The interesting story of Australian-Croatian boxing champion Ivan Rukavina turned into book

Ivan Rukavina and his new autobiography (Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

By Jozo Kolakušić

On Thursday the 30th of November 2023, close to 150 souls turned up to witness the book launch of the much storied Australian-Croatian boxing champion Ivan Rukavina. 

Ivan Rukavina, born in 1963 in the village of Kosa, Croatia, shares a compelling journey of personal and family struggles, including poverty and political oppression. Raised amidst World War Two politics and communist Yugoslavia oppression, Ivan’s family faced challenges as Croatian patriots under the communist regime.

In 1974, his father fled to Australia, returning briefly to Croatia in 1979 before the family permanently moved to Australia in 1981. Ivan, joining them in 1983, overcame hardships to achieve boxing glory, becoming the first Australian gold medal winner at the King’s Cup amateur boxing tournament in Bangkok in 1988. His professional career from 1989 to 2001, marked by 9 Light Heavyweight title wins, earned him the nickname Ivan “The Terrible ” Rukavina.

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

He entered the Australian Light Heavyweight Boxing Champions hall of fame in 1989 and 1990, showcasing his prowess in numerous tournaments in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Ivan’s quest for more challenges led him to the U.S. during the 1990s, where he lived and sparred with the best in his class.

The book launch was held at the Dom Specijalne Policije (Home of the Croatian Special Police) in Zagreb, Croatia. Opposite the famous Meštrovic art pavilion, nicknamed the ‘džamija’ or the mosque as it is has been known for generations in Zagreb due to its historical past in the cities architectural landscape.

The evening began with warm cordialities as guests arrived in the foyer of the Croatian Special police forces home, with the who’s who of the Croatian patriotic scene arriving and mingling with guests who were arriving. 

Meeting and greeting the star of the show for the evening, Ivan Rukavina who was about to have his big evening and a reflection on a remarkable life lived for sport and representing his two homelands of Croatia and Australia.

This special evening for the famed boxer from the 1980s and 90s was attended by an impressive amount of local Croats and returnees from all around the world in the audience and was  graced by many important figures from Croatian society and public life. 

Starting with well known academic Slobodan Prosperov Novak, Croatian military General Željko Glasnović, war veteran and defender of Vukovar, lately a Member of Parliament Stipo Mlinarić ‘Ćipe’, and key organisers Australian-Croatian war veteran Krešo Malić who was both the key organiser of the evening as president of the Croatian Foreign volunteers association. 

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

All of whom were on the panel of presenters alongside Ivan Rukavina. With the help of well known TV host Velimir Bujanec of the show ‘Bujica’ leading the moderation as MC of the evening in a very professional and eloquent manner, with his Z1 team providing the media, logistical and organisational support for the evening. 

After the guests had taken their places in the audience, the nights events could begin. With the MC warmly greeting all present, the microphone was handed to one of Croatia’s greatest living minds and authorities on all topics intellectually and philosophically, Slobodan Prosperov Novak. Who in his special manner, managed to deliver a very insightful and awe-inspiring speech where he managed to combine the principles of philosophy, history and the sport of boxing in one grand speech. 

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

Reminding the crowd of the importance of boxing as a sport throughout history, how important it is in the list of top 10 most popular sports in Croatia and the world. Highlighting the sheer sacrifice, discipline and hard work it takes to be a boxer and a fighter, both in sport and later through life. It was a very eloquent speech, absorbed by the public to the last word. 

The next speaker was the evening key organise, Krešo Malić. Despite his important role he represents as president of the foreign volunteers and amazing life story in itself, as he came to the motherland of Croatia, to defend the country of his parents. In his typical Australian-Croatian manner, delivered a humble speech, highlighting that never forget our the homeland of Australia which gave us everything and our homeland of Croatia where our roots are from and for whom many gave their lives so that we could today have our own free and independent country. Which captured the essence and stories of us fellow compatriots and returnees in the crowd. 

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

The hard work and sacrifice made by Croats that lived in that far away land, showing his gratitude for Ivan Rukavina and the man that he his. Showing through his selfless actions, what a great man we were all gathered together for on this evenings book launch. 

The next speech was given by Vukovar war defender Stipo Mlinarić ‘Ćipe’, now a member of parliament in Croatian parliament. It was a warm speech where he reflected upon his visits to Australia. Visiting the Croatian clubs of Australia in all the major cities, having captured the essence of what Australian Croatians are the shared struggle they all had in fighting for both their existences and for the recognition and independence of Croatia. Just like the book itself being aptly named ‘Moje borbe’ in Croatian, meaning “my battles”. Saying that he could feel the essence of all of those people he visited, in all of the clubs and institutions he entered. 

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

By just gazing into their eyes and souls, feeling the warm hearts they have and the sacrifices that many generations had given for the Croatian cause. Saying that despite us having achieved the dream of independence, it’s not the Croatia that us emigre Croats dreamed of, but its the imperative of all of us in the homeland to get our country in order so that the rest of the Croats in the world who gave up so much can finally return home to an organised and prosperous country that they deserve to have. 

The last guest speaker on the panel was Croatian military general, Željko Glasnović. A much revered Croatian army man, for his feats in defending Croatia and the Croatian people of Bosnia & Herzegovina during the homeland war of the 1990’s. After returning from Canada, to defend and lead an army of men, just like Kris in defending sacred Croatian land. Glasnović gave a warm hearted and humble speech, in his typical manner providing jokes which left the crowd in stitches from laughter. 

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

Using his well endeared terms of ‘glava’, which is also his nickname amongst people dear to him and ‘feldmaršal’ which have entered the Croatian national lexicon and psyche after his memorable performances in Croatian parliament over the years as a Member of Croatian Parliament himself. 

Also highlighting the importance of a boxer’s discipline and sacrifice it takes to be a champion, just as Ivan Rukavina had given throughout his remarkable sporting career. 

From the front row of the audience, Mario Zorko rose to the stage on behalf of the president of the Croatian Boxing Federation and presented Rukavina with gifts from the Croatian Boxing federation, a silver plaque as a thank you for the efforts and contribution Rukavina has given to Croatian boxing during his career and red boxing gloves gifted by Croatian champion boxer Željko Mavrović who wanted to attend the evening and sent his regards to all present, as he was attending to family matters with young children of his own to look after.

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

The moment that we had all been waiting for, the evening’s star guest and reason why we had all gathered that evening. Ivan Rukavina himself finally took to centre stage, after patiently listening to the informative and quite entertaining introductions from the special panel of hosts. As the champion boxer took the microphone to speak, he had thanked all that were involved in the writing of the book. 

His inspirations from Australia and Croatia, to finally have pen put to paper on the remarkable story of his life. His coaches Bill Slayton and Dana Goodson, as well as fellow boxing legend Barry Michael who provided the foreword in his book. Thanking all that had helped him write the book, Luka Jusup snr for translating the text from English to Croatian and those involved in publishing the book in the end for us all to be present at the book launch of his life story. 

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

He expressed his gratitude for all of those present in the crowd and left his final emotional thank you to the war veterans who defended Croatia and made it possible for all of us to be gathered for the book launch in a free and independent Croatia. A dream of many generations before us. Which didn’t leave anyone in the crowd level-hearted, drawing tears from the audience as the emotions reverberated throughout the hall after this heartfelt speech provided by the champion boxer Ivan Rukavina. 

The evening was capped off with a final sing song by a live guitarist who played the final of his set of beautiful songs, dedicated to Ivan’s life story and musical tastes. Beginning with Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’, a local patriot song of the Rukavina family’s region of Lika ‘Pjevaj mi pjeva sokole’ and finally ending with an acoustic version of ‘Lijepa li si’ from the patriotic singer Marko Perković Thompson which was sung in a heartfelt rendition by the entire audience as they rose to their feet to sing with the star of the evening. 

(Photo: Jozo Kolakušić)

The evening winded down as cordialities were once more exchanged and warm greetings of the guests in the audience lining up to get their copy of Ivan’s newly released book “My Fighting Life: A Boxing Autobiography” in both the Croatian and English language. 

Exchanging kind words with the entire panel of the remarkable hosts present and Ivan Rukavina himself as happily signed books and had photos taken with members of the audience who had absorbed every single bit of positivity that was shared and felt by all present in this special evening in the life of Ivan Rukavina.