Željko Mavrović
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| Željko Mavrović | |
 |
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Željko Mavrović |
| Nickname(s) | Zed, Šaka sa Srednjaka |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Nationality |  Croatia |
| Birth date | February 17, 1969 |
| Birth place | Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Stance | Orthodox, right-handed |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 28 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Wins by KO | 22 |
| Losses | 1 |
Željko Mavrović (born February 17, 1969) is a retired male boxer from Croatia turned enterpreneur.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Željko Mavrović was born in Zagreb, in the neighbourhood Srednjaci (which is the source of his nickname Šaka sa Srednjaka or "Fist from Srednjaci").
[edit] Amateur career
As an amateur boxer, Mavrović was the Mediterranean champion in 1991 and Croatian champion in 1991 and 1992. Other Amateur accomplishments were:
- 1988 Olympic Games, Seoul, South Korea (Heavyweight)
- Lost to Baik Hyun-Man (South Korea) 0-5
- 1989 European Championships, Athens, Greece (Heavyweight)
- Lost-SD Axel Schulz (Germany)
- 1991 European Championships, Stockholm, Sweden (Heavyweight)
- Lost-PTS Arnold Vanderlijde (Netherlands)
- 1991 Mediterranean Games, Athens, Greece (Heavyweight): Gold Medal
- Final Match: Defeated Georgios Stefanopoulos points (Greece)
- 1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona, Spain (Heavyweight)
- Defeated Mark Hulstrom (Denmark) 8-2
- Lost to Danell Nicholson (USA) 6-9
[edit] Professional career
When he turned professional, he became the boxing champion of Europe (EBU) in 1995 and kept his title in 1996 and 1997 against seven opponents.
In 1998, he went up against Lennox Lewis for the world heavyweight champion title, but lost after twelve rounds on points. In 2006 Lewis stated that that fight was "the hardest of my career".[citation needed]
[edit] Honors
His Golden Glove remains the biggest trophy in the history of Croatian boxing, and he was named the Croatian sportsperson of the year twice. He was also distinctive for his Mohawk hairstyle, which led to a later nickname Irokez (Croatian for Iroquois).
[edit] Outside the Ring
After retirement he went into agricultural business. He opened "Eko-centar Mavrović" in Sloboština near Požega where he produces his own line of eco-friendly food.
