In your opinion how good was Arthur Abraham's career, and what was his overall legacy? Being in the United State, I didn't get to see many of his fights live apart from the Super Six. But fighting with that horrifically broken jaw against Edison Miranda is probably the gutsiest performance I've ever seen. Abrahams jaw was absolutely demolished, to the point that his face almost didn't look human. He also looked great beating Miranda in the rematch, he had that insane knockout over Jermain Taylor, and that rivalry with Robert Stieglitz. He also defended various title straps at 160 and 168 a bunch of times, but was never considered the best in either division. Its too bad he never fought Kelly Pavlik, because it would have given some clarity at 160, and Abraham would have had a solid chance at winning
He was a very good yet limited guy. What he lacked in hand and foot speed, he more than made up for with power and defense. I like that he was always strong in his stance and very sound defensively. Good, not great fighter. For what it's worth, I think Pavlik would have beaten him with activity. A fighter like Sergio Martinez would have been too fast for him.
His legacy will be reconciling his 20 official title wins with the absence of notable names on his resume. He will make the HOF and deserves to make the HOF. For me hes the face of how 168 dilutes talent from MW. Without tweeners Abrahams someone who would have been a MW lifer who as a result didn't fight most of his would be rivals. Officially hes got 11 MW title defenses too(opposed to 6 at 168) and is a MW great but he beat his only MW champions at 168. He really left the division when it was getting better. Hes got a very pecular resume. Arguably his best wins at MW wasn't for the title with Eastman. And at 168 the Krasniqi win wasn't for the title either. He had 20 title wins. He was willing to get farmed by Ward, Froch and Gilberto Ramirez guys no one expected him to beat but most of his title wins were borderline regional level. Maybe it was because he'd lost his 0? Theres still a very solid 5 wins there and but what isn't carrys weight.
I don't know, will He? Michalczewski did not make it yet and I think He has significantly stronger resume and despite being retired for longer, is still talked about and appreciated more. Abraham was a World class Middleweight, but never had a career defining fight there. He beat Miranda when He was hot, but Edison never won a title and that's for a reason. Other than that He mostly defended his title against fringe World class fighters, at best. At 168 He could not really compete with the best. He was short, stationary, predictable and lacked output. He sticked around for quite a while, carrying the Sauerland brand as Germany stopped producing or attracting real talent - but only top 10 fighter He beat at this weight was Stieglitz, the weakest titlist. They had interesting, spirited rivalry - but those fights were always on the "outskirts" of elite competition. To me, He was a solid title-holder for a 4 belt era. Certainly not a Hall of Famer. I liked and valued Sturm more out of the German(based) middleweights from that time.
The HOF is 35 years old. Who is currently in or out of the HOF are not standards for who or who isn't a HOFer. Michalczewski will make it. No one with 10 recognized defenses is going to be left out. And Abrahams covered his bases there in a few ways. If a voter doesn't value tweener accomplishments Abrahams got the 9 MW title defenses. If a voter doesn't really count the early WBO that much Abrahams weak MW reign was IBF. And he beat 2 MW champions in Jermain Taylor and Murray at 168. At 168 he couldn't compete with the best but he could carve out a little WBO fiefdom he could rule for years and years. I would also rate Sturm higher though for large stretches of their careers they were fighting similar quality opponents. Sturms currently in the LHW top 50 btw at 46.
Oh, really? Last I heard about him He got busted for PEDs(Again?) and was put in prison for Tax evasion. Thought it was probably the end of the road for him.
I re-checked since I wasn't sure on the timeline of it all. Turns out He was sent back to prison in 2023 after already doing some time in 2019.. So after that second time was when I lost track of him. Maybe He should fight Firat Arslan, who's also still active in Germany.
It is a shame he never got to face the American unified champs like Taylor and Pavlik. He also never got the fight with Felix Sturm either which would have been massive in Germany. In a historically deep division like 160 I don't think I would rate him that highly but he is among the best middles post Hopkins.
It turns out he won a minor WBA trinket in his last fight the "Gold Belt". It doesn't show up on boxing rec because boxing rec and the WBA are at war.
