Arthur Abraham

Avetik Abrahamyan (Ավետիք Աբրահամյան; born 20 February 1980), best known as Arthur Abraham, is an Armenian-German former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2018.

Avetik Abrahamyan was born in Yerevan, Soviet Armenia on 20 February 1980 to parents Grigor and Sylvia Abrahamyan.

His final amateur record was 81-3-6 (48 KO).

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 and eventually became the North Bavarian and Franconian Youth Champion.

However, after watching an exciting Mike Tyson fight, Arthur was inspired to become a boxing star too.

He was an International junior welterweight German champion in 1997 and a three time Senior light middleweight Armenian champion in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

In 1999, Arthur and his brothers returned to Armenia for military service.

Abraham attempted to compete for Armenia at the 2000 Summer Olympics, but was unable due to his two years of military service.

After 2002, all the brothers had finished their military service and returned to Germany in 2003.

Abraham boxed as an amateur in Bamberg and later in Nuremberg.

In 2003, with Arthur and his brother Alexander returned to Germany, hoping to begin a professional boxing career.

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.

Abraham started his professional career on 16 August 2003.

The Sauerland-promoted Abraham had many 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).

He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF middleweight title from 2005 to 2009, and the WBO super-middleweight title twice between 2012 and 2016.

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.

On 10 December 2005, in Leipzig, Germany, Abraham won the vacant IBF middleweight title against Kingsley Ikeke (23–1, 13 KOs) 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.

In the fifth round, Arthur met Ikeke with hard shots to the head.

Ikeke began to tumble toward the canvas and Abraham landed some final rights to seal the victory.

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 (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.

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, 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.

Arthur won his fifth title defense by defeating fellow Armenian Khoren Gevor by 11th-round knockout from a powerful left hook.