Top Heavyweight Boxers in the World

A Russian heavyweight with an established amateur background

Evgeny Romanov is a Russian professional boxer from Volgograd whose career has included heavyweight contests and title opportunities in the bridgerweight division. Born on 20 July 1985, he entered professional boxing in July 2016 after an amateur career that included a stoppage victory over Deontay Wilder. That amateur result is an interesting part of his background, but it is separate from his professional record and was never a professional meeting between the two men.

Romanov's route differed from that of a young heavyweight learning the sport entirely in paid contests. He arrived with amateur experience and then built a professional record largely on Russian shows. The early wins gave him time in the professional format, while later opposition offered a better measure of how his skills transferred to longer bouts. His compact stature also made his career distinct from the very tall heavyweights who have occupied much of the division's international spotlight.

Regional titles and experienced opposition

Romanov stopped Canada's Dillon Carman in the first round on 22 February 2019 to win the WBO Global heavyweight title. The finish became one of the notable results of his early professional development. Later that year he went ten rounds to outpoint Ariel Esteban Bracamonte, demonstrating that his record was not built exclusively on short contests.

Another recognizable opponent was former WBO heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich, whom Romanov knocked out in the second round in November 2020. The Romanov–Liakhovich result remains part of his heavyweight history. Beating an experienced former champion helped distinguish that stage of his career, while the regional title involved should not be confused with a full world heavyweight championship.

The move into bridgerweight title contention

In May 2021, Romanov defeated Dmitry Kudryashov by unanimous decision over twelve rounds in Khimki. The WBC sanctioned the contest as a bridgerweight eliminator with its Silver title at stake. Romanov's ability to complete the full distance against a powerful opponent was significant, but neither the eliminator nor the Silver belt made him the division's full world champion.

Subsequent victories included contests with Vikapita Meroro, Chris Thompson and Wilmer Vasquez. The Vasquez points win in September 2023 was followed by a more difficult period. Keeping the divisions clear matters when reading this chronology: the professional record includes sanctioned bouts across those assignments, while the title contests against Zhaoxin Zhang and Georgiy Yunovidov were in bridgerweight rather than for a heavyweight world title.

Back-to-back defeats and record context

Zhaoxin Zhang stopped Romanov in the second round on 10 February 2024 in a WBA bridgerweight eliminator. Romanov then lost by stoppage to Georgiy Yunovidov at the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg on 5 July 2025, in a contest for the vacant WBA interim bridgerweight title. The defeat itself is confirmed; published sources differ in their formal notation of the ending, so it is described here simply as a stoppage defeat.

The displayed 19–2 record and 12 stoppage wins follow the WBA's published figures. The Russian Boxing Federation's profile lists 18–2 with 11 stoppages, so those totals remain subject to reconciliation rather than being presented as unanimous across all record sources. Both accounts confirm two professional defeats. No officially scheduled next bout has been verified, and his next fight remains TBA. A period without a bout announcement does not establish retirement.

Historical heavyweight footage

Historical heavyweight footage: Romanov vs Dillon Carman, February 2019.

Historical heavyweight footage: Romanov vs Ariel Esteban Bracamonte, June 2019.