biography

An aggressive fighter with two-fisted power, Russia’s Sultan Ibragimov is an unmovable force in the ring, and a young man many believe is destined to achieve great things in heavyweight division in the coming years.

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.

Seven years after first putting on the gloves, Ibragimov became a National amateur champion, and a year later he was in the 2000 Olympic Games, battling the best in the world. In the Sydney Games, Ibragimov earned a Silver medal, only losing via a controversial decision to Cuban great Felix Savon.

In 2002, Ibragimov would begin his professional journey, relocating to the United States, where he would not only get top training and sparring, but he would also receive the opportunities to move the quickest in the capital of the fight game.

Sultan made his pro debut in Delray Beach, Florida on May 25, 2002, knocking out Tracy Williams in just 79 seconds. His next three opponents didn’t fare much better as they all fell in the first round as well.

After two more impressive KO victories in the States, Ibragimov returned home for his next five fights to show his fans just how far he had come since they had last seen him in action. And the Russian fans were impressed, as Sultan went 5-0 with four knockouts on his homecoming tour from April of 2003 to March of 2004.

Returning to the US in August of 2004 with a fifth round stoppage of Onebo Maxime, Ibragimov was ready for a step up in competition. Unfortunately, that competition wasn’t ready for him as veterans Najee Shaheed, James Walton, and former world champion Al Cole were all stopped by the Russian wrecking machine. In the process, Sultan earned the vacant WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title, a crown he has defended five times.

In 2005, Ibragimov has been simply devastating, following up the third round stoppage of Cole with wins over well-regarded heavyweights Zuri Lawrence (TKO 11), Andy Sample (TKO 1) and Friday Ahunanya (W TD 9), and on December 15th, Ibragimov was expected to face the toughest test of his career when he took on perennial contender Lance ‘Mount’ Whitaker, but it turned into the most impressive win of his young career as he stopped Whitaker in the seventh round.

It was such an emphatic victory that other heavyweights were understandably hesitant about facing him, but on July 28, 2006, Ray Austin will be the one to stand up and face Ibragimov in an IBF title elimination bout where the winner will be next in line to face current champion Wladimir Klitschko.