Best I Faced: Arthur Abraham

[Ruthless-RKO]

by Anson Wainwright

Granite-chinned Arthur Abraham won world titles at middleweight and super middleweight during a 15-year career in the 2000s through the 2010s.

Abraham was born Avetik Abrahamyan in Yerevan, Armenia, on February 20, 1980.

“My upbringing and education was quite different from other countries,” Abraham told The Ring. “The years when we were under Soviet Union [rule] taught us to survive. I think it is good to have a goal and fight for it. The Republic of Armenia got independence from [Russia on] September 21, 1991 and we are developing day by day.”

When he moved to Germany at 15, his interest in sports grew. Athletically gifted, Abraham excelled at cycling and was the North Bavarian and Franconian Youth champion. However, it was in boxing that his future lay.

Abraham was the international junior welterweight German champion in 1997. From there, he returned to Armenia with hopes of representing his country of birth at the 2000 Olympics, but two years in the military took Sydney off the radar.

Abraham, who has a degree in international management ,went on to win three consecutive light middleweight titles in Armenia before moving back to Germany in 2003.

After going 90-7 as an amateur, Abraham caught the eye of acclaimed trainer Ulli Wegner and became a regular sparring partner for then-super middleweight titleholder Sven Ottke.

The young fighter turned pro with Sauerland Event, in August 2003, and posted a routine third-round win on the undercard of WBC 168-pound titleholder Markus Beyer’s controversial disqualification victory over Danny Green.

Abraham moved quickly and scored some impressive wins on his way up before notably outboxing the vastly more experienced former world title challenger Howard Eastman in July 2005.

When Jermain Taylor vacated the IBF title, Abraham picked up the belt by halting American-based Nigerian Kingsley Ikeke in December 2005.

“That feeling was indescribable,” said Abraham, who stopped Ikeke in five rounds. “I cried with joy and couldn’t stop. I had waited for 25 years and worked towards this with my trainer, Ulli Wegner, and my team.”

Abraham successfully turned back the challenges of savvy veterans Shannon Taylor (UD 12) and Kofi Jantuah (UD 12). He then faced the unbeaten Edison Miranda, and, in a particularly memorable fight, battled through a broken jaw from round four to outpoint the power-punching Colombian.

“That was one of my toughest fights,” Abraham recalled. “I’ve never had so much pain in my life, but my trainer taught me: ‘Only those who can take it when it gets difficult will be really big.’ Mine and my trainer’s motto: ‘We don’t know pain.’”

Abraham, who made 10 successful defenses over a three-and-a-half-year period, scored highlight reel knockouts over Khoren Gevor (KO 11) and Elvin Ayala (KO 12). He also bludgeoned former IBF junior middleweight titleholder Raul Marquez (RTD 6) to defeat.

In the midst of his reign, the power-puncher again met Miranda in a non-title catchweight bout and erased any doubt, stopping him in four rounds.

With nothing left to prove at middleweight, Abraham moved up to super middleweight, where bigger opponents and purses awaited in Showtime’s Super Six tournament. In his first bout, he faced former unified 160-pound titleholder Jermain Taylor in Berlin, in October 2009.

“It was very big fight and very important that I win the fight,” said Abraham. “I won the fight in the last seconds with a KO. All the people were very happy and I am double happy.”

Next up was uber-talented American speedster Andre Dirrell, who gave Abraham all he could handle. Dirrell was on course to win a wide decision when the German hit him while he was down and got himself disqualified in the 11th round.

Abraham was then comprehensively outboxed by Carl Froch in Helsinki, Finland, in November 2010.

Despite these setbacks, the withdrawals of Dirrell and Taylor from the tournament meant that, following a comeback win, Abraham faced off against Andre Ward in the semi-final.

“What can I say to you? He had the best tactics and he won.” said Abraham, who dropped a wide 12-round unanimous decision.

After his elimination from the tournament, Abraham returned to Germany. Following two wins, he was lined up for the first bout in a rivalry with then-WBO 168-pound ruler Robert Stieglitz.

“Our first meeting at the O2 World Arena, in Berlin, was something special to me as I was crowned a two-division world champion,” he said proudly. “Back then, I clearly outboxed Stieglitz.”

In the rematch, Stieglitz turned the tables on Abraham, stopping him in the third round.

“I was a bit surprised with him going full throttle,” Abraham admitted. “I was not really in the fight when I suffered this freakish eye injury.”

Abraham returned with two victories to set up the much-anticipated rubber match with Stieglitz. A close fight ensued, however, Abraham scored a last-round knockdown that was pivotal in him regaining the title by 12-round split decision.

“I trained very hard and I bring my title back,” he said. “This is a very important and happy day for me.”

“King” Arthur made five more defenses, besting British duo Paul Smith (UD 12/ UD 12) and Martin Murray (SD 12) as well as ending any debate against Stieglitz (TKO 6).

He would lose his WBO belt to rising Mexican star Gilberto Ramirez (UD 12), but fought on for a couple more years before bowing out with a highly respectable 47-6 (30 knockouts) record.

“I am very happy, I am very lucky,” he said of his career. “I have my children, my wife, and my family. I want more children. I love boxing, but I don’t like to fight. I had many fights, and I am happy with my career, but it has ended and now it time to enjoy my life.”

Abraham, now 41, is married to Lusya, and the couple live in Berlin with their three young children.

“I’m a businessman,” Abraham said. “My money, what I made in boxing, I’ve invested in real estate. I work even harder now as I want to advance my projects and make them come true. I employ 62 people. hotel [off the coast of the] Baltic Sea, and real estate, around Germany. It is my goal that I employ 100 people.

“To this day I am very thankful to my trainer, Ulli Wegner, and my promoter, Wilfried Sauerland. Without these two people, I would not be where I am today.”

The two-weight world titleholder graciously took time to speak to The Ring about the best he fought in 10 key categories.

BEST JAB
Jermain Taylor: It was the best jab that I faced. It very hard, very fast and very powerful. I felt pain on my right side after the fight because of the jab.

BEST DEFENSE
Andre Ward: It was tough to land clean shots on him.

BEST HANDSPEED
Ward: His handspeed was very quick.

BEST FOOTWORK
Andre Dirrell: It was not just one; there were a couple: Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell. Dirrell had good footwork; he was running very fast. His footwork was very intelligent.

SMARTEST
Ward: Ward was very smart, he beat everybody.

STRONGEST
Edison Miranda: He was born strong, he was physically very strong. When he hit me, I felt pain in all my body. But I was smarter than him.

BEST CHIN
Kofi Jantuah: Carl Froch and Kofi Jantuah had good chins. I would say Jantuah, he took all my punches and never went down. I hit Jantuah more than Froch. When Taylor hit Froch, he went down. Jantuah just kept coming.

BEST PUNCHER
Taylor: He’s a very, very hard puncher. His left is very hard. He hurt me too much in our fight. I eliminated all the pain at the end to win. I took many punches and survived.

BEST BOXING SKILLS
Ward: Andre Ward was a big talent. He had the best technique, best speed, best distance [control]. Everything, for me, is Ward.

BEST OVERALL
Ward: He was born for boxing. After you have this in your system, you can train all you like but you cannot be like he is naturally. God gave him a little bit; his father gave him a little bit; and he gave some. Altogether he is the best. He won Olympic gold, naturally a very good talent. He had speed, he’s very smart, and professionally he was very good. To me, he is the best.

Abraham’s wife, Lusya, helped translate this feature. The Ring appreciates her assistance.

[Counter-puncher]

i really enjoy these retrospectives, especially as so many of the boxers come across as decent, dignified sportsmen.

[Ruthless-RKO]

i really enjoy these retrospectives, especially as so many of the boxers come across as decent, dignified sportsmen.

Good to know he's doing well. Boxing is a short career and it seems he earned enough, invested, owns properties, has a lovely wife and he's letting us know.

[Counter-puncher]

i really enjoy these retrospectives, especially as so many of the boxers come across as decent, dignified sportsmen.

Good to know he's doing well. Boxing is a short career and it seems he earned enough, invested, owns properties, has a lovely wife and he's letting us know.

yeah, any boxer who gets out with his health and finances intact (or in an ideal world maybe even better than just intact), is reason for a minor celebration.

[Ruthless-RKO]

i really enjoy these retrospectives, especially as so many of the boxers come across as decent, dignified sportsmen.

Good to know he's doing well. Boxing is a short career and it seems he earned enough, invested, owns properties, has a lovely wife and he's letting us know.

yeah, any boxer who gets out with his health and finances intact (or in an ideal world maybe even better than just intact), is reason for a minor celebration.

People forget AA has his most success at Middleweight, when he was IBF champion. Shame he never unified back then. He wasn't the same fighter at 168, but he the fought the best, entered the super six as well.

[giacomino]

Always enjoyed watching him. He was never the best at middleweight or super middleweight but he could punch and always had the ability to quickly end fights if the moment presented itself, Weird that he says Taylor was the biggest puncher since he wasn’t known for that, but a lot of the big Germany- based freighters have traditionally been steered away from big punchers

[Wee Tommy]

Jermaine obviously had some power he kept Hopkins very honest as well. He just didn’t have great finishing instincts to go with it. It’s impossible for us outside the ring to be able to tell and that’s why people are often surprised by who the fighters pick. After all, they took the punches so they will know.

[Counter-puncher]

Jermaine obviously had some power he kept Hopkins very honest as well. He just didn’t have great finishing instincts to go with it. It’s impossible for us outside the ring to be able to tell and that’s why people are often surprised by who the fighters pick. After all, they took the punches so they will know.

he hurt Pavlik badly, and Pavlik said he hit like a mule, Pavlik was always pretty solid at 160 so you'd have to take that seriously. same with Froch, i don't think that KD happens if he isn't a pretty stiff puncher

[Wee Tommy]

Jermaine obviously had some power he kept Hopkins very honest as well. He just didn’t have great finishing instincts to go with it. It’s impossible for us outside the ring to be able to tell and that’s why people are often surprised by who the fighters pick. After all, they took the punches so they will know.

he hurt Pavlik badly, and Pavlik said he hit like a mule, Pavlik was always pretty solid at 160 so you'd have to take that seriously. same with Froch, i don't think that KD happens if he isn't a pretty stiff puncher

Agreed mate. You see it a lot on these ‘best I’ve faced’

Folk say mad stuff like ‘I don’t believe he was the hardest puncher he faced’ etc

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jermaine obviously had some power he kept Hopkins very honest as well. He just didn’t have great finishing instincts to go with it. It’s impossible for us outside the ring to be able to tell and that’s why people are often surprised by who the fighters pick. After all, they took the punches so they will know.

he hurt Pavlik badly, and Pavlik said he hit like a mule, Pavlik was always pretty solid at 160 so you'd have to take that seriously. same with Froch, i don't think that KD happens if he isn't a pretty stiff puncher

Agreed mate. You see it a lot on these ‘best I’ve faced’

Folk say mad stuff like ‘I don’t believe he was the hardest puncher he faced’ etc

Like they’d know..

[Wee Tommy]

he hurt Pavlik badly, and Pavlik said he hit like a mule, Pavlik was always pretty solid at 160 so you'd have to take that seriously. same with Froch, i don't think that KD happens if he isn't a pretty stiff puncher

Agreed mate. You see it a lot on these ‘best I’ve faced’

Folk say mad stuff like ‘I don’t believe he was the hardest puncher he faced’ etc

Like they’d know..

Look at all the threads, you’ll see what I mean mate.

I’ve been hit off pro boxers who’ve had reps as non punchers and it’s been devastating. Easy to sit here and judge.

[margaret thatcher]

you do have to take it with a grain of salt sometimes though

lets say you see a rando guy take a shot from someone and he stands up to it just fine

then he takes a shot from another guy and is laid out or dropped heavily and barely staggers up


which one do you naturally assume hit him harder? fighters, like all people, have their own biases to how they answer questions. some will be totally honest, some wont. floyd also said emmanuel agustus was his toughest fight, when he easily won every minute of every round and stopped him. just does not add up and so ppl naturally question it

[Riddick Bowie]

Taylor clearly had power. The way he put Hopkins and Wright in their shells, the damage he did to Pavlik, knocking Froch down heavily, it all adds up. He always looked very heavy handed to me.

[margaret thatcher]

sure, jt could punch, and in his prime get the shots there

[Wee Tommy]

you do have to take it with a grain of salt sometimes though

lets say you see a rando guy take a shot from someone and he stands up to it just fine

then he takes a shot from another guy and is laid out or dropped heavily and barely staggers up


which one do you naturally assume hit him harder? fighters, like all people, have their own biases to how they answer questions. some will be totally honest, some wont. floyd also said emmanuel agustus was his toughest fight, when he easily won every minute of every round and stopped him. just does not add up and so ppl naturally question it

When did he say that?

[margaret thatcher]

sometime mid 2010s i think?

part of what he said was “If I was rating certain fighters out of every guy that I fought, I’m going to rate Emanuel Augustus first compared to all the guys that I’ve faced,” there's the full interview out there somewhere

[Bodyshot3]

Interesting conclusions.....especially considering the fact Carl Froch beat him like a rug!

[Controversial]

FMM

“The best fighter I ever fought was probably Manny Pacquiao. Because of his movement. He’s a hell of a fighter. I can see why he won so many fights. Why he’s going down as a future Hall of Famer is because of certain movements he made. But the roughest fighter I probably ever faced was a guy called Emanuel Augustus. He was just tough. Miguel Cotto was very, very physically strong. You’ve got different fighters. Different days you feel different ways. You may not feel very good certain days but you can go over there and look superb.”

[Controversial]

In regards to the hardest puncher someone fought it's not always going to be the one everyone would assume. If you are knocked out cold with one punch chances are you won't feel a thing, you will be unconscious before you hit the deck. But someone could catch you with a huge punch that hurts like hell but you stay upright, they might not necessarily be a big puncher but it would hurt more than being knocked out. Sometimes guys who fight big punchers box differently too, they might be more defensive and see the punches coming, it's the ones you don't see that normally do the damage.

[margaret thatcher]

how often are dudes knocked clean out cold? that's pretty rare

but you'd think they'd have some idea and feeling of the shots when theyre dropped or their legs totally go, etc.

[littlepug]

how often are dudes knocked clean out cold? that's pretty rare

but you'd think they'd have some idea and feeling of the shots when theyre dropped or their legs totally go, etc.

I suppose it might be different for every fighter, every time I was dropped I didn’t feel a thing, just found myself on the floor a bit woozy, the ones that hurt you without dropping you were worse, big flash and what felt like a lightening bolt rocked you to your boots.

[Controversial]

how often are dudes knocked clean out cold? that's pretty rare

but you'd think they'd have some idea and feeling of the shots when theyre dropped or their legs totally go, etc.

As littlepug said it must differ from person to person. Quite a lot of these 'best I faced' interviews throw up names of the hardest puncher that you wouldn't expect. A few fighters who fought Tyson didn't name him a the hardest puncher but maybe their fear levels were higher and adrenaline kicked in more. Or they just boxed more defensively than normal so they were more prepared when punches landed. I guess it depends where the punch lands, if you were walking onto it, didn't see it coming etc..