Michael Sprott

Michael Sprott (born 16 January 1975) is a professional heavyweight boxer from Reading, Berkshire, England. Sprott briefly held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, and was a European heavyweight title contender. He was the winner of the 14th Prizefighter series.^[1]

Boxing out of Jim Evans' gym in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, Sprott is a regular sparring partner of Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko.

Career

After a quiet amateur career, Sprott turned pro in November 1996 under the old Frank Bruno trainer, Terry Lawless. He won 11 fights, including a points win over veteran Michael Murray before taking on Harry Senior in September 1998 for the Southern Area Heavyweight title. Senior, a respected sparring partner, had recently dedicated himself to being a full-time professional, and took Sprott out in 6 rounds with body shots. Sprott came back with 3 wins before falling apart in 3 rounds versus British contender Wayne Llewelyn in October 2000.

Seemingly relegated to journeyman status, In February 2001 in London Sprott scored an upset when he outpointed the once-beaten German Timo Hoffmann, who had lost only to Vitali Klitschko. He travelled to Germany for the rematch, controversially outpointed by Hoffmann in a result that was jeered loudly by the German crowd.

In November 2001 he travelled to South Africa to face hard hitting fringe contender Corrie Sanders. In a brief and entertaining fight, Sprott rocked the southpaw before being decked himself, and suffering a controversial stoppage by the referee when it appeared he wanted to continue.

In February 2002 Keith Long pulled out from a British and Commonwealth title fight with Danny Williams, and Sprott flew in from a holiday in Jamaica on only a few days notice. After a few rounds he ran out of gas and was stopped in 7 but showed he could compete at national level. It was around this time that Sprott brought in trainer John Bloomfield, who spent six years with Frank Bruno.^[2]

After this challenge, Sprott went on a successful run of form, winning 8 fights, including knockouts of hard hitting Pele Reid (KO7), ex-British champ Michael Holden (KO4), puncher Mark Potter (KO3), and Colin Kenna (KO1), setting up a rematch with Williams.

In September 2003 Sprott qualified for another shot at Williams and his titles, but after a far more competitive fight, Sprott was the victim of several low blows. When he complained to the referee he was controversially knocked out by a Williams left hook.

In January 2004 Sprott narrowly outpointed Williams in their third and final fight (115-114), lifting the British and Commonwealth titles. A few months later Williams would knockout Mike Tyson, however Sprott would lose his titles in his first defense, matched with fast undefeated Matt Skelton (12-0), Sprott was mauled and stopped in the 12th. His last fight of 2004 was a win against Czech heavyweight champ Robert Šulgan in Bethnal Green.

In 2005 Sprott would take the first of many trips abroad fighting top prospects, usually at short notice. In April he beat the German amateur star Cengiz Koc, but in October was outpointed by Olympian Paolo Vidoz in a European title fight, both fights in Germany. In December he fought future European champ Vladimir Virchis in Austria, but was once-again the victim of a controversial decision loss.

In February 2006 he outboxed veteran Antoine Palatis in Scotland, but in a WBA Eliminator in July was hammered in 8 one-sided rounds by undefeated Ruslan Chagaev. Despite the loss he went back to Germany and beat a third German prospect when he upset undefeated southpaw Rene Dettweiller in November.

During his travels in Germany Sprott had picked up the second-tier European Heavyweight title, the "EU" title, which he defended against 2000 Olympic Gold medallist Audley Harrison in London, February 2007. Harrison had demolished Danny Williams in his last fight and was on course to face Matt Skelton in a world title eliminator. A 9/2 underdog with most bookies, Sprott came off the floor in the 1st round to score a rare stoppage win by knocking Harrison clean out in the 3rd with a left hook; and seemingly ending his career.^[3]

On 14 July 2007 Sprott lost to Matt Skelton in a 12-round contest. The fight was of a very poor standard with Skelton winning on points.

On 31 May 2008 Sprott travelled to Germany to face hot prospect, and the WBA's #4 ranked contender Taras Bidenko. Sprott was outpointed in a 10 round unanimous decision, with 2 judges scoring the bout 97-93, and the other seeing it 97-94.

On 14 March 2009 Sprott fought former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster and lost a unanimous decision.

He fought Alexander Ustinov on 20 June 2009 but lost by unanimous decision after ten rounds. However he beat German Werner Kreiskott by round 1 TKO in March 2010 and this earned him a shot at the vacant European Boxing Union title against old foe Audley Harrison at Alexandra Palace in April 2010. Sprott was leading the bout on all three scorecards before Harrison knocked out Sprott with seconds remaining of round 12.

On 9 October 2010, a 35 year old Sprott competed in Sky's 'PrizeFighter' series (Heavyweights), reaching the final where he fought Matt Skelton. It was Third time lucky for Sprott who had lost his previous 2 contests with the 43 year old Skelton, Winning on a split decision (29-28 skelton 29-28 sprott 29-28 sprott) after the 3 round contest and winning £32,000 in 'winner take all' prize money. In September 2011 he suffered a third defeat in a European heavyweight title bout when he lost a unanimous points decision to Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko in Hamburg.

Outside the ring

Michael Sprott has a son called Darnell born around 2001.^[2] Darnell's name is stitched on the shorts Sprott wears for his professional contests. In recent contests Sprott's shorts have also displayed the name of his late sister Ginette, who took her own life in September 2009 after a long battle with depression.^[4]

He lists his hobbies as weights, travelling and meeting new people. Outside boxing, Sprott enjoys rugby and the Wimbledon Championships. His favourite football teams are Reading FC and Arsenal FC.^[5]

Professional boxing record

40 Wins (17 knockouts), 21 Losses, 0 Draws
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	40-21	Jason Gavern	UD	3	14/11/2013	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	'Prizefighter' Tournament Heavyweight Final.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	39-21	Brian Minto	UD	3	14/11/2013	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	'Prizefighter' Tournament Heavyweight Semi-Final.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	38-21	Damian Wills	UD	3	14/11/2013	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	'Prizefighter' Tournament Heavyweight Quarter-Final.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	37-21	Erkan Teper	TKO	1 (10)	31/08/2013	Münsterplatz, Magdeburg, Basel, Switzerland
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	37-20	Robert Helenius	UD	10	23/03/2013	GETEC Arena, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany	Scoring 93-98, 93-97 and 92-98.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	37-19	Edmund Gerber	MD	12	15/12/2012	Arena Nürnberger Versicherung, Nuremberg, Bayern, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	36-19	Edmund Gerber	TKO	4 (12)	15/09/2012	Baden-Arena, Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany	Sprott, angry at the stoppage decision, appeared to push the referee to the canvas.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	36-18	Kubrat Pulev	RTD	9 (12)	14/01/2012	Baden-Arena, Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany	For IBF International heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	36-17	Alexander Dimitrenko	UD	12	24/09/2011	Dima-Sportcenter, Lohbruegge, Hamburg, Germany	For EBU (European) heavyweight title. Sprott penalized 2 points; 1 point in round 10 & 1 point in round 12. Scores were 119-108, 117-111, 116-111.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	36-16	Tye Fields	SD	3	27/05/2011	Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, London, England, United Kingdom	Prizefighter Tournament, International heavyweight quarter-final. Scoring was 28-29, 28-29, 29-28.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	36-15	Serdar Uysal	UD	4	19/03/2011	Lanxess-Arena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35-15	Matt Skelton	SD	3	09/10/2010	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	'Prizefighter' Tournament Heavyweight Final.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34-15	Shane McPhilbin	UD	3	09/10/2010	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	'Prizefighter' Tournament Heavyweight Semi-Final.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	33-15	Danny Hughes	UD	3	09/10/2010	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	'Prizefighter' Tournament Heavyweight Quarter-Final.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	32-15	Audley Harrison	KO	12 (12)	09/04/2010	Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, London, England, United Kingdom	For vacant EBU (European) heavyweight title. Harrison who was behind on points coming into the 12th and final round and could not win on the cards, landed a left that knocked out Sprott in their rematch.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32-14	Werner Kreiskott	TKO	1 (4)	20/03/2010	Esprit Arena, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	31-14	Alexander Ustinov	UD	10	20/06/2009	Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	31-13	Lamon Brewster	UD	8	14/03/2009	Ostseehalle, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany	Sprott down at the end of round 3.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31-12	Zack Page	PTS	6	19/11/2008	Royal Lancaster Hotel, Bayswater, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	30-12	Taras Bydenko	UD	10	31/05/2008	Burg-Waechter Castello, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	30-11	Matt Skelton	MD	12	14/07/2007	O2 Arena (Millennium Dome), Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom	For Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title. Fight was marred by a lot of holding, prompting the referee to warm both fighters repeatedly.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30-10	Audley Harrison	KO	3 (12)	17/02/2007	The Arena, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom	Retained EBU-EU (European Union) heavyweight title & won vacant BBBofC English heavyweight title. Sprott was knocked down in the 1st round. Harrison was out cold from a left hook.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29-10	Rene Dettweiler	SD	12	04/11/2006	RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Muelheim, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Retained EBU-EU (European Union) heavyweight title. Sprott received point deductions in 10th and 12th rounds for head butts.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	28-10	Ruslan Chagaev	TKO	8 (12)	15/07/2006	Color Line Arena, Altona, Hamburg, Germany	For WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title & vacant WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–9	Antoine Palatis	UD	10	18/02/2006	Meadowbank Sports Centre, Wembley, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom	Won vacant EBU-EU (European Union) heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	27–9	Volodymyr Vyrchys	UD	12	13/12/2005	Freizeit Arena, Soelden, Austria	For WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	27–8	Paolo Vidoz	UD	12	01/10/2005	EWE-Arena, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany	For EBU (European) heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27–7	Cengiz Koc	SD	10	23/04/2005	Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Won vacant EBU-EU (European Union) heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26–7	Robert Sulgan	TKO	1 (8)	10/09/2004	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	Sulgan down from a right uppercut.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	25–7	Matt Skelton	KO	12 (12)	24/04/2004	Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom	Lost BBBofC British heavyweight title & Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25–6	Danny Williams	PTS	12	24/01/2004	Conference Centre, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom	Won BBBofC British heavyweight title & Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	24–6	Danny Williams	TKO	5 (12)	26/09/2003	Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom	For Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title. Lost BBBofC British heavyweight title. While Sprott turned to the referee to complain about a low blow, he was knocked out by a left hook to the chin.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24–5	Colin Kenna	TKO	1 (10)	01/08/2003	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	Retained BBBofC British heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–5	Petr Horacek	KO	1 (6)	10/06/2003	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–5	Mark Potter	TKO	3 (10)	18/03/2003	Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom	Won vacant BBBofC British heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–5	Mike Holden	TKO	4 (8)	24/01/2003	Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20–5	Tamas Feheri	TKO	2 (6)	12/12/2002	Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–5	Derek McCafferty	PTS	8	17/09/2002	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–5	Garing Lane	PTS	6	10/07/2002	Conference Centre, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–5	Pele Reid	TKO	7 (10)	09/05/2002	Equinox Nightclub, Leicester Square, London, England, United Kingdom	Won vacant WBF European heavyweight title. Sprott down twice.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	16–5	Danny Williams	RTD	7 (12)	12/02/2002	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom	For BBBofC British heavyweight title & Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title. Sprott down in round 7. Sprott was a late replacement for Keith Long.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–4	Jermell Barnes	PTS	8	20/12/2001	Topsportcentrum, Rotterdam, Netherlands
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	15–4	Corrie Sanders	TKO	1 (8)	03/11/2001	Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	15–3	Timo Hoffmann	UD	8	24/03/2001	Bordelandhalle, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–2	Timo Hoffmann	PTS	8	17/02/2001	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	14–2	Wayne Llewellyn	TKO	3 (8)	14/10/2000	Conference Centre, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–1	Tony Booth	PTS	6	18/01/2000	Leisure Centre, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–1	Chris Woollas	RTD	4 (6)	10/07/1999	Elephant and Castle Centre, Southwark, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–1	Gary Williams	PTS	6	16/01/1999	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	11–1	Harry Senior	TKO	6 (10)	12/09/1998	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–0	Michael Murray	PTS	6	14/02/1998	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–0	Ray Kane	RTD	1 (6)	14/03/1998	Elephant and Castle Centre, Southwark, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–0	Johnny Davison	TKO	2 (6)	10/01/1998	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–0	Nick Howard	TKO	1 (4)	06/12/1997	The Arena, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	Darren Fearn	PTS	6	08/11/1997	Elephant and Castle Centre, Southwark, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–0	Gary Williams	PTS	6	02/09/1997	Elephant and Castle Centre, Southwark, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–0	Wladek Framas	PTS	6	20/05/1997	Picketts Lock Stadium, Edmonton, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	Tim Redman	KO	2 (4)	16/04/1997	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–0	Alvin Miller	KO	1 (4)	17/03/1997	Marriott Hotel, Mayfair, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0	Johnny Davison	KO	2 (6)	19/02/1997	Town Hall, Acton, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–0	Geoff Hunter	TKO	1 (4)	20/11/1996	Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Michael Sprott from BoxRec
• Danny Williams-Michael Sprott II
• In pictures: Audley Harrison vs Michael Sprott
• Royals Gym