Professional boxers on a losing streak can quickly see their dreams of competing for a world championship fade – after all, to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
Many athletes have retired their gloves after consecutive losses and ventured into entirely different fields – however, this is not the case for Latvian boxer Dmitrijs Avsijenkovs. While there’s limited information about the light heavyweight fighter, it’s clear that he has demonstrated resilience and determination in the face of adversity over the years.
BoxRec records show that the combat sports enthusiast made his professional debut in May 2010 at the Technologijos Ir Verslo Mokykla, Raseiniai, where 1-6-1 journeyman Kiril Psonko knocked him out. Undeterred by a defeat in his first match, Avsijenkovs fought three more times in 2010, suffering brutal knockout losses to Jevgenijs Fjodorovs, Deniss Aleksejevs, and Jurijs Boreiko.
After taking a year off and holding a professional record of 0-4 in the ring, the boxer returned to fight Vjaceslavs Zukovs at the Hai Centr in Riga, hoping to turn his career around. However, his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, as he suffered another knockout loss to a man with a 0-3 record at the time.
Fast-forward to December 2024, and Avsijenkovs has competed in 29 professional boxing matches, failing to secure a single victory and remaining inactive since December 2015. What’s more concerning is that the Latvian has suffered a knockout loss in each of his bouts.
Despite many boxers with poor records going unnoticed, with fans of the highly competitive sport focusing on the elite, Avsijenkovs has gained a slight following over the years due to his 0-29 record. In 2017, one person posted on social media: “My new favorite boxer is Dmitrijs Avsijenkovs from Latvia. Looks like he just woke up, put on some gloves and boxed in his underwear #boxing,” while sharing a screenshot of the boxer’s profile and stats.
And others quickly commented to express their admiration for the fighter. One person replied: “He is a legend,” while another called him “incredible”. A third added: “Respect to him tho for climbing back in the ring after getting knocked out every time,” while a fourth joked: “Can he make 135 [lbs]? I need a for sure win.”
While boxing legends like Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, and Muhammad Ali may steal the limelight, journeymen like Avsijenkovs play a crucial role in the sport. They introduce new fighters, make matches exciting to watch, and step in at short notice when another boxer has to pull out.
The journeyman’s career is arguably more physically and mentally demanding than that of a champion. After all, who would want to keep fighting without the prospect of fame or fortune, while their reputation takes a hit with few victories? So here’s to you, Dmitrijs Avsijenkovs – despite your one-sided career!