Background and career
Dejan Zlatičanin (born 23 April 1984) is a Montenegrin professional boxer. He is the first Montenegrin boxer to win a boxing world title, having held the WBC lightweight title from 2016 to 2017.
Zlatičanin made his professional debut on 3 May 2008, scoring a third-round technical decision against Wladimir Borov. On 1 February 2011, he won his first regional championship — the vacant WBC Mediterranean lightweight title— via unanimous decision over Felix Lora. Later that year, on 26 November, he claimed the vacant WBV International lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Godfrey Nzimande.
Having vacated the title, he regained it, and earned a world title shot, by defeating Ricky Burns at Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, on 27 June 2014. Zlatičanin knocked his opponent to the canvas after just 30 seconds of the first round and went on to win via split decision with two of the ringside judges scoring the fight 115–113 in his favour, while the third had it for Burns by the same score.
The pinnacle of Zlatičanin's career came at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, USA, on 11 June 2016, when he won the WBC lightweight title to become the first Montenegrin world boxing champion. He was originally scheduled to face defending champion Jorge Linares, but the Venezuelan withdrew due to a fractured hand and was designated as champion in recess. Franklin Mamani was drafted in as a replacement, taking the fight on just 11 days notice. In the third round, with Mamani backed up against the ropes and taking heavy punishment, the referee stepped in to halt the contest, giving Zlatičanin victory by technical knockout.
Zlatičanin lost the title in his first defense to Mikey Garcia at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada, USA, on 28 January 2017. He was knocked out in the third round.
On 11 September 2021, Zlaticanin faced Zaur Abdullaev for the vacant WBC Silver lightweight title at RCC Boxing Academy in Ekaterinburg, Russia. He lost via unanimous decision with the judges' scorecards reading 109–119, 110–118 and 111–117.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
