Arthur Abraham

Arthur Abraham
Born	Avetik Grigori Abrahamyan (1980-02-20) February 20, 1980 Yerevan, Soviet Armenia
Occupation	Professional boxer (former)
Years active	2003–2018
Known for	IBF middleweight champion (2005–2009), WBO super-middleweight champion (2012–2016)

Avetik Grigori Abrahamyan (; born 20 February 1980), widely recognized as Arthur Abraham, is a former professional boxer of Armenian origin who represented Germany during his career spanning from 2003 to 2018. Throughout his tenure, he secured multiple world titles across two different weight divisions, notably holding the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight championship from 2005 until 2009, as well as capturing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-middleweight crown on two occasions between 2012 and 2016.

Early life

Avetik Abrahamyan entered the world in Yerevan, Soviet Armenia on 20 February 1980, born to parents Grigor and Sylvia Abrahamyan. In 1995, at the age of 15, he relocated to Germany with his family. Before dedicating himself to boxing, he was an accomplished cyclist, having earned titles such as North Bavarian and Franconian Youth Champion. His passion shifted towards boxing after witnessing a bout featuring Mike Tyson. Between 1999 and 2002, Abrahamyan fulfilled his mandatory military service in Armenia alongside his brothers before returning to Germany in 2003 to focus on his boxing ambitions.

Amateur career

During his amateur days, Abraham competed initially in Bamberg and subsequently in Nuremberg. He claimed the International junior welterweight German championship in 1997 and was crowned Senior light middleweight Armenian champion consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Although he intended to represent Armenia at the 2000 Summer Olympics, his military obligations precluded participation. In 2003, Arthur and his brother Alexander moved back to Germany to embark on professional boxing careers. His amateur record concluded at an impressive 81 wins, 3 losses, and 6 draws, including 48 knockouts.

That same year, both brothers aligned with promoter Wilfried Sauerland and head trainer Ulli Wegner. Arthur initially served as a sparring partner for IBF and WBA super middleweight titleholder Sven Ottke, whose influence led Wegner to personally take charge of Abraham’s training.

Amateur highlights

• 1997 International light-welterweight German champion
• Senior light-middleweight Armenian champion in 2000, 2001, and 2002

Early career

Arthur Abraham launched his pro boxing journey on 16 August 2003 under the Sauerland promotional banner. Early successes included victories over Canadian southpaw Ian Gardner (record at the time: 18–1) for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental middleweight title, former WBO titleholder Hector Velazco, and contender Nader Hamdan (who held a record of 36–1).

In July 2005, Abraham defended his WBA Inter-Continental belt against notable British boxer Howard Eastman, who had only been defeated by American fighters William Joppy and former Undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.

Abraham vs. Ikeke

On December 10, 2005, in Leipzig, Germany, Abraham captured the vacant IBF middleweight championship by knocking out Kingsley Ikeke (23–1, 13 KOs) in the fifth round. The IBF title had been relinquished by the undisputed champion Jermain Taylor following a declined matchup with Abraham. During the fifth round, Abraham landed significant headshots that caused Ikeke to be knocked down and ultimately ended the contest in his favor.

Abraham successfully retained his belt on March 5, 2006, by securing a unanimous decision over Australian boxer Shannan Taylor. Two months later, he defended the title once more, winning on points against Kofi Jantuah.

Abraham vs. Miranda

On September 23, 2006, Abraham emerged victorious via decision against the undefeated contender Edison Miranda, despite sustaining a double jaw fracture in the fourth round. Miranda fought aggressively but was penalized five points due to repeated low blows and deliberate headbutts. Even without these deductions, Abraham’s win was clear with scores of 114–109, 115–109, and 116–109. Following the bout, Abraham underwent surgery where 22 screws and two titanium plates were inserted. His determination to complete the fight while injured earned widespread acclaim.

Subsequently, Abraham showcased his dominance by knocking out Canadian Sébastien Demers in under three minutes during the third round. He then achieved his fifth title defense by delivering a powerful left hook knockout to fellow Armenian Khoren Gevor in the 11th round.

Abraham vs. Elcock and Ayala

On December 8, 2007, Abraham made his sixth successful defense of the IBF middleweight crown by defeating Wayne Elcock through a technical knockout in round five.

Two of Abraham’s bouts were notably accompanied by live performances from the band Scorpions, and he has entered arenas to "Ready For The Fight" by The Young Punx.

On March 29, 2008, Abraham secured his seventh consecutive title defense by knocking out American challenger Elvin Ayala with a decisive left hook in the twelfth round.

Abraham vs. Miranda II

On 21 June 2008, Abraham and Miranda met once more at a catchweight of 166 lbs, with Abraham's IBF middleweight title not on the line. During the fourth round, Abraham scored multiple knockdowns, ultimately causing the referee to halt the bout as Miranda was unable to continue.

Abraham vs. Marquez

Abraham successfully defended his IBF middleweight championship on 8 November 2008 by defeating Raúl Márquez (41–4–1, 29 KOs) via a 6th-round technical knockout at Bamberg's Jako Arena, marking his eighth consecutive title defense.

On 14 March 2009, he retained the IBF belt against Lajuan Simon in his first full 12-round contest since his fight with Edison Miranda. His tenth and final defense took place in Berlin against Mahir Oral, concluding with a 10th-round technical knockout after multiple knockdowns led Oral’s corner to stop the match.

Super Six World Boxing Classic

Following unsuccessful efforts to arrange fights with WBO and WBC champion Kelly Pavlik or WBA titleholder Felix Sturm, Abraham transitioned to the super middleweight division. He entered the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament, competing for the WBA and WBC super middleweight belts alongside champions Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, and contenders Andre Dirrell, Andre Ward, and Jermain Taylor.

Abraham vs. Taylor

In his opening bout of the tournament on 17 October 2009, Abraham secured a 12th-round knockout victory over Jermain Taylor. Originally scheduled as an undisputed middleweight championship fight, the match was canceled beforehand. Taylor sustained a severe concussion and temporary memory loss, which led to his replacement by veteran competitor Allan Green. After receiving hospital treatment, Taylor confirmed his recovery and extended congratulations to Abraham. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson commended Abraham’s aggression and resolve during the encounter.

By the conclusion of 2009, The Ring ranked Abraham as the world’s 14th best boxer. On 5 March 2010, Yahoo! Sports placed him at number eight globally.

Abraham vs. Dirrell

On 27 March 2010, Abraham faced American boxer Andre Dirrell during the second phase of the Super Six World Boxing Classic at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena. After ten rounds, Dirrell was leading on all judges’ scorecards. In round eleven, Dirrell slipped near a corner when Abraham struck him with a right hand that knocked him down. The referee disqualified Abraham for hitting Dirrell while he was down, resulting in Abraham’s first professional loss. Dirrell was hospitalized for brain scans but was later reported to be in good condition. Through a translator, Abraham explained that he concentrated on Dirrell’s eyes and did not notice him slipping.

Abraham vs. Froch

Abraham was set to face British contender Carl Froch (26–1, 20 KOs) for the vacant WBC super middleweight crown on 27 November 2010. Originally scheduled for 2 October in Monaco, the fight was postponed due to Froch suffering a back injury. The match eventually took place at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland. Abraham was unable to secure a second world title in a different weight class, falling by unanimous decision with judges scoring 119–109, 120–108, and 120–108, underscoring Froch’s clear superiority. Abraham voiced dissatisfaction with his showing, while Froch hailed it as his finest performance so far.

Abraham vs. Ward

Although Abraham had only one victory in his last three contests, he advanced to the semifinals after defeating Croatian challenger Stjepan Božić via technical knockout in the second round following Božić’s hand injury.

On 14 May 2011, Abraham met undefeated American Andre Ward during the Super Six semifinals for the WBA super middleweight championship at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Despite entering with two losses in his previous three fights, Abraham started strongly but gradually lost control as Ward’s superior tactical skill and defense prevailed. Ward dominated throughout, securing a wide unanimous decision with scores of 120–108, 118–110, and 118–111. Ward connected on 178 of 444 punches (40%) and later defeated Froch in the final to claim the Super Six World Boxing Classic title.

Comeback

On 30 October 2011, Abraham declared intentions to return to middleweight in 2012 but ultimately opted to stay within the super middleweight division.

In his comeback bout on 14 January 2012, Abraham defeated Argentinian Pablo Oscar Natalio Farias by technical knockout in the fifth round, capturing the vacant WBO European super middleweight belt. After several knockdowns in round five, the referee halted the contest. On 31 March 2012, Abraham successfully defended his WBO European title by unanimous decision against former EBU super middleweight champion Piotr Wilczewski, who was deducted a point during the fight.

Abraham vs. Stieglitz

In April 2012, the WBO appointed Abraham as mandatory challenger for their super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (41–2, 23 KOs), replacing George Groves. The championship bout occurred on 25 August at Berlin’s O2 World arena. Abraham secured a unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds to claim the WBO title, thus becoming a two-division world champion—the second Armenian and first German to reach this milestone. Judges scored the fight 116–112, 116–112, and 115–113. Subsequently, BoxSport magazine honored Abraham as Germany’s top boxer of 2012; his trainer Ulli Wegner received recognition as best coach.

Abraham vs. Bouadla, Stieglitz II

On 9 October 2012, Mehdi Bouadla (26–4–0, 11 KOs) was announced as Abraham’s initial defense opponent at super middleweight. The match took place on 15 December at Nüremberg Arena in Nüremberg, Germany. Abraham retained his championship via technical knockout in the eighth round after a cut near Bouadla’s right eye impaired his vision and forced stoppage. Following the fight, Abraham emphasized how meaningful it was to defend his title before a hometown crowd of 10,000 spectators.

A rematch with Robert Stieglitz was proposed five days later for early 2013. In January, Abraham confirmed scheduling the bout for 3 March amid Stieglitz’s ongoing legal complications. The rematch unfolded at the GETEC Arena in Stieglitz’s hometown of Magdeburg, Germany before an audience of 8,000. Due to swelling that closed Abraham’s eye by round two, the referee stopped the contest at the start of round four resulting in Abraham losing his title. According to CompuBox data, Stieglitz dominated by landing 70 out of 203 punches (34%) compared to Abraham’s 27 out of 107 (25%), including a significant edge in power punches with a tally of 63 to 19.

Regaining composure

Following the loss of his World title, Abraham competed twice more in 2013. He secured a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Willbeforce Shihepo (20–4, 15 KOs) with scores of 116–113, 117–111, and 116–112, capturing the vacant WBO Inter-Continental super middleweight belt. Two months afterward, he successfully defended this title against Giovanni De Carolis (20–4, 10 KOs), winning by unanimous decision with judges scoring 120–108 and 119–109 twice.

Abraham vs. Stieglitz III, Sjekloca

The trilogy fight against Stieglitz (46–3, 26 KOs) took place on 1 March 2014 at the GETEC Arena in Magdeburg, Germany, with the WBO super middleweight championship on the line. The purse bid minimum was set at $300,000; however, on 9 December, Stieglitz’s promoter SES submitted a winning bid of $3,135,000, surpassing Abraham’s promoter Sauerland Event's $1,541,414. Consequently, Stieglitz earned $2,351,250 (75%), while Abraham received $783,750 (25%). The bout was tightly contested through eleven rounds until Abraham’s precise counter-punching wore down Stieglitz, who went down on one knee in the twelfth round. Abraham claimed victory by split decision with scores of 112–113, 114–111, and 115–110. According to CompuBox statistics, Abraham connected with 140 out of 451 punches thrown (31%), whereas Stieglitz landed 106 of 489 (22%), with Abraham’s jab and increased activity in the final rounds proving decisive.

In April, Abraham arranged his inaugural title defense for two months later against Serbian contender Nikola Sjekloca (28–1, 8 KOs), scheduled at the Velodrom in Berlin on 3 May 2014. The fight lasted the full twelve rounds; Abraham secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 116–112, 116–113, and 119–110. Despite sustaining what he believed to be a broken hand in round seven, he adapted his tactics effectively to ensure the win.

Abraham vs. Smith I, II

On 21 July 2014, promoter Kalle Sauerland announced that Abraham would defend his WBO title against English boxer Paul Smith (35–3, 20 KOs) at the Sparkassen-Arena in Germany on 27 September. Negotiations for this bout had commenced in May of that year. Prior to the contest, Smith analyzed Abraham’s defeat by Carl Froch—who had previously used Smith as a sparring partner—to prepare strategically.

Abraham retained his championship via a contentious unanimous decision after twelve rounds with judges scoring it 119–109 and twice at 117–111. The wide score margins provoked criticism from many British spectators who expressed their displeasure vocally; Smith’s promoter Eddie Hearn labeled the verdict a "disgrace." In response to the controversy, the WBO announced it would review both the fight and its outcome while considering a potential rematch.

In October, although the WBO declined Smith’s request for an immediate rematch, they maintained his position within their top five rankings. Smith remained hopeful for another chance through a voluntary defense.

By late October, Abraham expressed openness to facing Smith again during 2015. A rematch agreement was reached in December 2014 for a bout scheduled on 21 February 2015 at the O₂ World Arena in Berlin. With another victory anticipated, Abraham aimed to set up a future encounter with Felix Sturm.

The rematch drew an audience of approximately 9,000 spectators and extended through all twelve rounds. Abraham won unanimously on points with scores of 116–112 and twice at 117–111. Demonstrating dominance through powerful punches while managing fatigue by defending along the ropes, he controlled much of the fight. Afterward, Smith commended Abraham’s performance. The event attracted an average television viewership exceeding four million on SAT1 in Germany.

Abraham vs. Stieglitz IV, Murray

On 18 July 2015, Arthur Abraham confronted Robert Stieglitz (47–4–1, 27 KOs) for their fourth and final encounter at the Gerry Weber Stadion in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, promoted as the 'Final Showdown'. The WBO mandated this bout in February, with negotiations between both sides concluding by April. Although Abraham held a 3–1 lead in their head-to-head record, he vowed to secure a knockout to reinforce his position as the leading super-middleweight. He intended to continue competing for an additional two years before retiring alongside his coach and relinquishing his title, aiming to unify the division during this period. Abraham achieved a TKO victory in round six after having floored Stieglitz once in the fourth round. At the time of the stoppage, all judges had Abraham ahead on their scorecards (48–46, 50–44, 49–45).

On 7 October 2015, Matchroom Sport revealed that Abraham would defend his WBO title against British contender Martin Murray (32–2–1, 15 KOs) on 21 November at the TUI Arena in Hanover. Murray was pursuing his first world championship following a third unsuccessful attempt earlier that year against middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin. Riding a three-fight winning streak, Murray challenged Abraham throughout the full twelve rounds. Abraham ultimately secured victory via split decision (116–111, 115–112, 112–115), with Murray penalized a point for holding during round eleven. After the fight, Abraham commended Murray as an elite opponent and attributed his win to superior technical skill and tactical execution.

Abraham vs. Ramírez

On 18 January 2016, it was announced that undefeated top-ranked WBO contender Gilberto Ramírez (33–0, 24 KOs) would challenge Arthur Abraham for the WBO super middleweight crown on 9 April. The bout was scheduled as part of the undercard for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley III HBO pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Ramírez dominated the contest with all three judges scoring it 120–108 in his favor, becoming the first Mexican boxer to claim a super middleweight world title. He outperformed Abraham by utilizing an effective jab, delivering a consistent combination of head and body shots, and exhibiting superior movement throughout the fight. Following this loss, Abraham's record in U.S.-based fights dropped to (1–3). Ramírez remarked afterward, "I came here to make history, and I did it."

Later career

Team Sauerland confirmed Abraham's comeback on 16 July 2016 against Tim-Robin Lihaug (15–1, 8 KOs), aged 23, competing for the vacant WBO International super middleweight belt at Berlin's Max-Schmeling-Halle. Abraham secured a TKO victory in round eight, capturing the title left vacant by Ramírez.

In October of that year, discussions commenced regarding a rematch with Martin Murray (33–4–1, 16 KOs), planned for 12 November 2016 at Monaco’s Salle des Étoiles. This non-title bout was set to determine the mandatory challenger for the WBO super middleweight championship that Abraham had lost to Ramírez. However, Abraham withdrew due to an elbow injury. Subsequently, Murray arranged alternative opponents after Dmitry Chudinov also pulled out because of illness.

Abraham vs. Krasniqi

The World Boxing Organization called for a purse bid on 4 January 2017 in Hungary for an eliminator match between Abraham—ranked second—and two-time light heavyweight contender Robin Krasniqi (46–4, 17 KOs), with a minimum bid requirement of $300,000. On 14 January, both parties agreed to hold the eliminator on 22 April at the Messe Erfurt Convention Center in Erfurt, Germany. Abraham took control during the latter half of the fight and earned a unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds, securing another opportunity at a world title. The judges scored the bout 118–110, 115–114, and 117–111 in favor of Abraham. Krasniqi began strongly by leveraging his height advantage; however, Abraham shifted momentum with a decisive right hand in round six and managed the later rounds effectively by cutting off ring space.

Abraham vs. Eubank Jr.

On 1 June 2017, it was reported that Chris Eubank Jr was set to defend his IBO super middleweight title against Abraham in London, with an estimated purse near £3 million. The fight was tentatively scheduled for either 15 or 22 July. Ultimately, the contest was confirmed for 15 July at Wembley Arena, broadcast live on ITV Box Office. The victor would earn a spot in the World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight tournament. During the weigh-in, Abraham initially failed to make weight by almost 2 pounds but succeeded on his third attempt; Eubank Jr. comfortably met the weight limit.

Eubank Jr. secured a unanimous decision victory (120–108, 120–108, 118–110), showcasing dominant offensive skills while Abraham remained largely defensive. This defeat marked Abraham’s second loss within four bouts and cemented Eubank Jr.’s status as a top contender in the super-middleweight category.

Abraham vs. Nielsen

Danish outlet BT announced on 13 March 2018 that Abraham was in negotiations with Danish fighter Patrick Nielsen for a potential match. Nielsen had recently been defeated by British boxer John Ryder in October 2017. The fight was officially set on 19 March for 28 April at Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany. After twelve rounds, Abraham emerged victorious by split decision, claiming the vacant WBO International title. Two judges scored the bout 116–111 in favor of Abraham, while one judge awarded Nielsen a narrow 114–113 edge. Throughout the fight, Abraham maintained relentless pressure with powerful punches; Nielsen displayed effective movement and jabs but lacked the power to keep Abraham at a distance.

Retirement

Abraham concluded his professional career in 2021 with a record of 47 wins and 6 losses, including 30 knockouts, citing family commitments as his reason for retiring at age 40.

Life outside of boxing

In 2009, Abraham took part in an exhibition bout against entertainer Oliver Pocher in Cologne, using oversized gloves in a lighthearted event. In 2010, he briefly appeared on RTL’s dance competition Let's Dance, but withdrew after one episode to prioritize his boxing career.

He portrayed boxer Richard Vogt in the 2010 film Max Schmeling, supported by his real-life trainer Ulli Wegner. In 2013, German actor and producer Til Schweiger cast him as a gang leader in Crime Scene, reflecting their longstanding friendship.

Abraham served as a judge for the "Miss Germany" pageant in both 2012 and 2013. In January 2013, he received the "Poghos Nubar" medal from Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora in recognition of his exemplary role model status. He also publicly expressed condolences following the passing of fellow boxer Vladimir Yengibaryan.

Personal life

Known familiarly as "Avo," derived from Avetik, Abraham is married to Lusya Hovhannisyan and is father to three children: Grigor, Maria, and Diana. His younger brother Alexander Abraham also competes professionally in boxing.

Following retirement, he intends to establish a boxing academy in Armenia that will include foreign language instruction such as English and German to facilitate international opportunities.

Abraham acquired German citizenship in August 2006 while maintaining his Armenian nationality.

On 21 September 2008, during Armenia’s independence anniversary celebrations, President Serge Sargsyan awarded Abraham and fellow boxer Vic Darchinyan first-degree medals honoring their significant contributions to Armenia.

Professional boxing record

No.	Outcome	Record	Adversary	Decision	Round, time	Date	Venue	Remarks
53	Template:Yes2Victory	47–6	Patrick Nielsen	SD	12	28 Apr 2018	Baden-Arena, Offenburg, Germany	Captured vacant WBO International super-middleweight belt
52	Template:No2Defeat	46–6	Chris Eubank Jr.	UD	12	15 Jul 2017	The SSE Arena Wembley, London, England	Contested IBO super-middleweight championship
51	Template:Yes2Victory	46–5	Robin Krasniqi	UD	12	22 Apr 2017	Messe, Erfurt, Germany
50	Template:Yes2Victory	45–5	Tim-Robin Lihaug	TKO	8 (12), 1:09	16 Jul 2016	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany	Secured vacant WBO International super-middleweight title
49	Template:No2Defeat	44–5	Gilberto Ramírez	UD	12	9 Apr 2016	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US	Lost WBO super-middleweight championship

(Additional matches excluded here for brevity but included in the complete article)

Germany

│{{center │Template:Dts │2009 │March │14 │format=dmy }} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Lajuan Simon │ Template:Center │5,760,000 │ │{{center │Template:Dts │2009 │June │25 │format=dmy }} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Mahir Oral │ Template:Center │5,410,000 │ │{{center │Template:Dts │2009 │October │17 │format=dmy }} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor │ Template:Center │6,020,000 │ │{{center │Template:Dts │2010 │November │27 │format=dmy }} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Carl Froch │ Template:Center │5,010,000 │ │{{center │Template:Dts │2012 │January │14 │format=dmy }} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Pablo Farias │ Template:Center │5,090,000 │ │{{center│Template:Dts│2012│March│31│format=dmy}} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Piotr Wilczewski │ Template:Center│4,660,000 │ │{{center│Template:Dts│2012│August│25│format=dmy}} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Robert Stieglitz │ Template:Center│4,920,000 ──

Date	Bout	Average Viewers	References
Template:Center	Arthur Abraham vs. Edison Miranda	Template:Center
Template:Center	Arthur Abraham vs. Khoren Gevor	Template:Center
Template:Center	Arthur Abraham vs. Wayne Elcock	Template:Center
Template:Center	Arthur Abraham vs. Elvin Ayala	Template:Center
Template:Center	Arthur Abraham vs. Edison Miranda II	Template:Center
{{center │Template:Dts │2008 │November │8 │format=dmy }} │ Arthur Abraham vs. Raúl Márquez │ Template:Center │5,970,000 │
{{center│Template:Dts│2013│March│23│format=dmy}}	Arthur Abraham vs. Robert Stieglitz II	Template:Center│4,200,000
{{center│Template:Dts│2014│September│27│format=dmy}}	Arthur Abraham vs. Paul Smith	Template:Center│3,400,000
{{center│Template:Dts│2015│February│21│format=dmy}}	Arthur Abraham vs. Paul Smith II	Template:Center│4,090,000
{{center│Template:Dts│2015│July│18│format=dmy}}	Arthur Abraham vs. Robert Stieglitz IV	Template:Center│3,610,000
	Total cumulative audience	81,370,000

Awards

• Medal named after Hrant Shahinyan
• Berlin's Sportsman of the Year 2009
• Recipient of the Child Award in 2009

See also

• List of middleweight boxing champions
• List of super-middleweight boxing champions
• List of IBF world champions
• List of WBO world champions

External links

• Official website
• Arthur Abraham profile at Sauerland Promotions