| Choi Tseveenpurev | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Choijiljavyn Tseveenpürev |
| Rated at | Featherweight |
| Height | 5 ft 5.75 in (1.67 m) |
| Reach | 56 in |
| Nationality | Mongolian |
| Born | October 6, 1971 Ulan Bator, Mongolia |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 35 |
| Wins | 30 |
| Wins by KO | 23 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Choijiljavyn "Choi" Tseveenpürev (Mongolian: Чойжилжавын Цэвээнпүрэв; born 6 October 1971 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia) is a Mongolian featherweight boxer based in the United Kingdom. Tseveenpurev won the Prizefighter series Featherweights tournament on 29 October 2011, the same month that he passed 40. This followed a ten-round victory on 18 June 2011 over former IBO featherweight champion Jackson Asiku - a fight nominated for the British boxing fight of the year.
Tseveenpurev began his career with ten-rounders as an away fighter in South Korea and Thailand fighting legendary former and future world champion Veeraphol Sahaprom in only his third contest. This is the only one of his four defeats, all by points verdicts.
His boxing career saw him travel to South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and China before settling in the UK in 2000. Tseveenpurev is currently trained by promoter Spencer Fearon, having previously worked with Jack Doughty and Lee Wilkins.
On 6 June 2008, he was awarded with the title of 'State Honoured Athlete' by the Mongolian President, Nambaryn Enkhbayar.[1]
He won the vacant WBF title by knocking out David Kiilu in the third round. Tseveenpurev defended the title twice [2] before becoming the WBU Featherweight champion with a destructive win over Derry Mathews in Bolton on 5 April 2008,[3].
During the bout, Tseveenpurev was described as "Britain's answer to Kostya Tszyu" by boxing commentator John Rawling - a reference to him sporting a similar trademark ponytail and unrelenting style as the Hall of Fame boxer. Tseveenpurev himself lists Tszyu as his idol, along with Roberto Duran.
There followed a 15-month period of inactivity described as "criminal" by UK publication Boxing News which led him to briefly to retire,[4] before returning to the ring with Spencer Fearon's Hard Knocks Boxing Promotions in June 2009.
In his first fight under the Hard Knocks banner, Tseveenpurev beat Lubos Prehradnik in three rounds on 11 July, his country's Independence Day in front of many of his countrymen who were earlier at London's Naadam celebrations. The crowd was described by boxing pundit Steve Bunce as the most passionate in British boxing for 30 years.