Velikton Barannikov

Who was Velikton Barannikov?

Velikton Innokentyevich Barannikov was a Soviet boxer who competed in the lightweight category at the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics. In 1960 he lost to Abel Laudonio in the quarter-final. In 1964 he progressed to the final, where he lost to Józef Grudzień. He won a European title in 1965, and finished his career with a record of 228 wins out of 275 bouts. Despite his international success he never won a national title, finishing in second place in 1960–62 and 1965.

Barannikov was born in Ulan-Ude, where he started training in boxing. In 1956 he moved to Moscow and graduated from the prestigious Bauman Moscow State Technical University. After retirement he worked as a boxing coach and referee, first in Moscow, then in Germany, and after 1982 in Ulan-Ude. He was killed in a traffic incident on 29 November 2007. Barannikov was a retired lieutenant colonel.