Jan Zaveck

Dejan Zavec (born 13 March 1976), best known as Jan Zaveck, is a Slovenian former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2015.[1] He held the IBF welterweight title from 2009 to 2011, and challenged once for the WBA super-welterweight title in 2015. Zaveck is the only Slovenian boxer to have held a world title, and was named Slovenian Sportsperson of the Year in 2010.

Jan Zaveck
Zaveck (middle) in 2011
Statistics
Real nameDejan Zavec
Nickname(s)Mr. Sympathicus
Weight(s)
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
NationalitySlovenian
Born (1976-03-13) 13 March 1976
Trdobojci, SFR Yugoslavia
(now Slovenia)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights40
Wins35
Wins by KO19
Losses4
No contests1

Early life

Dejan Zavec was born in Trdobojci,[2] Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia. He spent his youth in Gabrnik in the Slovene Hills (Slovene: Slovenske gorice) and in Ptuj. He developed an interest in boxing at an early age. As a teenager, he joined the boxing club in Maribor. Later he resided in Gabrnik and in the city of Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

In 2006, he graduated from the Faculty for Physical Education in Novi Sad, Serbia.[3]

Boxing

Early career

Zavec started boxing at the age of 16. As an amateur, he fought in the 1995, 1997 and 1999 World championships.

Zavec turned professional in 2003, winning his first 26 fights. Early in his career, Zavec was briefly signed with Don King, but returned to Europe after the legendary promoter was unable to secure him bouts. Resuming his career in Germany with SES Boxing, Zavec earned a number of regional titles, including the WBO and IBF Inter-Continental and German (BDB) Welterweight Titles.

In 2008, Zavec traveled to Poland to meet Rafal Jackiewicz for the EBU European Welterweight Title. After twelve rounds, a controversial [4] split decision was announced in the Polish fighter's favor. The bout was Zavec's first professional loss.

IBF welterweight champion

On December 11, 2009 Zavec won the IBF welterweight title against South African Isaac Hlatshwayo in a stunning upset via knockout. With this victory, Zavec became Slovenia's first-ever boxing world champion.[5][6]

Zavec defended the IBF welterweight title for the first time against Rodolfo Martínez in Ljubljana, performing at the Tivoli Hall. He won by technical knockout in the twelfth round when the referee stopped the fight.[7]

On September 4, 2010, Zavec defended the IBF welterweight title the second time against mandatory challenger Rafał Jackiewicz at the Stožice Arena in Ljubljana. In defeating Jackiewicz, Zavec avenged what was his sole career loss at the time.[8][9]

Zavec was expected to face the winner of Randall Bailey-Said Ouali IBF title-eliminator that took place December 10, 2010, but the bout was ruled a no-contest. With no mandatory challenger established, Zavec opted for an optional defense in Ljubljana. On February 18, 2011, Zavec defended the IBF welterweight title for the third time against #15-ranked Paul Delgado, performing again at the Stožice Arena, in front of 12,000 spectators. He won with a technical knockout in the fifth round, when the referee stopped the fight.

After discussions to fight Paulie Malignaggi on the Saul Alvarez-Ryan Rhodes undercard fell through,[10] Zavec traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi to face former WBC light-welterweight champion Andre Berto on HBO on September 3, 2011. Despite being a 4-to-1 underdog coming into the fight, Zavec proved competitive; trading clean punches with Berto and earning praise from HBO's Roy Jones Jr. In the fifth round, a number of cuts opened on Zavec's face, which resulted in Zavec's corner waiving the fight off before the sixth round. The loss ended Zavec's reign as IBF welterweight champion.

Later career

After losing the IBF title, Zavec fought on for three more years; going the distance with future unified welterweight world champion Keith Thurman and challenging Erislandy Lara for the WBA and IBO Super Welterweight Titles in a TKO loss.

Zavec announced his retirement from boxing on March 13, 2016 at a press conference attended by Slovene President Borut Pahor.

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
40 fights 35 wins 4 losses
By knockout 19 2
By decision 16 2
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
40 Loss 35–4 (2) Erislandy Lara TKO 3 (12), 0:41 25 Nov 2015 Park Race Track, Hialeah, Florida, US For WBA (Regular) and IBO light-middleweight titles
39 Win 35–3 (1) Sasha Yengoyan UD 12 11 Apr 2015 Tabor Hall, Maribor, Slovenia Won WBF (Federation) light-middleweight title
38 Win 34–3 (1) Ferenc Hafner TKO 7 (12) 14 Oct 2014 Tabor Hall, Maribor, Slovenia Won vacant WBO European light-middleweight title
37 Win 33–3 (1) Sebastien Allais UD 8 19 Nov 2013 Trade Fair, Leipzig, Germany
36 Loss 32–3 (1) Keith Thurman UD 12 9 Mar 2013 Barclays Center, New York City, New York, US Lost WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
35 Win 32–2 (1) Bethuel Ushona UD 12 24 Mar 2012 Tabor Hall, Maribor, Slovenia Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
34 Loss 31–2 (1) Andre Berto RTD 5 (12), 3:00 3 Sep 2011 Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi, US Lost IBF welterweight title
33 Win 31–1 (1) Paul Delgado KO 5 (12) 18 Feb 2011 Arena Stožice, Ljubljana, Slovenia Retained IBF welterweight title
32 Win 30–1 (1) Rafał Jackiewicz MD 12 4 Sep 2010 Arena Stožice, Ljubljana, Slovenia Retained IBF welterweight title
31 Win 29–1 (1) Rodolfo Ezequiel Martinez TKO 12 (12), 2:20 9 Apr 2010 Tivoli Hall, Ljubljana, Slovenia Retained IBF welterweight title
30 Win 28–1 (1) Isaac Hlatshwayo TKO 3 (12), 2:55 11 Dec 2009 Wembley Indoor Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Won IBF welterweight title
29 Win 27–1 (1) Jorge Daniel Miranda KO 12 (12) 19 Jun 2009 Tabor Hall, Maribor, Slovenia
28 Win 26–1 (1) Arek Malek UD 6 15 May 2009 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany
27 Loss 25–1 (1) Rafał Jackiewicz SD 12 29 Nov 2008 Spodek, Katowice, Poland For European welterweight title
26 Win 25–0 (1) Marco Cattikas UD 12 15 Jun 2008 Tabor Hall, Maribor, Slovenia Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental welterweight title
25 Win 24–0 (1) Pietro d'Alessio TKO 4 (8), 2:33 19 Jan 2008 Burg-Wächter Castello, Düsseldorf, Germany
24 Win 23–0 (1) Albert Starikov UD 10 13 Oct 2007 Hermann-Gieseler-Halle, Magdeburg, Germany Retained German International welterweight title
23 NC 22–0 (1) Jorge Daniel Miranda NC 3 (12), 1:48 12 Jun 2007 Tabor Hall, Maribor, Slovenia Vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title at stake;
NC after Zaveck was cut
22 Win 22–0 Nicolas Guisset UD 12 17 Feb 2007 Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany Won vacant European Union welterweight title
21 Win 21–0 Andrey Yeskin TKO 10 (12), 2:30 23 May 2006 Športna dvorana Center, Ptuj, Slovenia Retained WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
20 Win 20–0 Joel Mayo TD 6 (12), 1:50 25 Mar 2006 TURM ErlebnisCity, Brandenburg, Germany Retained WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title;
Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental welterweight title;
Unanimous TD after Mayo was cut from an accidental head clash
19 Win 19–0 Serge Vigne TKO 5 (8), 2:35 29 Oct 2005 TURM ErlebnisCity, Brandenburg, Germany
18 Win 18–0 Mikhail Boyarskikh TKO 8 (12), 2:07 20 Sep 2005 T-Mobile Arena, Prague, Czech Republic Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
17 Win 17–0 Joseph Sovijus KO 3 (6) 18 Jun 2005 Pula Arena, Pula, Croatia
16 Win 16–0 Danilo Alcantara TKO 2 (6), 2:04 2 Feb 2005 Ofen-Stadthalle, Brandenburg, Germany
15 Win 15–0 Martins Kukulis KO 4 (6), 1:56 15 Jan 2005 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany
14 Win 14–0 Jurijs Boreiko MD 6 18 Sep 2004 Hermann-Gieseler-Halle, Magdeburg, Germany
13 Win 13–0 Arthur Nowak TKO 8 (10) 17 Jul 2004 Anhalt Arena, Dessau, Germany Won vacant German International welterweight title
12 Win 12–0 Boubacar Sidibe UD 8 5 Jun 2004 Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany
11 Win 11–0 Viktor Baranov UD 12 17 Apr 2004 Maribor, Slovenia Won vacant NBA Inter-Continental welterweight title
10 Win 10–0 Nikita Zaytsev SD 8 21 Feb 2004 Ballhaus-Arena, Aschersleben, Germany
9 Win 9–0 Rozalin Nasibulin TKO 5 (8) 29 Nov 2003 Lausitz Arena, Cottbus, Germany
8 Win 8–0 Andrzej Butowicz UD 6 17 Nov 2003 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
7 Win 7–0 Leonti Vorontsuk TKO 2, 2:44 20 Sep 2003 Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany
6 Win 6–0 Kamel Ikene TKO 2 (6), 2:14 5 Jul 2003 Anhalt Arena, Dessau, Germany
5 Win 5–0 Artur Drinaj TKO 2 14 Jun 2003 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany
4 Win 4–0 Nikita Zaitsev TKO 2 21 May 2003 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
3 Win 3–0 Patrik Hruska UD 6 25 Apr 2003 Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany
2 Win 2–0 Nico Salzmann PTS 6 21 Mar 2003 Jump Trampolinpark, Berlin, Germany
1 Win 1–0 Zsolt Toth TKO 1 (4), 1:00 1 Mar 2003 Ballhaus-Arena, Aschersleben, Germany

References
  1. To. G., K. J. (27 November 2015). "Zavec to retire: "23 years has been enough. It's time for new victories"". RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  2. "Častni občani Občine Videm" [Honourable members of Videm municipality] (in Slovenian). 11 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  3. "Dejan Zavec - Od sirote do svetovnega prvaka" [Dejan Zavec - From an orphan boy to world champion] (in Slovenian). 11 June 2011. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  4. "Jan Zaveck, The One and Only, At Least From Slovenia". BoxingScene. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  5. "Jan Zaveck Shocks Isaac Hlatshwayo By Knockout". Boxing Scene. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  6. "Zavec svetovni prvak v boksu!" [Zavec is the world champion!] (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  7. "Zaveck retains IBF welter belt". Fightnews. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  8. "Zavec ubranil naslov svetovnega prvaka" [Zavec defended the title of the world champion] (in Slovenian). Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  9. "Zavec v Stožicah ubranil naslov svetovnega prvaka!" [Zavec in Stožice defended the title of the world champion!] (in Slovenian). Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  10. "Dejan Zavec - Paul Malignaggi 18 czerwca?" [Dejan Zavec - Paul Malignaggi June 18?] (in Slovenian). Retrieved 4 September 2019.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Turgay Uzun		 German International
welterweight champion
17 July 2004 – 2010
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Stefan Worth
Vacant
Title last held by
Zab Judah		 WBO Inter-Continental
welterweight champion
20 September 2005 – October 2006
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Luciano Abis
Vacant
Title last held by
Cristian De Martinis		 IBF Inter-Continental
welterweight champion
25 March 2006 – July 2006
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Joshua Clottey
Vacant
Title last held by
Michel Trabant		 European Union
welterweight champion
17 February 2007 – November 2007
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Daniele Petrucci
Vacant
Title last held by
Giammario Grassellini		 IBF Inter-Continental
welterweight champion
15 June 2008 – 11 December 2009
Won world title		 Vacant
Title next held by
Daniele Petrucci
Vacant
Title last held by
Frankie Gavin		 WBO Inter-Continental
welterweight champion
24 March 2012 – 9 March 2013		 Succeeded by
Keith Thurman
Vacant
Title last held by
Attila Kovács		 WBO European
light-middleweight champion
17 October 2014 – April 2015
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Predrag Radosevic
Minor world boxing titles
Preceded by
Sasha Yengoyan		 WBF (Federation)
light-middleweight champion
11 April 2015 – November 2015
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Fariz Mammadov
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by
Isaac Hlatshwayo		 IBF welterweight champion
11 December 2009 – 3 September 2011		 Succeeded by
Andre Berto
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