Željko Mavrović
Željko Mavrović is a Croatian former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 1998. In 1998, as an undefeated challenger, he faced Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title, but lost in what would be his final fight. After retiring from boxing, Mavrović became an entrepreneur. Željko Mavrović was the first vegetarian in the history of world boxing who fought for the title of world champion.
Early years
Mavrović was born in Zagreb. He was raised in the neighborhood Srednjaci.Amateur career
As an amateur boxer, Mavrović was the Mediterranean champion in 1991 and Croatian champion in 1991 and 1992.He quickly progressed from the 75 to the 91 kg weight class.
Highlights
European Junior Championships, Copenhagen, Denmark, September 1986:- 1/8: Lost to Mario Nesemann by unanimous decision, 0–5
- Finals: Defeated Petru Ohaci
- 1/4: Lost to Daniel Stantien by majority decision, 1–4
- Lost to Ray Mercer RSC 1
- 1/8: Lost to Baik Hyun-Man by unanimous decision, 0–5
- 1/8: Defeated Hamayak Shabazian by unanimous decision, 5–0
- 1/4: Defeated Salih Ozkaraaslan by unanimous decision, 5–0
- 1/2: Defeated Bert Teuchert by unanimous decision, 5–0
- Finals: Lost to Axel Schulz by majority decision, 1–4
- Finals: Lost to Peter Stettinger by majority decision, 1–4
- 1/8: Lost to Axel Schulz by split decision, 2–3
- 1/8: Lost to Yevgeny Sudakov on points, 4–18
- 1/4: Lost to Yevgeny Sudakov by split decision, 2–3
- Defeated John Bray by unanimous decision, 3–0
- 1/2: Defeated José Ortega RSCI 3
- Finals: Defeated Marcelino Filho by unanimous decision, 5–0
- Defeated James Johnson by unanimous decision, 3–0
- Finals: Defeated Tom Glesby by unanimous decision, 5–0
- 1/8: Defeated Vasile Adumitroaie on points, 31–8
- 1/4: Lost to Arnold Vanderlijde on points, 17–20
- 1/4: Defeated Mikael Lindblad RET 1
- 1/2: Defeated Vasile Adumitroaie RET 3
- Finals: Defeated Peter Stettinger by unanimous decision, 5–0
- Finals: Defeated Freddy Rojas on points
- 1/2: Defeated M. A. Ibrahim Mohamed
- Finals: Defeated Georgios Stefanopoulos on points, 20–17
- 1/8: Defeated Peter Hart RET 2
- 1/4: Defeated Paul Douglas on points, 17–5
- 1/2: Defeated Paul Lawson by walkover
- Finals: Lost to Bert Teuchert on points, 7–8
- 1/16: Defeated Mark Hulstrøm on points, 8–2
- 1/8: Lost to Danell Nicholson on points, 6–9
Professional career
Upon turning professional, he won the EBU Champion of Europe title in 1995 and retained his title through 1996 and 1997, defending it seven times.In 1998, he went up against Lennox Lewis for the world heavyweight champion title, but lost after twelve rounds via unanimous decision 119–109, 117–112, and 117–111. Although he was outclassed by Lewis in the fight, his bold performance drew appreciative comments from boxing insiders. Lewis' manager Frank Maloney said that "Mavrović must have 240lb of steel in his chin" after the fight. Lewis described the fight as the most awkward win of his career, citing sauna-like conditions in the ring, as well as Mavrović's agility, motivation and preparedness.
Mavrović never fought again after this bout. In the next years, he was scheduled a few times against quality opposition such as Hasim Rahman in 1999, but he always had to pull out due to injuries and he ultimately had to finish his career due to an undisclosed illness.
In December 2012 Mavrović announced his return to professional boxing. A match with Serbian Cruiserweight boxer Enad Ličina was scheduled for April 2013, but after breaking a rib during training just a few weeks before the scheduled match his return was delayed and then canceled.
Mavrović served as the boxing director for the Croatian Boxing Federation during the 2014 European Youth Boxing Championships in Zagreb. After the incident where Croatian boxer Vido Loncar assaulted and seriously injured a referee after a loss, he defended Loncar saying "I believe that he is not a butcher or as bad as this act makes him look. This was part of his excessive ambition in that moment". Loncar was subsequently banned from boxing for life.