Mihai Leu

Last updated
Mihai Leu
Mihai Leu.png
Leu in 2014
Born (1969-02-13) 13 February 1969 (age 55)
Hunedoara, Romania
Other names
  • Michael Loewe
  • Lion
Statistics
Weight(s) Welterweight
Height5 ft 7+12 in (171 cm)
Reach64 in (163 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins28
Wins by KO10
Medal record
Men's Amateur boxing
Representing Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1987 HavanaLight welterweight

Mihai Leu also known as Michael Loewe (born 13 February 1969, in Hunedoara) is a Romanian former professional boxer who competed between 1991 and 1997. He held the WBO welterweight title in 1997.

Contents

Leu retired after one title defense, against Michael Carruth, becoming the third European boxer to retire as an undefeated world champion, after Jack McAuliffe and Terry Marsh. Due to an injury, he was forced to abandon boxing but unwilling to give up the world of sports, he turned to be a rally driver. He later became a national rally champion.

Amateur highlights

He started boxing in 1977 at the Hunedoara Constructorul club. In 1981 he moved to the Hunedoara Metalul from where in 1982 he moved on to Dinamo Bucharest. During his time with Dinamo, he won the national championship four consecutive years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986. In 1986, he moved to Steaua Bucharest and also became part of the national team.

In 1987, he became World Junior Champion.

In total he fought 200 amateur matches, out of which he won 190.

Professional career

In 1991, he became a professional boxer in Germany (using the name Michael Loewe). He would go on to win the vacant WBO welterweight title in 1997 by defeating Santiago Samaniego. [1] He would defend the title once against Irish challenger Michael Carruth, [2] before retiring in 1998.

Professional boxing record

28 fights28 wins0 losses
By knockout100
By decision180
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28Win28–0 Michael Carruth MD1220 Sep 1997Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, GermanyRetained WBO welterweight title
27Win27–0 Santiago Samaniego UD1222 Feb 1997Sporthalle, Hamburg, GermanyWon vacant WBO welterweight title
26Win26–0Eric JakubowskiTKO5 (10)16 Nov 1996Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
25Win25–0Jorge RamirezPTS819 Oct 1996Zoo-Gesellschaftshaus, Frankfurt, Germany
24Win24–0Dwayne SwiftKO4 (10)8 Jun 1996Deutz Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany
23Win23–0Freddy DemeulenaerePTS84 May 1996Sport und Erholungszentrum, Berlin, Germany
22Win22–0Jose BrandPTS814 Apr 1996Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
21Win21–0Miguel Ángel PeñaPTS810 Jun 1995 Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Germany
20Win20–0Craig HoukTKO11 (12), 2:241 Apr 1995Saaltheater Geulen, Aachen, GermanyWon vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
19Win19–0Bobby ButtersUD828 Jan 1995Sporthalle, Berlin, Germany
18Win18–0Harold BennettPTS817 Dec 1994Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
17Win17–0Stefan SchrammPTS103 Dec 1994Atelier Bruno Bruni, Hamburg, GermanyWon vacant German International welterweight title
16Win16–0Benjamin FelixTKO2 (?)13 Nov 1994Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
15Win15–0Lloyd RatalskyTKO4 (?)22 Oct 1994Hansehalle, Lübeck, Germany
14Win14–0Attila VeresPTS83 Sep 1994Domplatz, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
13Win13–0Gejza StipakTKO4 (?)10 Apr 1994Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
12Win12–0Pave TuricKO2 (?)19 Mar 1994Lugner City, Vienna, Austria
11Win11–0Antonio DagaPTS819 Feb 1994Sportshalle, Hamburg, Germany
10Win10–0Hector Omar LuquePTS65 Feb 1994 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
9Win9–0Nestor Jesus GilPTS815 Oct 1993Sporthalle, Berlin, Germany
8Win8–0Marino MonteynePTS62 Oct 1993Barbarossa Halle, Kaiserslautern, Germany
7Win7–0Farid BennecerTKO4 (?)11 Sep 1993Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany
6Win6–0Miroslav StrbakKO4 (?)26 Jun 1993Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
5Win5–0Oscar WashingtonPTS622 May 1993Tivoli Eissporthalle, Aachen, Germany
4Win4–0Miroslav StrbakPTS63 Apr 1993Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
3Win3–0Wayne GreenPTS413 Feb 1993 Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
2Win2–0Jan MazgutKO2 (?)13 Dec 1991 Minden, Germany
1Win1–0Gejza StipakPTS616 Sep 1991Legien Center, Berlin, Germany

Rally career

In 1998 he started his new career at the wheel of a Ford Ka and after only three years, he managed to become Romania's rally vice-champion. He had already participated in rallying before, having made his debut in 1994, at the Banat Rally, in a Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Five years later, in 2003, he became Romania's national champion driving a Hyundai Accent WRC, with co-driver Ciprian Solomon. After failing to win another race after his championship winning year, Mihai Leu gave up competitive rallying in 2008, only to return in 2010, as team-manager of Jack Daniel's Rally Team, in the Romanian National Rally Championship (CNR).

Personal life

He is the son of Nicolae Leu, a well-known Romanian rally driver of the `70s–`80s. His brother, Victor, also made his debut in car racing in 1999, as his co-driver.

He is married and has a son Marco, born in 1993, who is a winter sportsman.

He is involved in politics along with the Partidul Conservator, despite failing to secure a place in the European Parliament, in the 2007 national elections. He works part-time as assistant at the Tibiscus University in Timișoara.

In 2014, he had colon cancer and received surgery in Bucharest and treatment in Vienna.

See also

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References

  1. "Devers bounds past Torrence in 60m dash". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  2. "Arizona's Olson to Receive 2-Year Extension". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Stefan Schramm
German International
welterweight champion

3 December 1994 – 2 February 1997
Won world title
Vacant
Title next held by
Alpaslan Aguzum
New title WBO Inter-Continental
welterweight champion

1 April 1995 – 1996
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Larry Barnes
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
José Luis López
WBO welterweight champion
22 February 1997 – 1998
Retired
Succeeded by
Akhmed Kotiev
promoted from interim status