.jpg) Michalczewski in 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname | Tiger | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |
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| Born | (1968-05-05)5 May 1968 (age 57) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 178 cm (70 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Win by KO | 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Dariusz Tomasz Michalczewski (born 5 May 1968) is a Polish-Germanprofessional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2005. He held multiple world championships in twoweight classes, including theWBA,IBF,WBO andlineallight heavyweight titles between 1994 and 2003, and the WBOjunior-heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995.
He was born in 1968 inGdańsk to father Bogusław Michalczewski, a radio technician working for thePolish State Railways and mother Maria, an accountant.[1] In his youth, before turning to boxing, he initially practicedwrestling andfootball.[2]
Michalczewski came up through Poland's state-run sports program as a boy and had a successful amateur career. He achieved an amateur record of 139–11–2 (89 KO). Highlights of his amateur career include:[3]
On 24 April 1988, while competing beyond theIron Curtain inWest Germany for the Polish national team, Michalczewski defected from the amateur team to stay in West Germany. Becoming a citizen of the now united Germany in 1991 and turning professional the same year, he was soon signed by Universum Box-Promotion, one of the leading boxing promoters inEurope. His aggressive style earned him the nickname "Tiger".[4]
Michalczewski turned professional in September 1991. He won the German Internationallight-heavyweight title early on 13 February 1993, a title for foreign-born fighters based in Germany. He then won theIBF Intercontinental title on 22 May 1993.[5]
On 10 September 1994, Michalczewski, at 23-0 (18 KOs), captured theWBO light-heavyweight title with a 12-round decision over defending championLeeonzer Barber at Sporthalle, Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany. Between then and March 2003, Michalczewski made 23 successful defenses of his WBO title against 20 different boxers, and picked up three other belts along the way. Three months after beating Barber, he won the WBOcruiserweight title with a tenth-round knockout of Nestor Giovannini. However, he soon gave up that title to continue campaigning as a light-heavyweight.
In 1996, Universum Box-Promotion's conditioning coachFritz Sdunek became head coach and replaced Chuck Talhami as Michalczewski's trainer, which resulted in a marked improvement in Michalczewski's performances.
On 13 June 1997, he defeatedVirgil Hill over 12 rounds to add Hill'sWBA, IBF and Lineal light-heavyweight titles to his own. However, Michalczewski soon lost both alphabet titles; Scandalously, the WBA immediately stripped him for displaying its belt along with that of the WBO. Michalczewski was then forced to relinquish the IBF title when he was unable to defend the title in a court-ordered defense againstmandatory challengerWilliam Guthrie within a little over a month after the bout with Hill.[6]
After beating Hill, Michalczewski knocked out 14 consecutive opponents, all in defense of hisLineal/WBO titles. In 1998, he defeatedDrake Thadzi, in 1999, he defeatedMontel Griffin, and in 2000, he defeatedGraciano Rocchigiani.
Michalczewski had a perfect record of 48-0 when he facedJulio César González ofMexico in defense of his title on 18 October 2003. Coming into the fight, he was within one victory of tyingRocky Marciano's record of 49 wins with no losses. A win also would have put him just one victory short ofJoe Louis' all-time record for successful defenses at any weight class. However, as when Larry Holmes went for the same record against Michael Spinks, the now 35-year-old Michalczewski was unable to pull it off. He lost a split decision to the 27-year-old Gonzalez at theColor Line Arena in Hamburg, and his career record dropped to 48–1.
Despite the loss, he still holds the record for the most consecutive successful world title defenses at light-heavyweight.
In October 2004, it was announced that Michalczewski would come out of retirement to box France'sFabrice Tiozzo for the WBA light heavyweight title on 26 February 2005 in Hamburg. Michalczewski was stopped in six round, then he announced his retirement in May 2005.
Michalczewski was to come out of retirement to fight German boxing icon but suspected cheatSven Ottke in Germany in May 2008, but the bout never materialized.[7]
In 2003 Dariusz Michalczewski established foundation "Równe Szanse" (equal chances) which was aimed at supporting initiatives for youth from dysfunctional families.[11] Since 2014 he supports the social campaign for civil union and the right for adoption by homosexual couples.[12][13]
| 50 fights | 48 wins | 2 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 38 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 3 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Loss | 48–2 | Fabrice Tiozzo | TKO | 6 (12),2:05 | 26 Feb 2005 | Color Line Arena, Hamburg, Germany | For WBA light-heavyweight title |
| 49 | Loss | 48–1 | Julio César González | SD | 12 | 18 Oct 2003 | Color Line Arena, Hamburg, Germany | Lost WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 48 | Win | 48–0 | Derrick Harmon | KO | 9 (12) | 29 Mar 2003 | Color Line Arena, Hamburg, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 47 | Win | 47–0 | Richard Hall | TKO | 10 (12) | 14 Sep 2002 | Volkswagen Halle, Braunschweig, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 46 | Win | 46–0 | Joey DeGrandis | KO | 2 (12) | 20 Apr 2002 | Hala Olivia,Gdańsk, Poland | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 45 | Win | 45–0 | Richard Hall | TKO | 11 (12),1:50 | 15 Dec 2001 | Estrel Hotel,Berlin, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 44 | Win | 44–0 | Alejandro Lakatos | KO | 9 (12),1:35 | 5 May 2001 | Volkswagen Halle,Braunschweig, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 43 | Win | 43–0 | Ka-Dy King | TKO | 7 (12),0:28 | 16 Dec 2000 | Grugahalle,Essen, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 42 | Win | 42–0 | Graciano Rocchigiani | TKO | 10 (12),3:00 | 15 Apr 2000 | Preussag Arena, Hanover, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 41 | Win | 41–0 | Montell Griffin | TKO | 4 (12),2:59 | 28 Aug 1999 | Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 40 | Win | 40–0 | Muslim Biarslanov | TKO | 7 (12),1:41 | 3 Apr 1999 | Stadthalle,Bremen, Germany | Retained WBO light heavyweight title |
| 39 | Win | 39–0 | Drake Thadzi | TKO | 9 (12),1:45 | 12 Dec 1998 | Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 38 | Win | 38–0 | Mark Prince | KO | 8 (12) | 19 Sep 1998 | Arena Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 37 | Win | 37–0 | Andrea Magi | TKO | 4 (12) | 20 Mar 1998 | Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 36 | Win | 36–0 | Darren Zenner | RTD | 6 (12),3:00 | 13 Dec 1997 | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | Nicky Piper | TKO | 7 (12),3:00 | 4 Oct 1997 | Stadionsporthalle, Hanover, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 | Virgil Hill | UD | 12 | 13 Jun 1997 | Arena Oberhausen,Oberhausen, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title; WonWBA andIBF light-heavyweight titles |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Christophe Girard | TKO | 8 (12) | 13 Dec 1996 | Stadionsporthalle, Hanover, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Graciano Rocchigiani | DQ | 7 (12),3:00 | 10 Aug 1996 | Wilhelm-Koch-Stadion, Hamburg, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title; Rocchigiani disqualified for punching after aclinch |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Christophe Girard | UD | 12 | 8 Jun 1996 | Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Asluddin Umarov | TKO | 5 (12),2:30 | 6 Apr 1996 | Stadionsporthalle,Hanover, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Philippe Michel | UD | 12 | 7 Oct 1995 | Festhalle,Frankfurt, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Everardo Armenta Jr. | KO | 5 (12),2:59 | 19 Aug 1995 | Eisstadion an der Brehmstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Paul Carlo | KO | 4 (12),2:46 | 20 May 1995 | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Roberto Dominguez | KO | 2 (12),1:05 | 11 Mar 1995 | Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany | Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Nestor Hipolito Giovannini | KO | 10 (12),1:25 | 17 Dec 1994 | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany | WonWBO junior-heavyweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Leeonzer Barber | UD | 12 | 10 Sep 1994 | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany | WonWBO light-heavyweight title |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Melvin Wynn | KO | 2,3:05 | 28 May 1994 | Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | David Davis | KO | 7 (10) | 23 Apr 1994 | Sporthalle Bildungszentrum,Halle, Germany | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | David Vedder | DQ | 1 | 19 Feb 1994 | Sporthalle Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Sergio Daniel Merani | TD | 9 (12) | 20 Nov 1993 | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany | Retained IBF Inter-Continental light-heavyweight title |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Mwehu Beya | PTS | 12 | 11 Sep 1993 | Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany | Retained IBF Inter-Continental light-heavyweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Juan Alberto Barrero | KO | 5 (10) | 26 Jun 1993 | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Noel Magee | TKO | 8 (12) | 22 May 1993 | Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany | Won vacantIBF Inter-Continental light-heavyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Pat Alley | KO | 4 | 3 Apr 1993 | SporthalleWandsbek, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Ali Saidi | KO | 10 (10) | 13 Feb 1993 | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany | Won German Internationallight-heavyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Willie McDonald | KO | 2 (8) | 12 Jan 1993 | Saaltheater Geulen, Aachen, Germany | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Mike Peak | PTS | 8 | 8 Dec 1992 | Legiencenter, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Keith Williams | TKO | 2 | 17 Nov 1992 | Holstentorhalle,Lübeck, Germany | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Cecil Simms | KO | 2 | 7 Nov 1992 | Sporthalle,Cologne, Germany | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Steve McCarthy | DQ | 3 (10),2:59 | 29 Sep 1992 | Legiencenter, Hamburg, Germany | McCarthy disqualified for an intentional headbutt |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Sylvester White | TKO | 5 | 28 Aug 1992 | Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Richard Bustin | KO | 4 (8) | 27 Jun 1992 | Hotel,Quinta do Lago, Portugal | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Terrence Wright | TKO | 2 | 22 May 1992 | Dinslaken, Germany | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Robert Johnson | TKO | 2 (8),2:41 | 4 Apr 1992 | Düsseldorf, Germany | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Sean Mannion | TKO | 3 | 21 Feb 1992 | Legiencenter, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Yves Monsieur | TKO | 4 (8) | 28 Jan 1992 | Legiencenter, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Zoltan Habda | TKO | 2 (6) | 10 Jan 1992 | Saaltheater Geulen,Aachen, Germany | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Peter Cenki | TKO | 2 | 15 Oct 1991 | Legiencenter, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Frederic Porter | TKO | 2 | 16 Sep 1991 | Legiencenter,Hamburg, Germany |
| Date | Fight | Viewership (avg.) | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
14 September 2002 | Dariusz Michalczewski vs.Richard Hall II | 4,140,000 | [14] |
29 March 2003 | Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Derrick Harmon | 6,870,000 | [14] |
19 October 2003 | Dariusz Michalczewski vs.Julio César González | 7,620,000 | [15] |
26 February 2005 | Dariusz Michalczewski vs.Fabrice Tiozzo | 7,870,000 | [16] |
| Total viewership | 26,500,000 |
| Date | Fight | Viewership (avg.) | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
19 October 2003 | Dariusz Michalczewski vs.Julio César González | 5,794,000 | [17] |
| Total viewership | 5,794,000 |
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||||
| Preceded by Ali Saidi | German International light-heavyweight champion 13 February 1993 – 1994 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Silvio Meinel | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Frank Tate | IBF Inter-Continental light-heavyweight champion 22 May 1993 – September 1994 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Montell Griffin | ||
| World boxing titles | ||||
| Preceded by | WBO light-heavyweight champion 10 September 1994 – 18 October 2003 | Succeeded by | ||
| Preceded by Nestor Hipolito Giovannini | WBO junior-heavyweight champion 17 December 1994 – March 1995 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Ralf Rocchigiani | ||
| Preceded by | WBA light-heavyweight champion 13 June 1997 – 1 July 1997 Stripped | Vacant Title next held by Lou Del Valle | ||
| IBF light-heavyweight champion 13 June 1997 – 16 June 1997 Stripped | Vacant Title next held by William Guthrie | |||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
