Sultan Ibragimov

Sultan Ibragimov
Statistics
Real name	Sultan-Ahmed Magomedsalihovich Ibragimov
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Nationality	Avar
Born	(1975-03-08) 8 March 1975 Tlyarata, Tlyaratinsky District, Republic of Dagestan, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Stance	southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	24
Wins	22
Wins by KO	18
Losses	1
Draws	1
No contests	0
Medal record Representing  Russia Men's amateur boxing Olympic Games Silver 2000 Sydney Heavyweight World Amateur Championships Bronze 2001 Belfast Heavyweight European Amateur Championships Silver 2000 Tampere Heavyweight

Sultan-Ahmed Magomedsalihovich Ibragimov^[1](Russian: Султан-Ахмед Магомедсалихович Ибрагимов ; born 8 March 1975, in Tlyarata, Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union), is a retired professional boxer and a former WBO heavyweight champion. He is of Avar Dagestani ^[2] descent. He fought to become a unified world champion in February 2008, losing to Wladimir Klitschko.

Amateur career

2000 Silver medal as a heavyweight in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Results:

• Defeated Pauga Laulau (Samoa) RSCO-4
• Defeated Jackson Chanet (France) PTS (18-13)
• Defeated Vladimer Tchanturia (Georgia) PTS (19-14)
• Lost to Félix Savón (Cuba) PTS (13-21)

2000 Silver medal as a heavyweight at the European Championship in Tampere, Finland.
Results:

• Defeated Primislav Dimovski (Macedonia) PTS
• Defeated Alexander Yatsenko (Ukraine) AB-3
• Defeated Andreas Gustavsson (Sweden)
• Lost to Jackson Chanet (France) DSQ

2001 Bronze medal at the World Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Results:

• Defeated Stephen Reynolds (Ireland) RSC-2
• Defeated Kubrat Pulev (Bulgaria) PTS
• Lost to Odlanier Solis (Cuba) PTS (13-23)

Professional career

2002-2006: Prospect to Contender

Ibragimov turned professional and rose through the heavyweight ranks by knocking out journeymen Al Cole, Zuri Lawrence, Friday Ahunanya and Lance Whitaker.

On 28 July 2007, Sultan's record became 19-0-1 when he fought to a draw with Ray Austin in a grueling 12 round IBF heavyweight title eliminator.

2007: WBO Heavyweight Champion & Holyfield Bout

Despite the draw against Ray Austin, Ibragimov received a title shot from another sanctioning organization, the WBO. He was scheduled to challenge Shannon Briggs for the WBO heavyweight title on 10 March 2007, but because Briggs became ill with pneumonia, Ibragimov instead faced Javier Mora at Madison Square Garden in New York on that date. Ibragimov knocked out Mora 46 seconds into the first round. This win broke the record for the quickest knockout in a main event bout in Madison Square Garden, which was previously held by Lee Savold who defeated Buddy Walker in 1948.

Ibragimov faced the heavy-handed WBO Heavyweight Champion Shannon Briggs in Atlantic City, New Jersey on 2 June 2007. With an exception of an early and late pressure by Briggs in round one & twelve, rounds two to eleven were mostly controlled by Ibragimov, out-boxing his larger opponent with fast combinations.

On 13 October 2007, Sultan Ibragimov won his first title defense against the aging former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield by unanimous decision^[3] for the WBO heavyweight title at Khodynka Arena in Moscow, Russia.^[4]

Ibragimov fought Wladimir Klitschko on 23 February 2008 at Madison Square Garden. This fight was a unification bout laying the two fighters' IBF, IBO, and WBO titles on the line. This was the only title unification since 1999 when Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield fought.

2008: Unification Bout Vs Klitschko

He was defeated by Wladimir Klitschko by way of a unanimous decision. Ibragimov had his moments, but for the most part was unable to get past Klitschko's long jab and occasional straight right hand, he struggled to land any significant punches on his larger opponent.

Retirement

In February 2009 there were rumors about Ibragimov's retirement from boxing following his loss to Wladimir Klitschko,^[5] which were later confirmed in July 2009.^[6][7]

Personal life

Ibragimov is married. He is Muslim by faith.^[8]

Trivia

• He is only the fifth southpaw heavyweight champion in history.^[9] The others are Michael Moorer, Corrie Sanders, Chris Byrd, and Ruslan Chagaev, however only Moorer was an authentic lineal champion—Ibragimov and Sanders held the WBO belt, whereas Byrd and Chagaev won vacant belts whilst someone else was widely considered the premier heavyweight.
• Sultan's cousin, Timur Ibragimov, is also a heavyweight professional boxer. However, Sultan fights for Russia, while Timur represents Uzbekistan.^[10][11]

Professional boxing record

22 Wins (17 knockouts), 1 Loss, 1 Draw
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	22-1-1	Wladimir Klitschko	UD	12	23 February 2008	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	Lost WBO Heavyweight title. For IBF & IBO Heavyweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22-0-1	Evander Holyfield	UD	12	13 October 2007	Khodynka Ice Palace, Moscow	Retained WBO Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21-0-1	Shannon Briggs	UD	12	2 June 2007	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Won WBO Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20-0-1	Javier Mora	TKO	1 (10), 0:46	10 March 2007	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Draw	19-0-1	Ray Austin	PTS	12	28 July 2006	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida	IBF Heavyweight title eliminator.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–0	Lance Whitaker	TKO	7 (12), 2:01	15 December 2005	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida	Retained WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–0	Friday Ahunanya	TD	9 (12)	16 September 2005	Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Georgia	Retained WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–0	Andy Sample	TKO	1 (12), 2:47	24 June 2005	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–0	Zuri Lawrence	TKO	11 (12), 0:32	22 April 2005	Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Retained WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–0	Alfred Cole	TKO	3 (12), 1:46	3 March 2005	MSG Theater, New York, New York	Retained WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–0	James Walton	TKO	6 (12), 3:00	11 December 2004	Atlantic Oceana, Brighton Beach, New York	Retained WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–0	Najee Shaheed	KO	3 (12), 2:45	16 October 2004	Club Ovation, Boynton Beach, Florida	Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–0	Onebo Maxime	TKO	5 (8), 2:13	28 August 2004	Club Ovation, Boynton Beach, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–0	Alexey Osokin	UD	8	10 March 2004	Casino Crystall, Moscow
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–0	Piotr Sapun	KO	1 (8)	29 January 2004	Centr na Tulskoy, Moscow
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–0	Sedrak Agagulyan	TKO	1 (8)	12 September 2003	Sports Palace Yunost, Donetsk
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–0	Marcus McGee	TKO	8 (8)	6 June 2003	Express, Rostov-na-Donu
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	Carlos Barcelete	KO	3 (6)	22 April 2003	Kamilla, Moscow
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–0	Chad Butler	UD	6	26 March 2003	Convention Center, Coconut Grove, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–0	Lincoln Luke	TKO	2 (4)	20 December 2002	American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	Clarence Goins	TKO	1 (4), 1:36	6 December 2002	Paladium, Davie, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–0	Leroy Hollis	TKO	1 (4), 2:30	18 October 2002	Hard Rock Live, Orlando, Florida
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0	John Phillips	TKO	1 (4), 1:26	7 June 2002	DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, Mississippi
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–0	Tracy Williams	KO	1 (4), 1:19	25 May 2002	Tennis Center, Delray Beach, Florida	Professional debut.

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Sultan Ibragimov from BoxRec
• Sultan Ibragimov Fight-by-Fight Career Record
• Boxing-Encyclopedia

Achievements
Preceded by Shannon Briggs	WBO Heavyweight Champion June 2, 2007 – February 23, 2008	Succeeded by Wladimir Klitschko