 and 116–112. The result left Dalakian with 22 victories, one defeat and 15 knockouts at the time. His title history therefore spans a championship win in California, five defenses in Ukraine, one in England and the eventual loss in Japan—a sequence that explains the international reach of his WBA reign.
Sources
- WBA: Akui–Dalakian official result
- The Ring report
- Fight report
- WBA January 2024 ratings movement
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
