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Dariusz Michalczewski

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Dariusz Michalczewski
Michalczewski in 2007
Born (1968-05-05) 5 May 1968 (age 56)
Gdańsk, Poland
Nationality
  • Polish
  • German
Other namesTiger
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Reach178 cm (70 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights50
Wins48
Wins by KO38
Losses2
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Germany
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1991 Gothenburg Light-heavyweight
Representing  Poland
European Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 1986 Copenhagen Middleweight

Dariusz Tomasz Michalczewski (born 5 May 1968) is a Polish-German professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2005. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the WBA, IBF, WBO and lineal light heavyweight titles between 1994 and 2003, and the WBO junior-heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995. Michalczewski is regarded by many as the greatest light-heavyweight boxer of all time.

Early life and amateur career

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He was born in 1968 in Gdańsk to father Bogusław Michalczewski, a radio technician working for the Polish State Railways and mother Maria, an accountant.[1] In his youth, before turning to boxing, he initially practiced wrestling and football.[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]

Defection to Germany

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On 24 April 1988, while competing beyond the Iron Curtain in West 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 in Europe. His aggressive style earned him the nickname "Tiger".[4]

Professional career

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Michalczewski turned professional in September 1991. He won the German International light-heavyweight title early on 13 February 1993, a title for foreign-born fighters based in Germany. He then won the IBF Intercontinental title on 22 May 1993.[5]

Two-weight world champion

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On 10 September 1994, Michalczewski, at 23-0 (18 KOs), captured the WBO light-heavyweight title with a 12-round decision over defending champion Leeonzer 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 WBO cruiserweight 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 coach Fritz Sdunek became head coach and replaced Chuck Talhami as Michalczewski's trainer, which resulted in a marked improvement in Michalczewski's performances.

Hill vs Michalczewski unification

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On 13 June 1997, he defeated Virgil Hill over 12 rounds to add Hill's WBA, 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 against mandatory challenger William 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 his Lineal/WBO titles. In 1998, he defeated Drake Thadzi, in 1999, he defeated Montel Griffin, and in 2000, he defeated Graciano Rocchigiani.

Going for Marciano's record

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Autographed replica of Michalczewski's WBO title in Dziwnów

Michalczewski had a perfect record of 48-0 when he faced Julio César González of Mexico in defense of his title on 18 October 2003. Coming into the fight, he was within one victory of tying Rocky Marciano's record of 49 wins with no losses. A win also would have put him just one victory short of Joe 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 the Color 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.

Final fight

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In October 2004, it was announced that Michalczewski would come out of retirement to box France's Fabrice 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 cheat Sven Ottke in Germany in May 2008, but the bout never materialized.

[edit]
  • Tiger Energy Drink is named after the famous boxer. His picture and text "Recommended by Dariusz 'Tiger' Michalczewski" appears on the cans and bottles.[7]
  • Dariusz Michalczewski struck a friendship with performer Mark Wahlberg, known at the time by his stage name Marky Mark of the formation Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. In 1995, Marky Mark released a track called "No Mercy" about his friend Dariusz Michalczewski, including excerpts in Polish from Dariusz, who also appears in the video clip shot by Frank Papenbroock.[8] "No Mercy" appears in the album The Remix Album by Prince Ital Joe and Marky Mark, although this particular track is a solo effort by Marky Mark.
  • In 2006, a documentary was made by Pawel Kocambasi alias P.M.Starost. The 60-minute documentary entitled "Tiger"[9] took part in Filmfest München and won the award for the Best Documentary at the Biberacher Filmfestspiele.

Social involvement

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In 2003 Dariusz Michalczewski established foundation "Równe Szanse" (equal chances) which was aimed at supporting initiatives for youth from dysfunctional families.[10] Since 2014 he supports the social campaign for civil union and the right for adoption by homosexual couples.[11][12]

Professional boxing record

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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;
Won WBA and IBF 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 a clinch
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 Won WBO junior-heavyweight title
24 Win 24–0 Leeonzer Barber UD 12 10 Sep 1994 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany Won WBO 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 vacant IBF Inter-Continental light-heavyweight title
16 Win 16–0 Pat Alley KO 4 3 Apr 1993 Sporthalle Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany
15 Win 15–0 Ali Saidi KO 10 (10) 13 Feb 1993 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany Won German International light-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

Television viewership

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Germany

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Date Fight Viewership (avg.) Source(s)
14 September 2002
 Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Richard Hall II
4,140,000
 [13]
29 March 2003
 Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Derrick Harmon
6,870,000
 [13]
19 October 2003
 Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Julio César González
7,620,000
 [14]
26 February 2005
 Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Fabrice Tiozzo
7,870,000
 [15]
Total viewership 26,500,000

Poland

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Date Fight Viewership (avg.) Source(s)
19 October 2003
 Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Julio César González
5,794,000
 [16]
Total viewership 5,794,000

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Michalczewski, Dariusz (2004). Silniejszy niż strach. Prószyński i S-ka. ISBN 83-7337-875-8.
  2. ^ Michalczewski, Dariusz; Drzewicki, Mciej; Kubicki, Grzegorz (2015). Tiger. Bez cenzury. Warsaw: Agora. ISBN 978-83-268-2304-6.
  3. ^ "DARIUSZ MICHALCZEWSKI POPIERA AKCJĘ STACJASPORT.PL". Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Dariusz Michalczewski". Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  5. ^ "DARIUSZ MICHALCZEWSKI. KOLEDZY CZEKALI Z WĘGORZEM I WÓDKĄ". Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Dariusz Michalczewski vs. Virgil Hill - BoxRec".
  7. ^ Tiger Energy Drink#Facts
  8. ^ Video clip of No Mercy by Marky Mark about Dariusz Michalczewski
  9. ^ "Official website of Polish P.M.Starost documentary on Dariusz Michalczewski". Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  10. ^ "Równe Szanse” – Fundacja Sportowa Darka Michalczewskiego
  11. ^ Michalczewski: Popieram adopcję dzieci przez pary homoseksualne - Sporty walki - Najnowsze wiadomości - Dziennik.pl
  12. ^ "Dariusz Michalczewski: Homofobia to obciach". Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  13. ^ a b Pfeil, Gerhard (23 November 2003). "Der Preis für das Finale". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  14. ^ "7,62 Mio. Zuschauer sahen Boxkampf des "Tigers"" (in German). 19 October 2003. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Michalczewski-Niederlage sahen fast acht Millionen" (in German). 27 February 2005. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  16. ^ Misiołowski, Robert (2 December 2015). Marketing w sporcie (in Polish). Promotor. ISBN 978-83-60095-25-6.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dariusz Michalczewski.
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
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