Things you didn't know about Nathan Heaney's next opponent Sladan Janjanin?
Nathan 'Hitman' Heaney (13-0, 5KOs) has a huge following in the UK, but not much is known about his forthcoming opponent Sladan Janjanin (30-8, 23KOs) as he prepares for his second fight in the UK.
So BBN decided to find out as many interesting facts about the visiting fighter right here:
Sladan was born in 1991 in Travnik, Bosnia And Herzegovina, but now resides in Prijedor.
They lived in a small town and money was scarce. His parents had to work around the clock to make ends meet and he and his two older brothers also worked hard to help the family as best they could.
He followed his older brother to the boxing gym and was a natural, winning 45 from 50 amateur bouts.
He turned professional in 2016 and stopped his first six opponents. He reached 14-0 before travelling to Canada to face fast-rising Steven Butler for the IBF Youth super-welterweight title where he lost in round three.
After suffering his first ever pro career defeat, he decided to get back in the ring again 14 days later in his hometown and won within 175 seconds!
He has fought in the UK once before when he took world title contender Martin Murray the distance over eight rounds in Liverpool in 2019. He has admitted to idolising Martin for many years, so was made up to share the ring with the four-time world title contender. Murray's feedback was that Janjanin was a solid, strong fighter, who had earned his respect.
The 30-year-old has fought in 12 different countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina; Germany; Serbia; Switzerland; Kenya; Canada; Turkey; Hungary; Togo; Macedonia; Poland; England.
The heavy handed hitter has knocked out 23 of his 30 victims, totalling to a 76% KO ratio.
He is the No.1 middleweight in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His alias is 'The Miner' because he works full-time as a miner in his hometown.
His first title as a pro was the WBF International middleweight title and his second was the UBF European super-welterweight title. Both belts are very obscure but he has also challenged for WBC Mediterranean super-middle and middleweight titles, unsuccessfully.
He was due to face Coventry's River Wilson-Bent in August but the fight fell through, but not before Sladan left his mark by calling River a 'little girl' on Instagram. With the unfinished business between them, they may well meet again.
His motto is "No Retreat – No Surrender".
He has a wife and a young son.
He is friends with Western United FC footballer Aleksandar Prijovic.
He counts Badou Jack as his friend and boxing idol.
Stats
Bouts: 38
Rounds: 138
Height: 5′ 7″
Debut: 01/06/2013
BoxRec Rating: 229
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