Arthur Abraham

Arthur Abraham Ավետիք Աբրահամյան
Abraham in 2010
Statistics
Real name	Avetik Abrahamyan
Nickname(s)	King Arthur Abrahammer
Rated at	Middleweight Super middleweight
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Reach	183 cm (72 in)
Nationality	Armenian German
Born	(1980-02-20) 20 February 1980 Yerevan, Armenia SSR Soviet Union (now Armenia)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	48
Wins	44
Wins by KO	29
Losses	4

Arthur Abraham (born Avetik Abrahamyan on 20 February 1980; Armenian: Ավետիք Աբրահամյան) is an Armenian-German professional boxer. He is a two-time and current WBO super middleweight champion and a former IBF middleweight champion, having made ten successful defences of the latter (the fourth most in middleweight history). Abraham is a technically sound boxer, known for his punching power (at middleweight) and toughness.

Early life

Arthur Abraham was born in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union on 20 February 1980 to parents Grigor and Sylvia Abrahamyan.^[2] He moved to Germany with his parents and brothers in 1995 at the age of 15. As a teenager, Abraham showed an interest in cycling; he became the North Bavarian and Franconian Youth Champion. However, after watching an exciting Mike Tyson fight, Arthur was inspired by Tyson's intensity and wanted to become a boxing star too. In 1999, Arthur and his brothers returned to Armenia for military service. After 2002, all the brothers had finished their military service and returned to Germany in 2003. He became a citizen of Germany in August 2006, in order to do that he had to drop the Armenian citizenship. Arthur Abraham is a stage name, so he had to draw a painting at the registration office to register it in his passport.

Amateur career

Abraham boxed as an amateur in Bamberg and later in Nuremberg. He was an International Junior Welterweight German Champion in 1997 and a three time Senior Light Middleweight Armenian Champion in 2000, 2001 and 2002. His final amateur record was 81-3-6 (48 KO).

In 2003, Arthur and Alexander competed alongside promoter and manager Wilfried Sauerland and his head coach Ulli Wegner. Arthur was a sparring partner for IBF and WBA Super Middleweight Champion Sven Ottke, whom was in the preparations of a title defense. Wegner was so impressed that he began to train Arthur personally.

Professional career

Middleweight

Abraham started his professional career on August 16, 2003, being promoted by HyeFighters. Sauerland-promoted Abraham had many impressive early victories. He defeated Canadian southpaw Ian Gardner (18–1) for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title, Hector Velazco (former WBO Champion) and contender Nader Hamdan (36–1).

In July 2005, Abraham defended his WBA Inter-Continental title against the highly regarded Briton Howard Eastman. Eastman had previously only lost to American William Joppy and former Undisputed Middleweight Champion Bernard Hopkins.

IBF Middleweight Champion

On 10 December 2005, in Leipzig, Germany, Abraham won the vacant IBF Middleweight title against Kingsley Ikeke by a 5th round knock-out. The IBF belt had previously been vacated by undisputed champion Jermain Taylor after a bout with Abraham was denied in October that year.

Abraham defended his title on 5 March 2006 with a unanimous decision against Australian Shannan Taylor. Two months later, Abraham won a second title defense against Kofi Jantuah, also on points.

On 23 September 2006, Abraham won a decision against undefeated contender Edison Miranda despite having his jaw broken in two places in round four. Miranda took advantage of this by fighting dirty. Miranda was docked five points for landing repeated low blows as well as intentionally headbutting Abraham. However, even without the five points deducted, Abraham would have still won the fight (final result: 114:109, 115:109, 116:109). Abraham's jaw was operated on the night after the fight. He had 22 screws inserted into two titanium plates. After the Miranda bout, Arthur was praised for his ability to finish the fight despite his injury.

Abraham defeated Canadian Sébastien Demers by KO in the third round after two minutes and fifty-seven seconds. Abraham was clearly physically superior than his opponent. Arthur won his fifth title defense by defeating fellow Armenian Khoren Gevor by 11th round knockout from a powerful left hook.

On 8 December 2007, Abraham defeated Wayne Elcock to make his sixth title defense by technical knockout in the 5th round.

During two of his matches, Arthur Abraham was accompanied by live performances of the Scorpions and is currently accompanied by the track "Ready For The Fight" by The Young Punx.

On 29 March 2008, Abraham defeated American Elvin Ayala via 12th round KO after connecting with a devastating left hook that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas face first. This was Abraham's 7th successful title defence.

Abraham in Bamberg in October 2008 posing with championship belt

Abraham-Miranda II

On 21 June 2008, the fight took place at a catchweight of 166 lbs. Abraham's IBF Middleweight title was not on the line. Abraham immediately backed Miranda up with hard right jabs before backing off himself behind a high, tight guard. A Miranda right hand landed off the gloves of Abraham as he came out more measured than he had the first time around. Abraham set in to work the body but a stray shot brought a low blow warning from the referee. Miranda made the fight throughout the second round as Abraham did little in the way of punching. Thudding body shots landed on Abraham, but Miranda could get little past the gloves upstairs. A low blow landed from Miranda in the final thirty seconds that brought a brief halt to the action; Abraham calmly caught his breath before returning to his defensive posture.

Abraham waved Miranda forward after another barrage of shots bounced off his gloves before landing two body shots and a hard right hand for his best work of the bout. Miranda drew a warning for holding and hitting before another right hand from Abraham buckled his knees. Abraham stepped back rather than following up, choosing to maintain a methodical game plan. The game plan was sound. In the first minute of the fourth round, a perfectly timed right hand-left hook sent Miranda to the floor. Miranda rose, clearly hurt, and this time Abraham would not fail to press the advantage.

Another left hook would drop Miranda along the ropes and Miranda would again rise but his legs were clearly gone and the end was at hand. Abraham would land a final striking right hand for the round's third knockdown as the referee leapt in to halt the action before Miranda could attempt to rise again.

On 8 November 2008, "King Arthur" Abraham (28–0, 22 KOs), 28, defeated Raúl Márquez (41–4–1, 29 KOs), 37, by a 6th round technical knockout, at the Bamberg's Jako Arena, the 8th defense of his IBF Middleweight boxing title. He retained his IBF title on 14 March 2009 against Lajuan Simon, his first fight over 12 rounds since his legendary battle against Edison Miranda. The 10th and last defense of his middlweight title took place in Berlin against Turkish-German boxer Mahir Oral. Abraham won this fight by a 10th round technical knockout. Oral's coach threw in the towel after several knockdowns.

Super Six

After failing to secure a match-up with WBO and WBC Champion Kelly Pavlik or WBA Champion Felix Sturm, Arthur announced that he would change his weight class to compete at super middleweight. Abraham participated in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament for the WBA and WBC Super Middleweight titles. Fellow participants were: WBA Champion Mikkel Kessler, WBC Champion Carl Froch, Andre Dirrell, Andre Ward and Jermain Taylor.

In his first match of the tournament, Abraham faced Jermain Taylor on 17 October 2009. Arthur was previously supposed to fight Taylor for the undisputed middleweight title, but the fight fell through. Abraham defeated Taylor via a devastating knockout in the 12th round. Taylor was hospitalized with a severe concussion, suffering short term memory loss, unable to remember details of this bout. Taylor was replaced with veteran Allan Green in the tournament. After being released from the hospital, Taylor released a statement saying that he's doing just fine and wanted to congratulate Abraham on his victory and wish him well in the tournament.^[3] Former Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson was in attendance and was impressed by Abraham's intensity and determination.^[4]

As of the end of 2009, The Ring has ranked Abraham as the 14th best boxer in the world.^[5] On 5 March 2010, Abraham was ranked #8 in the world by Yahoo! Sports.^[6]

On 27 March 2010, Arthur lost his next fight by disqualification due to hitting Andre Dirrell after he slipped in the 11th round. At the point of the disqualification, the scores were 97–92, 98–91 and 97–92 all in favor of Dirrell.^[7]

On 27 November 2010, Abraham lost to Carl Froch in his third fight of the tournament, which was also for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title. Abraham was dominated from start to finish, losing by a unanimous decision. The scores given by the judges were 119–109, 120–108 and 120–108, which reflected the one-sided nature of the bout.^[8]

Abraham qualified for the semifinals, having one win out of three fights. But first, Arthur had a pre-fight with Croatian contender Stjepan Božić. Abraham won by technical knockout in the second round due to an injury in Božić's hand. On 14 May 2011, Abraham faced undefeated American Andre Ward in the Super Six semifinals for the WBA Super Middleweight title. Abraham lost by unanimous decision. Ward went on to defeat Froch in the finals and won the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament.

Comeback

On 30 October 2011, Abraham originally announced that he intends to return to the middleweight division in 2012^[9] but later decided to remain at super middleweight.^[10]

In his first comeback fight on 14 January 2012, Abraham defeated Argentinian Pablo Oscar Natalio Farias via technical knockout in round five and won the vacant WBO European Super Middleweight Championship. After Abraham landed several hard combinations that put Farias down three times in the fifth round, referee Manuel Maritxalar stopped the fight.^[11] On 31 March 2012, Abraham defeated former EBU Super Middleweight Champion Piotr Wilczewski by a lopsided unanimous decision to retain his WBO European title. Wilczewski was docked a point in the seventh round and was down in the eleventh round, though it was ruled a slip.

WBO Super Middleweight Champion

On 25 August 2012, Abraham won a twelve round unanimous decision over Robert Stieglitz to capture the WBO Super Middleweight Championship in a spectacular battle which made Abraham a two-division champion. Abraham became the second Armenian and the first German to win championships in two different divisions. The judges' scores were 116-112, 116-112 and 115-113. The bout took place in O2 World Arena, Berlin, Germany.^[12] Abraham was named best boxer of Germany in 2012 by BoxSport magazine. His coach Ulli Wegner was also named the best coach of the year.^[13]

Abraham defended his title against Mehdi Bouadla on December 15, 2012. He won via technical knockout in the eighth round.^[14]

A rematch with Stieglitz took place on March 23, 2013 in Stieglitz's home of Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. Abraham's eye rapidly swelled shut in the second round and he could soon no longer see. The referee waved him off at the start of the fourth round, resulting in his defeat.^[15]

A rubber match with Stieglitz took place on March 1, 2014, with the WBO Super Middleweight title on the line once again.^[16] Abraham won the fight by split decision.^[17]

Abraham is expected to face undefeated Gilberto Ramírez on April 9, 2016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.^[18]

Professional boxing record

44 Wins (29 knockouts), 4 Losses, 0 Draws[19]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
N/A	N/A	Gilberto Ramírez	N/A	- (12)	2016-04-09	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada	Defending WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	44–4	Martin Murray	SD	12	2015-11-21	TUI Arena, Hannover, Niedersachsen	Retained WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	43–4	Robert Stieglitz	TKO	6 (12), 1:14	2015-07-18	Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Nordrhein-Westfalen	Retained WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	42–4	Paul Smith	UD	12	2015-02-21	O2 World Arena, Friedrichshain, Berlin	Retained WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	41–4	Paul Smith	UD	12	2014-09-27	Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein	Retained WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	40–4	Nikola Sjekloća	UD	12	2014-05-03	Velodrom, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin	Retained WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	39–4	Robert Stieglitz	SD	12	2014-03-01	GETEC Arena, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt	Won WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	38–4	Giovanni De Carolis	UD	12	2013-10-26	EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen	Retained WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title.
Win	37–4	Willbeforce Shihepo	UD	12	2013-08-24	Sport and Congress Center, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Won WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title.
Loss	36–4	Robert Stieglitz	TKO	4 (12), 0:01	2013-03-23	GETEC Arena, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt	Lost WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	36–3	Mehdi Bouadla	TKO	8 (12), 2:11	2012-12-15	Arena Nürnberger Versicherung, Nuremberg, Bayern	Retained WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	35–3	Robert Stieglitz	UD	12	2012-08-25	O2 World Arena, Friedrichshain, Berlin	Won WBO Super Middleweight title.
Win	34–3	Piotr Wilczewski	UD	12	2012-03-31	Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein	Retained WBO European Super Middleweight title.
Win	33–3	Pablo Farias	KO	5 (12), 2:00	2012-01-14	Baden-Arena, Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg	Won vacant WBO European Super Middleweight title.
Loss	32–3	Andre Ward	UD	12	2011-05-14	The Home Depot Center, Carson, California	For WBA Super Middleweight title.
Win	32–2	Stjepan Božić	TKO	2 (10), 1:01	2011-02-12	RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Muelheim, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Loss	31–2	Carl Froch	UD	12	2010-11-27	Hartwall Arena, Helsinki	3rd Round Super Six World Boxing Classic. For vacant WBC Super Middleweight title.
Loss	31–1	Andre Dirrell	DQ	11 (12), 1:13	2010-03-27	Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan	2nd Round Super Six World Boxing Classic.
Win	31–0	Jermain Taylor	KO	12 (12), 2:54	2009-10-17	O2 World Arena, Friedrichshain, Berlin	1st Round Super Six World Boxing Classic.
Win	30–0	Mahir Oral	TKO	10 (12), 1:23	2009-06-27	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	29–0	Lajuan Simon	UD	12	2009-03-14	Ostseehalle, Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	28–0	Raúl Márquez	RTD	6 (12), 3:00	2008-11-08	Jako Arena, Bamberg, Bayern	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	27–0	Edison Miranda	TKO	4 (12), 1:13	2008-06-21	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	26–0	Elvin Ayala	KO	12 (12), 2:32	2008-03-29	Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	25–0	Wayne Elcock	TKO	5 (12), 1:58	2007-12-08	St. Jakob Halle, Basel	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	24–0	Khoren Gevor	KO	11 (12), 2:41	2007-08-18	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	23–0	Sébastien Demers	KO	3 (12), 2:57	2007-05-26	Jako Arena, Bamberg, Bayern	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	22–0	Edison Miranda	UD	12	2006-09-23	Rittal Arena, Wetzlar, Hesse	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	21–0	Kofi Jantuah	UD	12	2006-05-13	Stadthalle, Zwickau, Sachsen	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	20–0	Shannan Taylor	UD	12	2006-03-04	EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen	Retained IBF Middleweight title.
Win	19–0	Kingsley Ikeke	KO	5 (12), 1:36	2005-12-10	Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen	Won vacant IBF Middleweight title.
Win	18–0	Luis Daniel Parada	TKO	5 (8), 2:52	2005-10-01	EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen
Win	17–0	Howard Eastman	UD	12	2005-07-16	Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Bayern	Retained WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win	16–0	Héctor Javier Velazco	KO	5 (12), 2:49	2005-04-23	Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen	Retained WBA Intercontinental Middleweight title. Won WBF Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win	15–0	Ian Gardner	UD	12	2005-02-12	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin	Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win	14–0	Roberto Mario Vecchio	TKO	6 (8), 2:02	2004-11-20	BigBox, Kempten, Bayern
Win	13–0	Nader Hamdan	TKO	12 (12), 1:30	2004-09-04	Grugahalle, Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen	Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win	12–0	Dave Nash	KO	2 (8)	2004-07-03	Stadthalle, Hattersheim am Main, Hesse
Win	11–0	Mark Flynn	KO	3 (8), 2:41	2004-06-05	Chemnitz Arena, Chemnitz, Sachsen
Win	10–0	Cristian Oscar Zanabria	KO	5 (8)	17/04/2004}	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin
Win	9–0	Branko Sobot	TKO	2 (8)	2004-03-27	Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt
Win	8–0	Steve Walker	KO	2 (8)	2004-02-28	Mehrzweckhalle, Dresden, Sachsen
Win	7–0	Gabriel Botos	TKO	2 (6), 1:22	2004-01-31	Sportcenter Jumps, Weissensee, Berlin
Win	6–0	Alexandru Manea	TKO	3 (6)	2004-01-17	Rhein-Mosel-Halle, Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz
Win	5–0	Cezary Piotrowski	KO	4 (6)	2003-12-13	Nuernberg Arena, Nürnberg, Bayern
Win	4–0	Tomas Vican	TKO	2 (6)	2003-11-22	Erdgas Arena, Riesa, Sachsen
Win	3–0	Sladko Cizicz	TKO	3 (4)	2003-10-04	Stadthalle, Zwickau, Sachsen
Win	2–0	Petr Rykala	TKO	2 (4)	2003-09-06	Messehalle, Erfurt, Thüringen
Win	1–0	Frank Kary Roth	TKO	3 (4)	2003-08-16	Nuerburgring race track, Nuerburg, Rheinland-Pfalz	Professional debut.

Titles in boxing

Amateur career

International:

• 1997 International Light Welterweight German Champion
• 2000, 2001 and 2002 Senior Light Middleweight Armenian Champion

Professional career

Major World Titles:

• IBF Middleweight Champion (160 lbs)
• WBO Super Middleweight Champion (168 lbs)
• (2) WBO Super Middleweight Champion (168 lbs)

Regional/International Titles:

• WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight Champion (160 lbs)
• WBF Intercontinental Middleweight Champion (160 lbs)
• WBO European Super Middleweight Champion (168 lbs)
• WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Champion (168 lbs)

Outside of boxing

Abraham has gained much popularity in Germany and appears regularly in various formats on German television. On 24 October 2009, he appeared in Cologne, Germany for an exhibition match against entertainer Oliver Pocher in a bouncy, castle-like "ring" and fought with huge, air-cushion-like boxing gloves.^[20] On 9 April 2010, Abraham took to the dance show Let's Dance on RTL with partner Nina Uszkureit, but left after the first episode of the show in order to concentrate fully on his boxing career.

His family members call him "Avo", short for Avetik.^[21] Abraham is single, has no children and lives in Berlin. His younger brother Alexander is also a professional boxer,^[22] and his older brother Christian owns a furniture shop.^[23]

Abraham plans on opening a boxing school in Armenia following his future retirement.^[24] He will also have foreign language classes for students at the boxing school, such as English and German. "If a boxer knows no foreign language, he cannot have success internationally," Abraham noted.^[25] In the movie Max Schmeling, he played a supporting role of boxer Richard Vogt, Schmeling´s last opponent. Just as in real life, Ulli Wegner was in his corner.^[26]

On 21 September 2008, Abraham and fellow boxer Vic Darchinyan were honored by Armenian President Serge Sargsyan during a 20th anniversary celebration of the nation's independence. Both men were awarded with medals "For the great services for Armenia" of the first degree.^[27]

German actor and producer Til Schweiger invited Abraham to act in his film Crime Scene. Til and Abraham have been familiar with each other for a long time. Abraham is playing a pimp in the film. His character is a leader of a gang that controls the shadow business.^[28]

Abraham was included in the panel of judges for the “Miss Germany” beauty pageant in 2012 and 2013.^[29]

On January 9, 2013, the RA Ministry of Diaspora hosted a presser for Abraham. Minister Hranush Hakobyan praised Abraham as a role model and awarded him the "Poghos Nubar" medal.^[30][31]

Abraham sent a letter of condolence on the death of Vladimir Yengibaryan to his family.^[32]

Awards

• Hrant Shahinyan Medal^[33]
• 2009 Berlin Sportsman of the Year^[34]
• Child Award 2009^[35]

See also

• List of IBF world champions
• List of WBO world champions
• List of middleweight boxing champions
• List of super middleweight boxing champions
• Reigning boxing champions

References

External links

• Official Website
• Professional boxing record for Arthur Abraham from BoxRec