Sukhotsky made his professional debut on 1 December 2005, stopping Andrey Simonov in one round.
For the next four years, Sukhotsky remained undefeated while fighting at super-middleweight exclusively in Russia.
On 19 December 2009, he travelled abroad for the first time to fight WBO light-heavyweight champion Jürgen Brähmer in his native Germany, but lost a clear unanimous decision (UD).
[1] He would stay at light-heavyweight for his next four successful outings, all in Russia, until a second UD loss to Cornelius White on 14 July 2012.
[2] A second opportunity at a world title came on 19 December 2014, this time against WBC, Ring magazine and lineal light-heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson.