Boxing

 

Roman Dzhuman challenges Jawaid Khaliq on Nov 16!

By Olaf Schroder

13.10 - "November 16 is the day. What happens that night will have an effect on the rest of my life - and I know what I must do," were the words of Roman Dzhuman, a top-ranked welterweight from Lvov in the Ukraine, when it was announced last week by his promoter Krzysztof Zbarski that the unbeaten 26-year-old will finally challenge IBO world champion Jawaid Khaliq on that day.

Dzhuman perfectly fits into 'hungry fighter' category and his rise in the professional ranks since he abandoned the amateur vest in the summer of 2000 bears testimony to that cliché-like fact. Despite an amateur career that gave him a final of world championships at junior age and European Cup at seniors level, he found no favors from Europe's 'name' promoters, who are always reluctant featuring prospects from East European countries that bring no financial backing to their shows. So Roman ventured on a second-class train ticket to Warsaw, Poland, where Zbarski's Polish Boxing Promotion was making great strides in becoming a promotional force in the world of professional boxing. Zbarski was immediately impressed with the young fighter and offered to guide and promote him: "What I saw was not only a great prospect, but a genuinely nice boy who had a burning desire to make something our of his life."

After only 10 fights, seven of which Roman won by knockout, he was put in with dangerous Argentinian Walter Fabian Saporiti, the same Saporiti who just recently ended the unbeaten run of Danish hot-shot Jan Jensen with devastating, crushing KO. Yet, even though Roman was practically a 6-round novice, he punched out an exciting points win over the 12-round championship distance to win the IBO Intercontinental belt. That moment just over a year ago, the dream began to clash with that organization's world titleholder, the aforementioned Jawaid Khaliq. Dzhuman kept active in that time, winning four times including an impressive defense of his Intercontinental crown in challenger's Ferenc Szakallas backyard of Budapest, Hungary to push his record to 15 straight wins with 10 coming inside the scheduled distance.

Now come November 16, at yet-to-be announced site in England, and Dzhuman will get his shot. "You have to understand the situation in the Ukraine," Dzhuman tries to explain his hunger and desire, "either you make it big or you are practically at the bottom of society. There's no real middle-class life in the Ukraine. Boxing is my only chance to make it big and knowing the bottom all my life, I simply must succeed. I promise that Khaliq will never have fought a harder fight than the one we have next month." A glance at the champion's record can certainly support Dzhuman's assessments. The 32-year-old, though an ABA champion in '96, has fought decent rather then outstanding opposition in his seven-year, 21 fight-record. Highlight of his curly career is a TKO 4 win over Takaloo in only his fourth outing, but he also drew with journeyman Mark Ramsey and lost on points to Frenchman Frederic Klose during that time, which remain the only blemishes on his otherwise perfect record.

Two years ago, Jawaid came off age, winning the Commonwealth welterweight title on points against Sean Sullivan. Two fights later, in June '01, he outscored wily American veteran Willy Wise, who came to fame by upsetting the great Julio Cesar Chavez, to relief the New Yorker of his IBO championship. In his three defenses since, Khaliq beat Pole Jacek Bielski (KO 5), Russia's Maxim Nesterenko (KO 12) and Jose Rosa Gomez (W 12) from the Domenican Republic.

On paper, Khaliq v Dzhuman looks about as even a match as one can wish for. The titleholder has height and reach advantages, is a mobile boxer whereas Dzhuman can be a boxer or a puncher whatever is necessary, but prefers not to hunt down an elusive opponent and go for the big shots rights away. He will be helped in his preparation by former European champion Christian Bladt from Denmark, who has similar height and style to Khaliq. But if the styles can't tell us who the favorite will be, it may come down to the old who-wants-it-more question. Naturally, Krzysztof Zbarski is optimistic about his man's desire: "I have a quite belief that Roman will have his 'one moment in time' and with the world title belt around his waist I will make him a somebody in the Ukraine!"

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