Arthur Abraham

Avetik Abrahamyan (Armenian: Ավետիք Աբրահամյան; born 20 February 1980),

best known as Arthur Abraham, is an Armenian-German professional boxer. He is a
multiple-time former world champion in two weight classes, having held
the IBF middleweight title from 2005 to 2009 with ten successful defenses (the
fourth most in middleweight history), and the WBO super-middleweight title twice
between 2012 and 2016.

Early life[edit]

Avetik Abrahamyan was born in Yerevan, Soviet Armenia 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 and eventually became the North Bavarian and Franconian Youth
Champion.[3] However, after watching an exciting Mike Tyson fight, Arthur was
inspired to become a boxing star too.[4] 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

Amateur career[edit]

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 middleweightArmenian champion in 2000, 2001 and
2002.[3][5] Abraham attempted to compete for Armenia at the 2000 Summer
Olympics, but was unable due to his two years of military service. In 2003, with
Arthur and his brother Alexander returned to Germany, hoping to begin a
professional boxing career.[3] His final amateur record was 81-3-6 (48 KO).[7]

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