Sultan Ahmed Magomedsaliovich Ibragimov
[1](Russian: ?????? ????? ????????? ; born 8 March 1975, in Tlyarata, Dagestan, Russian SSR, Soviet Union), is a professional boxer and a former WBO heavyweight champion of Avar Dagestani Muslim [2] descent. He fought to become a unified world champion in February 2008, but lost to Wladimir Klitschko.
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SULTAN IBRAGIMOV TICKETS
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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
Ibragimov turned professional and rose through the heavyweigh 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.
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, improved his record to 21-0-1, after beating Shannon Briggs by unanimous decision and capturing the WBO heavyweight title in
Atlantic City, New Jersey on 2 June 2007.
On 13 October 2007, Sultan Ibragimov won his first title defense against
Evander Holyfield by unanimous decision
[4] for the WBO heavyweight title at
Khodynka Arena in
Moscow, Russia.
[5] Ibragimov scored a knockdown on Holyfield in the 10th round.
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. He was defeated by Wladimir Klitschko by way of a unanimous decision. Due to visa problems and promotional disputes, Sultan has not fought since, but plans to return to the ring shortly.
Personal life
Ibragimov is a Muslim and is married.
Trivia
- He is only the fifth southpaw heavyweight champion in history. [6] The others are Michael Moorer, Corrie Sanders, Chris Byrd, and Ruslan Chagaev.
- Sultan's cousin, Timur Ibragimov, is also a heavyweight professional boxer. However, Sultan fights for Russia, while Timur represents Uzbekistan. [7] [8]
References
- [1]
- Shannon Briggs Says Nyet
- Shannon Brigs Says Nyet
- Daily Telegraph Issue No.47,327 (Friday 3rd August 2007)'''Holyfield steps back into the ring''' Article by Gareth A. Davies
- ESPN - Holyfield replaces Chagaev as Ibragimov's opponent - Boxing
- Chagaev Vs. Ibragimov heats up
- Q&A Timur Ibragimov: "I am the best."
- http://www.mma365.com/interviews/sultan_ibragimov.html