Istvan Szili
Name: Istvan Szili
Alias: The Prince
Birth Name: Istvan Szili
Hometown: Basel, Switzerland
Birthplace: Szombathely, Hungary
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 178cm
Reach: 174cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
Bare Knuckle: Record
Istvan Szili (born December 26, 1982, in Szombathely, Hungary) is a Hungarian professional boxer and former Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) World Middleweight Champion. Known by the nickname "The Prince," Szili has competed primarily at middleweight and super middleweight and has been based in Basel, Switzerland during his professional career.
Szili stands 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) with a reach of approximately 174 cm (68.5 in). He compiled an extensive amateur career before entering the professional ranks and later became an internationally experienced professional, competing throughout Europe and against several notable middleweight and super middleweight opponents.
Amateur Career
Szili developed through the Hungarian amateur boxing system and accumulated an extensive amateur record of approximately 221 bouts, consisting of 165 victories, 51 defeats and 5 draws.
His competitive boxing career began at a young age, and by the late 1990s he was collecting victories in Hungarian junior and youth competitions.
In 1997, Szili won both the Savaria Cup and Énekes-Kelemen Cup.
In 1998, he won the Hungarian Junior National Championship at 51 kg and became a member of the Hungarian junior national team. During the same period, he also won gold medals at the Sopron Cup, Savaria Cup and Énekes-Kelemen Memorial Competition.
In 1999, competing at 54 kg, Szili won the international Adler Zsigmond tournament. He also earned victories at the Sopron Cup, Énekes-Kelemen Memorial Competition and the Hungarian National Championship of Schools.
In 2000, Szili moved up to 60 kg and earned a silver medal at the Hungarian Junior National Championships. He won the international Dobó Cup and represented Hungary at the Junior World Championships in Budapest.
He continued competing successfully in Hungarian and international tournaments during the following years, including victories at the Paks Cup, Írottkő Cup, Sopron Cup, Savaria Cup and Énekes-Kelemen Memorial.
In 2004, Szili earned bronze at the Hungarian National Championships and returned to the Hungarian national team. He also won the international Paks Cup, Sopron Cup and Énekes-Kelemen Memorial and was recognized as one of Hungary's leading senior amateur boxers.
In 2005, Szili earned a medal at the European Union Championships in Sardinia and won the Hungarian senior national championship at 69 kg. He also represented Hungary at the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Mianyang, China.
One of the most significant achievements of Szili's amateur career came in 2006, when he won the European Union Championship at 69 kg in Pécs, Hungary. Szili also won the prestigious Bocskai Memorial Tournament that year and earned second place at the Chemistry Cup in Germany.
He additionally represented Hungary at the 2006 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
In 2007, Szili became Hungarian National Champion at 75 kg and represented Hungary at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago.
In 2008, he competed at the European Championships in Liverpool and also won the Box-Am tournament in Valladolid, Spain.
By the conclusion of his amateur career, Szili had accumulated more than 200 bouts and considerable international experience representing Hungary.
Professional Career
Following his lengthy amateur career, Szili relocated his boxing career to Switzerland and entered the professional ranks.
Szili made his professional debut on October 24, 2009, in Ascona, Switzerland, defeating Fares Sahawneh by unanimous decision.
He remained unbeaten through the early years of his professional career and gradually progressed from domestic and regional competition into European championship-level bouts.
During this period, Szili recorded victories over opponents including Aliaksander Sushchyts, Mariusz Biskupski, Sergei Melis, Daniel Urbanski, Sebastian Skrzypczynski and Francesco Di Fiore.
European and Inter-Continental Championship Bouts
On August 23, 2013, Szili challenged Goekalp Oezekler for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Championship. The contest ended in a draw, preserving Szili's unbeaten professional record.
On May 2, 2014, Szili challenged Matteo Signani for the vacant EBU-EU European Union Middleweight Championship. The fight also ended in a draw.
These performances positioned Szili for his first professional world championship under the Universal Boxing Federation.
UBF World Middleweight Champion
On August 30, 2014, Istvan Szili faced Germany's Mathias Zemski for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) World Middleweight Championship.
Szili stopped Zemski in the sixth round to capture the UBF World Middleweight title, becoming a UBF World Champion and adding the first professional world championship to his résumé.
The victory represented a significant milestone in Szili's transition from accomplished Hungarian amateur to professional champion.
Antoine Douglas Fight
On July 17, 2015, Szili traveled to the United States to face undefeated American middleweight prospect Antoine Douglas.
The contest represented one of Szili's most significant international assignments to that point in his professional career. Douglas defeated Szili by third-round technical knockout, handing Szili the first defeat of his professional career.
WBA Inter-Continental Championship Opportunity
Szili later returned to European competition and on July 2, 2016 challenged Nuhu Lawal for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight Championship.
Lawal won the contest by decision, giving Szili the second defeat of his professional career.
Szili would subsequently rebuild his career and eventually move into the super middleweight division.
Super Middleweight Career
After competing for much of his career at middleweight, Szili established himself at super middleweight and experienced another significant period of success.
On February 29, 2020, Szili faced Australian contender Jayde Mitchell in Switzerland. Szili earned a split-decision victory after twelve rounds, adding another important international victory to his résumé.
Later that year, Szili defeated Mate Kis and established himself as the IBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Champion.
His performances placed him into position for one of the highest-profile bouts of his professional career.
Felix Sturm Victory
On March 26, 2022, Szili faced former multi-time world champion Felix Sturm at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany.
The twelve-round contest served as an IBO Super Middleweight title eliminator, with Szili entering the bout as the IBO Inter-Continental champion.
Szili produced one of the most significant performances of his professional career, defeating Sturm by majority decision after twelve rounds.
The official judges' scores were 116-111 and 115-113 for Szili, with the third judge scoring the contest 114-114.
The victory over Sturm became one of the signature wins of Szili's professional career and strengthened his position within the international super middleweight division.
William Scull Fight
Following his victory over Sturm, Szili continued competing internationally and faced William Scull in an IBF Super Middleweight title eliminator.
The bout represented another opportunity for Szili to position himself toward a major world championship fight.
Professional Championship Titles Held
- Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) World Middleweight Champion
- Won August 30, 2014 vs. Mathias Zemski (KO 6)
- IBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Champion
Professional Championship / Eliminator Bouts
- August 23, 2013 – WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Championship vs. Goekalp Oezekler – Draw
- May 2, 2014 – EBU-EU Middleweight Championship vs. Matteo Signani – Draw
- August 30, 2014 – UBF World Middleweight Championship vs. Mathias Zemski – Won KO 6
- July 2, 2016 – WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight Championship vs. Nuhu Lawal
- March 26, 2022 – IBO Super Middleweight Title Eliminator vs. Felix Sturm – Won MD 12
- IBF Super Middleweight Title Eliminator vs. William Scull
Amateur Accomplishments
- 1998 Hungarian Junior National Champion – 51 kg
- 2004 Hungarian National Championships – Bronze Medal
- 2005 Hungarian Senior National Champion – 69 kg
- 2005 European Union Championships medalist
- 2005 World Championships participant – Mianyang, China
- 2006 European Union Champion – 69 kg, Pécs, Hungary
- 2006 Bocskai Memorial Tournament Champion
- 2006 Chemistry Cup – Silver Medal
- 2006 European Championships participant – Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- 2007 Hungarian Senior National Champion – 75 kg
- 2007 World Championships participant – Chicago, United States
- 2008 European Championships participant – Liverpool, England
- 2008 Box-Am Tournament Champion – Valladolid, Spain
Professional Record
26 Wins – 2 Losses – 2 Draws (14 KOs)
Personal Details
Name: Istvan Szili
Nickname: "The Prince"
Born: December 26, 1982
Birthplace: Szombathely, Hungary
Hometown / Base: Basel, Switzerland
Nationality: Hungarian
Height: 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Reach: 174 cm (68.5 in)
Legacy
Istvan Szili's career spans more than two decades of elite amateur and professional boxing competition. After representing Hungary extensively as an amateur, including winning the European Union Championship and multiple Hungarian national titles, Szili transitioned successfully into professional boxing.
His professional career included becoming the UBF World Middleweight Champion, winning the IBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Championship and competing in championship and eliminator bouts under the WBO, EBU, WBA, IBO and IBF banners.
His majority-decision victory over former world champion Felix Sturm in Dortmund remains among the most notable victories of his professional career.
Szili's combination of an extensive amateur background, international professional experience and championship accomplishments has made "The Prince" a recognizable figure in Hungarian boxing of his generation.