Born in Karaganda, Kazajistan on April 7, 1982.

His older brothers were of key importance in his first years in sports. All his family provided the necessary support for him to practice. He was part of his country’s national team and in 2002 he obtained an olympic scholarship after winning the Asian Games. In 2003 he won the world championship in Bangkok and in 2004 he won the silver medal in the Athens Olympic Games. He moved to Germany to enlist and jump into professional boxing.

His professional debut was in 2006 with a KO. In 2010 after 19 undefeated wins he disputed the WBA middleweight interim title. On august 14, 2010 he won by KO 1 against Colombian Milton Núñez in Panama.

Was promoted to regular champion and super champion after adding 10 successful defenses. Until now, he has15, including the one won before canadian David Lemieux, taking his IFB belt.

He also won the interim crown of the WBC to Marco Antonio Rubio on October 18, 2014 and was then promoted to regular champion after Saul “Canelo” Alvarez renounced the belt.

He is the WBA super champion and holds the FIB/CMB crowns. In the event of a likely mega match vs Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the WBA has given persmission to negotiate such combat and has vowed not to interfere for the sake of pleasing the boxing community. If the date is not agreed upon, a call will be made to negotiate a match with regular champion Daniel Jacobs.