By Alexey Sukachev and Dmitry Mikhalchuk
In a week, Leganes, a satellite city of Madrid, will host a cross-roader between two battle-tested veterans. Local middleweight powerhouse Ruben Varon Fernandez (39-6, 17 KOs), 33, faces 36-year old Ukrainian Roman Dzhuman (26-10-1, 12 KOs), known by his nickname “Happy Wanderer”, on October 20 at Plaza de Toros La Cubierta.
Varon is a perennial European contender, who got beat up when he tried it on an entirely new level. He was schooled by Felix Sturm for the WBO strap in 2003, knocked out by Sebastian Zbik in 2009 but lost a narrow and controversial decision to Matthew Macklin in 2010. He is 4-0 since that.
Dzhuman, who started his career as a welterweight, has some memorable moments too. His early career was derailed by split and dubious losses to Jawaid Khaliq and Jozsef Matlosci. He also lost to a number of bigger names, including Zaurbek Baysangurov, Sergey Rabchenko, Jamie Moore and Lukas Konecny (in a close one). He stopped 41-3 Frenchman Cristophe Canclaux in four in a big upset two and a half years ago.
The fight is scheduled for twelve rounds and for a vacant WBC interim Latino light middleweight title.
