Olympic champion Gable Steveson made his RAF debut with a dominant 10-0 victory over Alexandr Romanov at RAF 9.
Olympic champion Gable Steveson announced himself on the professional scene with a commanding 10-0 shutout victory over Alexandr Romanov at RAF 9 on May 31, 2026, marking a dominant debut for the decorated amateur standout.
Romanov, known as "King Kong," entered the bout with an 18-3-0 professional record and carried legitimate credentials as a heavyweight threat. The 35-year-old southpaw stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and has consistently demonstrated a well-rounded game, averaging 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy while also posing a serious grappling threat at 4.49 takedowns per 15 minutes. Despite that pedigree, he was unable to find an answer for Steveson across the contest.
Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist in wrestling making his RAF debut, controlled the bout from start to finish and left no room for doubt on the scorecards, earning a clean 10-0 result against a seasoned opponent.
Why it matters
- Steveson's perfect debut against a fighter with 18 professional wins immediately establishes him as a credible heavyweight presence.
- Romanov, who now falls to 18-3-0, had been regarded as a measuring stick in the division given his grappling output and striking consistency.
- The stylistic matchup pitted elite Olympic-level wrestling against a proven professional who averages nearly 4.5 takedowns per 15 minutes, making Steveson's dominance all the more notable.
- A 10-0 margin signals Steveson controlled multiple phases of the fight rather than simply surviving a tough opponent.
