Fighting and family man: Sladjan Janjanin

Last month, Sladjan Janjanin faced a bully. 

Bektemir “The Bully” Melikuziev has knocked out eight of his nine opponents.  

Melikuziev is a home run hitter with power in both fists.  

Janjanin, whose dream had been to fight in America, had boxed three weeks before in Salem, MA. 

When offered a fight against Melikuziev, he answered without hesitation. 

He’s been training in Salem for a couple of months but leaving his family had been difficult. 

“My family in Bosnia is waiting for me,” said Janjanin. “I have a wife, a 4-year-old son, and another son who will be two months old. It’s difficult, but this is my life. We all get used to it.

He’s enjoying his time in America.

“I really like the American style of boxing," Janjanin said. "I came for my dreams. I fit in with guys from Argentina, Mexico, and America. I’ve learned a lot. I think this is a dream for every boxer - to come to the USA."

Janjanin’s boxing journey began in a small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina. His parent worked long days. Money was tight, but boxing was the glue. Janjanin and his older brothers loved the sport.

He knew after one visit to a gym that boxing was his future. 

After a short amateur career, Janjanin jumped into the pro ranks, scoring five straight knockouts. 

His phone was ringing to go to other countries and fight. 

In 2016, he fought Steven Butler in Canada. Butler dominated, but Janjanin wouldn’t quit. Floored for the first time in his career, Janjanin got up and fired punches. It was something he had done all his life - when down, fight back. Janjanin lost for the first time in his career but was back in the ring two weeks later. 

Janjanin accepted bouts in Germany in Albania. There were more losses, but Janjanin held his head high, eventually capturing the Universal Boxing Federation European super welterweight title. 

It’s his fight with four-time title challenger Martin Murray – at the Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool, London, that Janjanin is most proud of.  

Given little chance of lasting the distance, Janjanin felt Murray’s punches but refused to give up - fighting hard for the entire ten rounds.  

Forward to four weeks ago. Janjanin, a puffed-up junior welterweight - faced off against Melikuziev, a light heavyweight/ super middleweight. 

The size difference was immeasurable, but Janjanin was willing to risk it. 

Moments into the bout, Melikuziev dropped Janjanin with a vicious body shot. Janjanin, as expected, was game and fought as hard as he could, even standing in the center of the ring and trading shots with Melikuziev. Janjanin was down twice more, fighting until the referee waved the fight off. 

I asked Janjanin how he was doing after the fight. 

“Ok,” he said. “I respect my opponent. We’re friends on Instagram now. I came here to prove myself, but still, I didn’t show anything. I’ll rest and visit my family in Bosnia for a month or two, then I’ll be back.”

Janjanin is a fighter who began with nothing but a desire to make something of himself. 

Now he fights for his young family, but the dream lives.