Dejan Zlaticanin on signing with Al Haymon

It's been a busy past nine months for Dejan Zlaticanin, who captured the WBC International lightweight title in late June against former WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns. The action-packed Montenegrin was just two fights removed from the biggest win of his career against Spanish-based-Russian Petr Petrov. Petrov's career reached new heights after his loss to Zlaticanin when he traveled to The United States and got an opportunity to display his skills against then-undefeated prospect Fedor Papazov on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.

Two fights and fourteen months later, Zlaticanin traveled to Glasgow, Scotland and won a decision against Ricky Burns, who is now scheduled to face the former WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa in May. Having been at the top of the WBC rankings since his victory against Ricky Burns and seeing his two most important defeated opponents continuously getting big fights just didn't seem right. It is why Dejan Zlaticanin now feels he has an opportunity to make a big splash and shakeup the lightweight division in 2015, as he has signed with powerful adviser Al Haymon within the past week.

The WBC has ordered a final eliminator between Dejan Zlaticanin and Ivan Redkach, the undefeated Ukrainian who has made his mark on American TV within the past year with impressive performances on Showtime and ESPN.


I briefly spoke with Dejan after his announcement that he is signing with Al Haymon and this is what he had to say:


AT: Dejan, once again congratulations on your newly announced contract with Al Haymon. I've spoke with you multiple times since your victory over Ricky Burns in 2014 and each time you've expressed a burning desire to fight for a title. One of the men you've been calling out since capturing the WBC International lightweight title is former WBC champion Omar Figueroa, whom is now scheduled to fight Ricky Burns in May.

It is well-known that Al Haymon fighters get big and lucrative fight opportunities. Did seeing Ricky Burns get a fight with Omar Figueroa before you have any affect on you and your camps decision to sign with Al Haymon? Did you feel Al Haymon gives you the best chance for a lightweight championship fight?

DZ: Hi Almir. Thank you once again. I have a big desire to fight for a world title because I know I deserve a title fight. I would of liked that he stayed in the lightweight division and I could of gotten a chance to fight him.

Of course, I have other offers from more managers and promoters but Haymon gave me the best terms. In the end of this year or the beginning of next year I hope I will fight for the title.

AT: Are you allowed to confirm a name of any potential opponent you may be facing next, and possibly when?

DZ: WBC has ordered me to fight Ivan Redkach in a final eliminator for the WBC title. I don't know the date or place yet, but it will be in the USA.

AT: You've spent the majority of your career in your home country of Montenegro and have traveled across Europe, now that you have signed with an American adviser such as Al Haymon, what kind of changes, if any, will we be seeing to the Dejan Zlaticanin camp? Will there be a move to the United States to stay closer to where you'll most likely be fighting in the near future and if so, has your management team presented any ideas of potentially new places to fight out of?

DZ: I will be preparing for my fights in the USA. I do not yet know from where I will fight out of, but I will know the details soon!

AT: In regards to your upcoming bout, possibly against Redkach, has there been any talks of it airing live on American TV?

DZ: I think the fight with Redkach will be live on American TV.

AT: Any thoughts on the upcoming Figueroa-Burns, and Crawford-Dulorme fights?

DZ: I think Burns will beat Figueroa, he doesn't have the power to hurt Burns. Crawford will win a unanimous decision.

AT: To wrap things up, what should American boxing fans who may have never saw you fight before expect from Dejan Zlaticanin in 2015 and do you have a message for your new-found supporters in America and the loyal following you have already build in Europe on whats to come in the coming year?

DZ: I want them to know they will enjoy every fight of mine because of my style. I love to fight. My message is to follow my career and I will not disappoint you.

My message to future opponents is: El Dinamita is coming and will blow you up!

Dejan Zlaticanin hungry for title shot, returns 10/25

By: Almir Teslic


WBC #6 and WBO #9 ranked fighter Dejan Zlaticanin is set to return on October 25th in a ten round bout which will take place in his home country of Montenegro. The Montenegrin is coming off a decision victory over Ricky Burns in Scotland and now has his eyes set on a WBC title shot after his October fight.

Zlaticanin's manager has been in talks with the WBC about a potential title shot next year and although it is just speculation at this point, the WBC International titlist is eager to prove to the world that he is a championship-level boxer:

"Wins over Petr Petrov and Ricky Burns prove that I can beat the best and I'm a world class fighter. The priority is WBC and I will work on that to get chance as soon as possible, then I can fight for other titles."

"I hope that I will 2014 finish with a record of 20-0 and after that I hope that there will be serious talk about a fight for world championship belt. I come from a country where boxing is not popular, much harder then boxers in USA. I hope I will soon fight in USA and prove how much I'm worth."


"Dinamit" Dejan knocked Ricky Burns down with a tight and short left hook in the first twenty seconds of their June fight. Zlaticanin went on to outwork Burns over twelve rounds and win a split decision in Glasgow. Zlaticanin also defeated Spanish based Russian Petr Petrov in April of last year.

Petrov made a big splash to American audiences this year with his fabulous performance in ESPN's Boxcino Lightweight tournament. Victories over prospects Fedor Papazov, Chris Ruud and the battle-tested Fernando Carcamo ultimately led to Petrov emerging as the Boxcino Lightweight tournament winner.

Zlaticanin possesses a very aggressive and fan-friendly style and will look to make a similar impact on American TV in the coming year.

Rodney Berman of Golden Glove Promotions: Interview

By Henry Martin:

Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions has steadily been working his way onto the global boxing scene in recent times. He has successfully secured fights all across the globe, expanded the industry to Monaco, and has most recently signed former world title challenger Martin Murray to a lucrative contract. Berman is now looking to breakthrough into the UK market by luring even more boxers from one of the boxing worlds hottest markets to collaborate with him and ultimately stage shows there in the near future.

On October 25th, Berman will be hosting another big card in Monaco which will feature a minimumweight title fight, a vacant bantamweight title and a possible precursor to a another title fight between two undefeated light heavyweight prospects. There is a lot at stake in Monaco on October 26th and the man behind it all sat down with me for a short interview about his upcoming card, and the future of some of his fighters.

Do you have any comments on the rumors of Miguel Cotto vacating his WBC title to move down in weight? Murray is the current WBC Silver champion and number one contender for the WBC title, it seems he is next in line if Cotto were to vacate his title.

My personal take is that Cotto will eventually move down because the only meaningful fight for him at the weight is against Golovkin, who I’m sure he doesn’t want to meet. If Cotto were to vacate, I’m certain Martin Murray will be the mandatory.

What are your thoughts on the proposed “unification” between WBA Middleweight Super champion Gennady Golovkin and interim belt holder Marco Antonio Rubio?

First: this brings Martin Murray one step closer to fighting for the WBC title. Rubio is going to go the same way as Golovkin’s previous opponents; he won’t put up meaningful opposition.

With that said, if Golovkin gets past Rubio, what would be your thoughts of a potential Monaco showdown early next year? Murray has built a solid fan base there since signing with Golden Gloves and a proposed match-up between the two has been a topic of discussion since Murray’s 2013 fight with Sergio Martinez. It seems to be a fight many fans would love to see at 160.

Watch this space! Get ready for a major extravaganza in Monaco next February.

WBA Minimumweight champion Hekkie Budler is fighting on your October 26th card in Monaco. What are the plans for his future as far as possible unification bouts with the other title holders? The unification between Takayama and Rodriguez Jr. captured the attention of boxing fans around the world. What are the chances he unifies with Rodriguez Jr. or the winner of Novao/Menayothin next year?

All our attempts to entice the other champions have seen them running scared. But Golden Gloves will continue to make non-refusable offers. Menayothin turned us down, as did Novoa and Takayama. I can’t say I blame them given Hekkie’s form, but I hope this situation doesn’t result in Hekkie being deprived of being a unified champion. For now he’s fighting recent champion Xiong Zhao Zhong on the Monte Carlo card. Needless to say, we had to offer an enormous purse.

Ryno Liebenberg earned his biggest win against Denis Grachev earlier this month in a gutsy performance that put his heart on full display. With his next fight being against fellow prospect Eleider Alvarez, a stable mate of Adonis Stevenson, do you think a win would set him up with a future bout against 175lb lineal champ Adonis Stevenson?

Ryno versus Alvarez will be one of the fights of the year. In my discussions with Yvon Michel, we’ve agreed the winner will go on to fight Stevenson.

Is the fight between Thomas Oosthuizen and Denis Grachev more than simply just a fight to shake off the rust after a year of inactivity? Grachev just fought Ryno and undoubtedly, comparisons will rise up between the two men against this common opponent.

It’s far more than merely shaking off the rust. Grachev is a very credible fighter and Tommy fighting him will provide a yardstick on whether Tommy still has it. There’s no comparison – Tommy and Ryno have totally different styles. Also, Ryno has surpassed Tommy in the public reckoning and in the rankings. Tommy has to win back trust and confidence.

Due to Thomas Oosthuizen’s inactivity, he left a void that could possibly be filled by Ryno as the best Light Heavyweight from South Africa. Is there any possibility these two will get together in the ring in the near future? This could be a huge domestic fight if it were to happen.

It might happen and would be a real South African super-fight if it did. I would never discount it, but for now the focus is on getting Ryno a world title shot and checking whether Tommy still has the drive to make it. It’s up to him.

This might be a delicate issue, but I’ll take a shot in the dark and ask anyway. What is the ongoing situation with IIunga Makabu? This has been a hot topic among the boxing community for quite some time now.

I’m used to boxers jumping ship; it’s an occupational hazard. Makabu did us a great disservice. If his actions weren’t so pathetic they would be laughable. Time will show that he made a grave error. Golden Gloves is finished and done with him.

Finally, it sounds like your trip to the UK was very successful, congratulations on that! It sounds like Martin Murray will play a vital part when you start promoting shows in the UK next year. I don’t suppose you could tease us and maybe hint at who could possibly be on-board for next year?

A number of leading UK fighters have come knocking, but it would be unfair to name them because some are still coming out of current contracts. Martin Murray will play a huge part in our UK business. I have great confidence in him as a human being. He will be a tremendous ambassador  for our UK operation.