Željko Mavrović

Željko " Zed " Mavrović ( born February 17, 1969 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia ) is a former Croatian boxer and European champion in the heavyweight division. He was at one time the only heavyweight professional boxer with completed high school.

Amateur

Mavrović participated as an amateur at the 1988 Olympic Games and 1992, but without much success. In Seoul, he was defeated in the very first round against the South Koreans Baik Hyun -Man, 1992 was in Barcelona in the second round against the Americans Danell Nicholson terminus. In addition, he participated in the European Championships in 1989 in Athens ( defeat against Axel Schulz ) and 1991 in Gothenburg ( losing to Arnold Vanderlyde ). His greatest achievement was the victory at the Mediterranean Games in 1991. Between 1991 and 1992 he was Croatian national champion. In addition Mavrović won before the independence of Croatia a Yugoslav Junior Championship in 1987 and 1988 in Podgorica and 1989 in Zagreb, the Yugoslav Championship of seniors. In the first Yugoslav league he pushed for the boxing club Rijeka.

Professional career

In 1993 Mavrović in the professional camp and signed with Wilfried Sauerland. On April 11, 1995, he won the European title in the heavyweight division with a TKO victory in the eleventh round against Frenchman Christophe Bizot. The title he defended in the next few years several times with success.

Mavrović was definitely a candidate for the world heavyweight title, but he lost on 26 September 1998 against Lennox Lewis as the mandatory challenger for the WBC belt. He boxed courageously and survived the battle without precipitation, but had a real chance to win at any time. After the battle, he fell ill according to rumors from a viral infection, lost a lot of weight and came back in December 2000 from active boxing. Also tried a diet following the championship fight was speculated as the reason for the supposed disease. Mavrović now lives near Požega, operates an organic farm whose products he sells quite successful and works for the Croatian TV as co- commentator of boxing matches.

He is frequently in fighting his friend and former sparring partner Stipe Drvis, former WBA light heavyweight champion, present.

Most important battles

• November 26, 1994 Wuppertal: ( IDM fight for the vacant heavyweight title ) win third round co Oleg Sawenko
• April 11, 1995 Levallois: (EM bout for the vacant EBU title ) victory 11 -round TKO Christophe Bizot
• December 9, 1995 Stuttgart: (EM - fight EBU) Win 1 round co Przemysław Saleta
• April 20, 1996 Dusseldorf: (EM - fight EBU) 12th round victory on points Christophe Bizot
• November 2, 1996 Garmisch -Partenkirchen: (EM - fight EBU) win 2nd round TKO Clifton Mitchell
• February 15, 1997 Vienna (EM - fight EBU) win 8th round TKO Julius Francis
• July 12, 1997 London: (EM - fight EBU) 5th round TKO victory Lajos Eros
• October 18, 1997 Vienna (EM - fight EBU) 4th round TKO victory Vincenzo Cantatore
• September 26, 1998 Uncasville: ( championship fight WBC) 12th round defeat on points Lennox Lewis