# Dariusz Michalczewski

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

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. In his youth, before turning to boxing, he initially practiced wrestling and football.
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:
* 1986 – European Junior Semi-Finalist in middleweight division, defeating Fabrice Tiozzo but losing to Ray Close
* 1990 – German National Champion in light heavyweight division
* 1991 – European Champion in light heavyweight division

## Defection to Germany

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".

## Professional career

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.

### Two-weight world champion

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

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.
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

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

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.

## In popular culture

* Tiger Energy Drink is named after the famous boxer. His picture and text "Recommended by Dariusz 'Tiger' Michalczewski" appears on the cans and bottles.
* 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. "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" took part in Filmfest München and won the award for the Best Documentary at the Biberacher Filmfestspiele.

## Social involvement

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

## Professional boxing record

| 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 | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* WBA light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* IBF light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* WBO light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* WBO cruiserweight champion (200 lbs)

### Regional/International titles

* IBF Inter-Continental light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* German International light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)

## Television viewership
### Germany

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

### Poland

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