Sanel Hasanovic Signs With Sullivan Management!
(October 5th) Novi Pazar, Serbia, heavyweight, Sanel Hasanovic has joined Sullivan Management, giving the New York-based management company another imposing heavyweight prospect as it continues to expand its stable.
Hasanovic, 27, brings a professional record of 10-1-1 with eight knockouts and extraordinary physical dimensions to the partnership. Standing 6-foot-8½ and weighing 260 pounds for his most recent bout, Hasanovic stopped Zoran Paunovic in the second round on August 2 in Serbia. The victory was his latest step forward before entering the Sullivan Management fold.
He now joins a heavyweight group that includes Albanian knockout artist Kristian Prenga and undefeated Brooklyn prospect Pryce Taylor.
For Hasanovic, the decision to sign with Sullivan Management followed conversations with founder and manager Keith Sullivan about the direction of his career.
“I met Keith Sullivan and we had a good conversation,” Hasanovic said. “We talked about boxing, my career and where I want to go in the future. We found common ground and agreed on the direction we wanted to take. I believe we can accomplish a lot together. I also believe we are going to have a very good relationship, both professionally and personally. Hopefully, we can achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and accomplish something special in boxing.”
Sullivan believes Hasanovic's combination of size, power and experience gives him an intriguing foundation as he moves into the next stage of his professional career.
“Sanel Hasanovic is a big addition to Sullivan Management,” Sullivan said. “At 6-foot-9, with eight knockouts and ten victories, he brings imposing size and serious punching power to the heavyweight division. I’m excited to help him build on that foundation, secure the right opportunities and work toward the biggest stages in boxing.”
Hasanovic's Size Is an Asset — But He Knows It Is Only Part of the Equation
At nearly 6-foot-9 and approximately 260 pounds, Hasanovic possesses the kind of dimensions that immediately attract attention in a heavyweight division increasingly populated by large, athletic fighters.
His height can provide natural advantages in maintaining distance, controlling range and forcing opponents to work from unfamiliar positions. Hasanovic, however, is quick to point out that physical size alone does not determine success.
“My height is definitely an advantage,” Hasanovic said, “but I don’t believe it is the key to winning fights. Training, physical conditioning, discipline and the ability to deal with adversity are much more important.”
Hasanovic believes his height gives him tools he can use inside the ring, particularly when it comes to managing distance.
“Being 6’ 8½” gives me certain advantages with distance, reach and my ability to control the range,” he said. “It can also have a psychological effect when an opponent sees a very tall, strong heavyweight standing across from them.”
That approach reflects a fighter who has already spent considerable time learning from some of the best heavyweights in the sport.
Seven Camps With Usyk and Experience Alongside Elite Heavyweights
One of the most intriguing aspects of Hasanovic's background is the experience he has gained in the gym.
The Serbian says he has participated in seven training camps with Oleksandr Usyk, while also gaining sparring experience with Anthony Joshua, Filip Hrgovic, Murat Gassiev and Agit Kabayel.
Those experiences have exposed Hasanovic to different styles, training methods and approaches at the highest levels of the heavyweight division.
“Every one of them has different qualities but they all have some in common: discipline, dedication and a serious approach to their profession,” Hasanovic said.
His time around Usyk, in particular, left a lasting impression.
“I have been part of seven training camps with Usyk and I am also happy to be part of Hrgovic’s preparation in Big Bear Lake, California, working with him and (trainer) Abel Sanchez.”
Hasanovic says the experience taught him lessons that extend far beyond what can be learned simply by watching championship fights.
“From Usyk’s camp especially, I learned a lot about preparation, discipline and the mental side of boxing,” he said. “Being around that level of competition teaches that you cannot be afraid of getting hit. At the same time, you have to respect punches and keep your defensive instincts.”
For Hasanovic, dealing with adversity is ultimately one of the defining characteristics of a heavyweight.
“There comes a time in boxing when you are going to get hit; what matters is how you respond, how well you can handle adversity and whether you can continue moving forward,” he said. “Being part of these camps has given me experience that I could never get from simply watching fights.”
A Heavyweight With Room to Develop
Hasanovic's professional record now stands at 10-1-1 with eight knockouts, meaning 80 percent of his professional victories have come inside the distance.
His most recent outing came August 2 in Serbia, where he stopped Paunovic in the second round. That performance provided another successful step in a career that is now entering a potentially important phase.
Hasanovic is old enough to have accumulated meaningful professional and gym experience while still having time to develop into a more complete heavyweight.
His physical dimensions are obvious. The knockout power is reflected in his record. His time spent alongside elite heavyweights has given him a rare perspective on what championship-level preparation looks like.
The next challenge will be turning those tools and experiences into consistent progress against increasingly difficult opposition.
Sullivan Management Adds Another Big Piece to Its Heavyweight Group
Hasanovic's signing continues the expansion of Sullivan Management's roster.
The company already represents undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor and Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga, while also managing fighters across several other divisions.
The broader roster includes three-time, two-division world champion Miyo Yoshida, undefeated light heavyweight prospect Arjan Iseni, Nisa Rodriguez, lightweight Fei Faiva and junior featherweight prospect Brooklyn “The Big Deal” Barwick.
Sullivan also co-manages IBF welterweight world title challenger Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan and middleweight Jim Donovan alongside former world champion and trainer Andy Lee.
Iseni, who signed with Sullivan Management just days before Hasanovic, is an undefeated 6-0 light heavyweight prospect with five knockouts and is scheduled to make his debut under the management company on November 14 in Newark.
The addition of Hasanovic gives the company another heavyweight with considerable physical upside and a distinctly international background.
The Next Chapter Begins
Hasanovic has already experienced heavyweight boxing from an unusual vantage point — inside the training camps of some of the sport's biggest names.
He has worked with Usyk, Joshua, Hrgovic, Gassiev and Kabayel, gaining firsthand insight into the preparation, discipline and mentality required to compete at the highest level. Current records and championship status for several of those fighters confirm the caliber of the environments in which Hasanovic has trained.
Now, with Sullivan Management behind him, the goal is to turn those lessons into his own professional success.
Hasanovic has the size to make opponents take notice, the power to end fights and a growing level of experience that extends well beyond his 10-1-1 professional record.
The next phase of his career will be about putting all of those ingredients together — and finding out just how far the giant Serbian heavyweight can go.
Sullivan Management Signs Staten Island
Light Heavyweight Prospect Arjan Iseni!
(October 2nd) Rapidly rising Sullivan Management has announced the signing of light heavyweight prospect Arjan Iseni (6-0, 5 KOs), an Albanian-American fighting out of Staten Island, New York.
“Keith Sullivan does the right things for his fighters,” Iseni talked about why he signed with Sullivan Management. “Contracts are scary for boxers. I also thought it was cool that he’s been involved in a charity-run boxing gym. My coach and others said, if I sign with anybody, it should be with Keith. He is definitely going to make my life easier. He always picks up the phone when I need to speak with him. I can’t negotiate but now he will handle that for me. Boxing is what I love to do and Keith will help me be my best. He will take care of logistics, negotiating and take me to the top. I want to be world champion, fight in big fights, and do what’s right for the sport.”
“Arjan Iseni has all the ingredients I look for in a fighter - talent, power, discipline and a tremendous work ethic,” Sullivan commented. “With a record of 6-0, he’s just getting started. I believe he has a very bright future in this sport, and I am excited to welcome him to the Sullivan Management team and help guide him toward the biggest fights and opportunities in boxing.”
Iseni’s head trainer Arleano Sosa added, “I’m pleased Arjan Iseni has signed a boxing management contract with Keith Sullivan. Arjan was an elite amateur, winning multiple New York, regional, and national titles. He was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for several years and gained valuable experience competing internationally. Now 6–0 as a professional with 5 knockouts, Arjan has a bright future ahead. Keith is a dedicated manager committed to helping his fighters reach the elite level. Together, they’re working toward the ultimate goal: a world championship.”
Iseni, 23, was a 5-time U.S. national amateur champion, including top honors at the prestigious 2021 USA National Championships, who registered an 85-25 record. Because his parents are from Macedonia, Iseni was able to join that country’s boxing team, which led to him gaining invaluable experience fighting all around the world: United Araa Emirates, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Poland, Uzbekistan and Ecuador.
“My parents are Albanians but citizens of Macedonia,” explained the self-described pure boxer Iseni, “and I was able to fight for the Macedonian boxing team. I wanted to fight internationally and fought the best of the best from each country. I had signing offers from promoters when I was 17-18 and won some national titles, but you tend to fight the same guys in those tournaments. By fighting internationally, I fought opponents with different styles from Eastern Europe, Asia, Russia and other countries. You can’t compare fighting guys with different styles in fights to prepare to go pro.”
Iseni has also benefited from already sparring proven professional boxers such as super middleweight world title challenger Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (24-2, 19 KOs) and undefeated British cruiserweight Viddal Riley (14-0, 7 KOs).
The 6’ 3” southpaw Iseni will make his Sullivan Management debut on the November 14th “Brick City Fight Night” card, presented by Rising Star Promotions, in a 6-round match against Everton Still (5-2-1, 3 KOs) against the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey.
A former New York State Athletic Commission Deputy Commissioner, Sullivan also manages 3-time, 2-division world champion Miyo Yoshida (19-5, 1 KO), undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (13-0, 8 KOs), Serbian heavyweight Sanel Hasanovic (10-1-1, 8 KOs), Bronx NYPD officer Nisa Rodriguez (4-1, 2 KOs), Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga (21-2, 21 KOs), lightweight Fei Faiva (6-0-1, 4 KOs) and junior featherweight prospect Brooklyn “The Big Deal” Barwick (5-1, 5 KOs). Sullivan also co-manages IBF Welterweight World title challenger Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (16-2, 12 KOs) and his cousin, middleweight Jim Donovan (2-0, 1 KO), alongside coach and ex-world champion Andy Lee.
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