HOLLYWOOD, FL, January 21 – He was the heavyweight division’s most active world champion, fighting and winning three times; he started the year off with a first round knockout, then won the world title, and finished up with a win over a legend. Is it any wonder that the Russian Professional Boxing Federation named WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov its Fighter of The Year for 2007.?
“This is a great honor, especially coming from the Russian Professional Boxing Federation,” said Ibragimov from his training camp in Florida, where he is preparing for his February 23rd title unification bout with Wladimir Klitschko. “I worked very hard in 2007 and achieved one of my dreams by winning the world heavyweight title. I am doing everything in my power to surpass my achievements of 2007 in 2008, beginning with my fight with Klitschko next month.”
Born in Kaspiisk on March 8, 1975, Ibragimov was a late bloomer in the fight game, only picking up the sport at the fairly advanced age of 17. But anyone who saw him, even in those formative years, knew that he had the talent and determination to go far. A 2000 Olympic silver medalist for Russia, the 32-year old Ibragimov has mirrored his amateur success in the pro ranks, where he is unbeaten in 23 fights with one draw and 17 knockouts. In 2007, Ibragimov’s stellar campaign included a 46 second TKO of Javier Mora in March, a decisive win over Shannon Briggs in June which earned him the WBO Heavyweight Championship, and an October unanimous decision victory over future Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield.
Klitschko vs Ibragimov, a 12 round heavyweight title unification bout, headlines a historic night of boxing presented by K2 Promotions and Seminole Warriors Boxing and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.
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