ROMAN DZUMAN: Fighting with God and two iron fists

By Olaf Schroeder

22.11.01 - When Roman Dzuman, almost unnoticed on the undercard, made his way to the ring in a small Polish city for his debut fight as a professional boxer in June of 2000, ringsiders could be forgiven for assuming that the young Ukrainian was just one of many trying their luck in the prize ring. They saw his boyish looks, but did not know much about his extensive background as an amateur boxer. Just minutes later, fans witnessed what his iron fists can achieve when they left his opponent prone on the canvas in the second round - setting up a career journey that is yet to reach its pinnacle.

Born on February 18, 1976 in the Ukrainian city of Lwow, Roman began boxing as an 11-year-old and served notice of his potential by winning the Ukrainian youth championship in 1993. Instantly, he was called upon to represent his country - which he subsequently did for the next four years - and won a silver medal at the Istanbul world championships soon after, firmly establishing his arrival on the international circuit. Shortly after winning the European Cup in 1999, Dzuman crossed the border to Poland to meet Warsaw manager and promoter Krzysztof Zbarski. Quickly and quitely, a deal was struck for Roman to sign a professional contract with Zbarski's company Polish Boxing Promotion, which had established itself in no time as one of East Europe's leading promotional firms.

Within one year of turning pro, Dzuman amassed a fine record of 10-0 with seven victories via knockout, fighting in Polish, Dutch and Hungarian rings. His impressive destruction of former European title challenger Ferenc Szakallas earned him the right to contest the vacant IBO Intercontinental championship. Never having travelled more than five rounds previously, the up-starting welterweight faced experienced Argentinian Walter Fabian Saporiti for the title - over 12 rounds! But any worries his trainer Dmytro Sosnovskiy might have had were quickly dispatched: Roman cleverly avoided the most dangerous offerings of his determined Buenos Aires adversary, showed excellent stamina and outpunched Saporiti to collect a unianimous decision and with it clinch his first professional title. That in turn gave Roman a good ranking with the European Boxing Union.

As ferocious and dangerous Roman Dzuman is in the ring, outside of it he is a very kind, polite and friendly young man who belies the often sullen reputation that some fighters have. That, he says, is thanks to his strong belief in God: "He helps me to achieve my dreams in boxing." Dzuman is also supported by his long-time girlfriend Nataly, a French-Ukrainian. Jokingly, Roman says: "Sometimes, she's tougher than my rivals in the ring, but at the end of the day, with Nataly's Ukrainian beauty complimenting her French charm, we both end up winners."