Sven Ottke


Sven Ottke is a German former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2004. He was a unified super-middleweight world champion, having held the IBF title from 1998 to 2004, and the WBA title from 2003 to 2004. With 21 successful title defences, Ottke was the third European boxer to retire as an undefeated world champion, after Terry Marsh and Michael Loewe; Joe Calzaghe later became the fourth. Ottke defended the title against 20 boxers, a record in the super-middleweight division shared with Joe Calzaghe. As an amateur, Ottke won a bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 1989 World Championships.

Early life

Sven Ottke served two apprenticeships as a plasterer and industrial clerk. He became a member of the boxing club Spandauer BC 26 Berlin at the age of 14.

Amateur career

He rebutted his critics, which had complained that he had started too late, when he became German Champion at the age of 18 at Middleweight. Ten further titles would follow. He took part in the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. He became European Champion in 1991 and 1996, and came third in 1993.
Ottke held amateur wins over Antonio Tarver, Chris Byrd, Michael Moorer, Zsolt Erdei and Juan Carlos Gómez.
Ottke finished his amateur career with a record of 256 wins, 47 losses 5 draws. As his professional career, he spent most of his amateur career within Germany. Of a few World Championships and Summer Olympics, which he participated in, Ottke did not manage to pass the quarterfinals

Professional career

After 308 fights as an amateur, of which he won 256, he turned professional in 1997. Less than a year later on 24 October 1998, he won the IBF super middleweight championship from Charles Brewer via a disputed decision victory. After this he made 16 successful defenses of his IBF title against fighters such as Thomas Tate, Glen Johnson, Silvio Branco, James Butler, Anthony Mundine, Charles Brewer in a rematch, and a controversial points win against Robin Reid. He was at the peak of his career when he won the WBA title on 13 March 2003 against WBA champion Byron Mitchell, winning by split points decision.
After successfully defending his title 21 times, Ottke stepped down as undefeated world champion on 27 March 2004. Ottke has a record of 34 wins and 0 losses as a professional, of which 6 were by knockout. He was named IBF "Fighter of the Year" in 2003.
Ottke was a durable and attritional fighter, with most of his wins coming by points decisions rather than knockout.
Notably, Ottke refused to defend his title outside Germany, and referees and ringside officials were often German. Both the refereeing and some of the points decisions were controversial, with many commentators commenting that it was some of the worst refereeing decisions that had seen and dubious judging being the only reason ottke keeping his title.

Planned comeback

In May 2008, a comeback was planned against Dariusz Michalczewski in Germany, but the match never materialized.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
34Win34–0 Armand KrajncUD1227 Mar 2004 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles
33Win33–0 Robin ReidUD1213 Dec 2003 Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, GermanyRetained WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles
32Win32–0 Mads Larsen126 Sep 2003 Messe, Erfurt, GermanyRetained WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles
31Win31–0 David StarieUD1214 Jun 2003 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles
30Win30–0 Byron MitchellSD1215 Mar 2003 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title;
Won WBA super-middleweight title
29Win29–0 Rudy MarkussenUD1216 Nov 2002 Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
28Win28–0 Joe GattiTKO9, 2:4324 Aug 2002 Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
27Win27–0 Thomas TateUD121 Jun 2002 Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
26Win26–0 Rick ThornberryUD1216 Mar 2002 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
25Win25–0 Anthony MundineKO10 1 Dec 2001 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
24Win24–0 James ButlerUD121 Sep 2001 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
23Win23–0 Ali EnnebatiTKO11, 2:2829 Jun 2001 Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
22Win22–0 James CrawfordKO8, 2:5224 Mar 2001 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
21Win21–0 Silvio BrancoUD1216 Dec 2000 Europahalle, Karlsruhe, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
20Win20–0 Charles BrewerSD122 Sep 2000 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
19Win19–0 Tocker PudwillUD123 Jun 2000 Europahalle, Karlsruhe, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
18Win18–0 Lloyd BrianUD1211 Mar 2000 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
17Win17–0 Glen JohnsonUD1227 Nov 1999 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
16Win16–0 Thomas Tate11, 0:254 Sep 1999 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title;
Unanimous TD after Ottke was cut from an accidental head clash
15Win15–0 Gabriel HernándezUD128 May 1999 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
14Win14–0 Giovanni Nardiello3, 2:3027 Feb 1999 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyRetained IBF super-middleweight title
13Win13–0 Charles Brewer1224 Oct 1998 Düsseldorf, GermanyWon IBF super-middleweight title
12Win12–0 William KrijnenUD1022 Aug 1998 Leipzig Trade Fair, Leipzig, Germany
11Win11–0 Asmir VojnovićUD1230 May 1998 Riesa, GermanyWon WBC International light-heavyweight title
10Win10–0 Stephane NizardUD821 Mar 1998 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
9Win9–0 Allen Smith528 Feb 1998 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany
8Win8–0 Ali SaidiUD1013 Dec 1997 Düsseldorf, GermanyWon German light-heavyweight title
7Win7–0 Roman BabaevUD818 Oct 1997 Vienna, Austria
6Win6–0 Fermin ChirinoUD630 Aug 1997 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
5Win5–0 Yuri FilipkoUD822 Jun 1997 Cologne, Germany
4Win4–0 Andy Flute61 Jun 1997 Riesa, Germany
3Win3–0 Teymuraz KekelidzePTS626 Apr 1997 Leipzig, Germany
2Win2–0 Jason HartTKO2, 1:4413 Apr 1997 Cologne, Germany
1Win1–0 Eric Davis622 Mar 1997 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyProfessional debut