"MIGHTY" MIKE ARNAOUTIS
North American Boxing Organization (NABO) Junior Welterweight Champion/
World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 15 Junior Welterweight Contender
Born: June 9, 1979, Athens, Greece
Height: 5' 11''
FIGHTS: 11 WINS: 10 LOSSES: 0 DRAWS: 1 KOs: 4
After fighting to a draw in his pro title fight debut, Mike Arnaoutis did not waste any time when he got a second shot at stardom on SHOWTIME. The unbeaten boxer floored Jesse Feliciano three times in the initial three minutes to capture the vacant North American Boxing Organization (NABO) junior welterweight crown with an opening-round knockout Oct. 22, 2004, on "ShoBox: The New Generation" from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Arnaoutis sent Feliciano to the canvas for the first time midway through the first round by landing a punishing uppercut to the chin. Less than one minute later, Feliciano hit the turf once again after absorbing brutal body shots to the midsection. After Feliciano stumbled while regaining his feet, Arnaoutis ended matters when a crushing left to the head sent the beaten fighter down for a third time. Referee Dr. James Jen Kin stopped the carnage at 2:49 of the opening stanza.
On Aug. 5, 2004, during a 12-round contest for the vacant North American Boxing Organization (NABO) junior welterweight crown in Hollywood, Fla., against Juan Urango, the crowd made little secret who it was cheering for, as chants of "U-Rang-O, U-Rang-O," filled the arena. However, Arnaoutis was unfazed by his national television debut and first appearance on "ShoBox."
The fight's aggressor throughout, Urango landed his powerful cross to Arnaoutis' face and opened a cut over his opponent's left eye in the third round. However, the charismatic Arnaoutis moved fluidly through the ring, landed his jab effectively and left the crowd chanting his name.
When the fight was over and everyone in attendance had caught his or her breath, the judges scored the contest a majority draw, 115-113 for Urango and 114-114 (twice).
Boxing is a labor of love for the southpaw Arnaoutis who came to America with nothing but dreams in his pocket and desire in his heart.
"The sweet science is a tough sport and demands 100 percent dedication," Arnaoutis said. "I truly enjoy what I am doing and like to have fun in the ring.''
The Athens, Greece, native is scrappy, exuberant and fun loving. His killer instinct in the ring hides his playful side, which emerges immediately after the final bell sounds. Ever the showman, Arnaoutis' love for both the sport and its fans are evident in the way he talks, fights and lives.
Currently training at the Vineland PAL Boxing Gym in Vineland, N.J., Arnaoutis is a stablemate of promising fighters, Koba Gogoladze and Ramaz Palyani. The youngsters were recruited by Mike Michael, who brought them to live, train and compete in the United States.
"Arnaoutis has natural speed, a quick eye, a ton of natural ability and punching power that exceeds anything I have seen in quite a while,'' Michael said. "He is incredibly dedicated. Within a year or so, he will be in contention for a title.
"I think the more people see of "Mighty" Mike, the more they will love him. He is a real warrior and gives his all every time out. To beat Arnaoutis, you have to carry him out on his shield."
Michael, who is of Greek origin and British extraction, combs the European amateur ranks in search of boxers he believes possess the kind of talent and ability to make a positive impression on U.S. audiences.
"I think all three guys (Arnaoutis, Gogoladze and Palyani) can go all the way,'' Michael said.
The youngest of the trio, Arnaoutis, 25, went 103-7 with 68 knockouts in the amateurs and won numerous Greek titles. He turned pro at age 21 on April 30, 2001, with a four-round decision over Sergiy Dolmatov in Kiev, Ukraine.
Exactly seven months later on Nov. 30, 2001, Arnaoutis made his United States debut and won by third-round disqualification over Mike Hamon in Philadelphia.
After winning his final 2001 start and going 4-0 in 2002, Arnaoutis spent a year in his homeland. In his lone 2003 outing, the young fighter boxed to a sixth-round technical draw against Ibrahim Aroby in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In his return to the States, Arnaoutis registered a six-round majority decision over veteran Juan Polo-Perez (46-34-4 going in) on April 8, 2004, in Glen Burnie, Md. He won the strangely scored bout 60-54, 59-55 and 57-57.
Nearly one month later, the flashy kid upped his record to 9-0-1 by pitching a shutout over Hector Saez (4-1 going in) on May 6, 2004, in Glen Burnie. Dominant from the outset, he triumphed by the scores 60-53 and 60-54 twice.
In an eye-catching performance, Arnaoutis tossed a second consecutive whitewash when he thoroughly dominated Marty Robbins on June 17, 2004, in Glen Burnie.
Working behind a solid right jab and combining dazzling hand speed and power, Arnaoutis whipped Robbins from here to El Paso.
"I love to fight and put on a show," said Arnaoutis, who left the durable Robbins frustrated, bloodied and exhausted by the bout's conclusion.
"We have stepped up the opposition with every fight,'' Arnaoutis' manager Gina Iacovou said. "Arnaoutis has performed like a champion every single time. He is a great kid and a great fighter. You can tell how electric he is just by the way people respond to him. He has so much fun in the ring that he never wants the fights to end.''
MIKE ARNAOUTIS
11-0-1, 5 KOs
2001
Apr. 30 SERGIY
DOLMATOV, Kiev, Ukraine................................................... W............................. 4
Nov. 30 MIKE
HAMON, Philadelphia, PA................................................. WDSQ............................. 3 134
Dec. 14 LEROY
PRICE, Atlantic City, NJ....................................................... TKO............................. 3 137
2002
Feb. 6 LAMONT
GORUM, Yonkers, NY..................................................... TKO............................. 1 135
Mar. 23 RAFAEL
RODRIGUEZ, Deptford, NJ............................................... TKO............................. 3 137
May 17 WAKLIMI
YOUNG, Philadelphia, PA................................................ KO............................. 1 138
Aug. 24 ARNOLD
HENDERSON, Atlantic City, NJ.......................................... W............................. 6 135
2004
Apr. 8 JUAN POLO-PEREZ, Glen Burnie, MD................................................ W............................. 6 136
May 6 HECTOR
SAEZ, Glen Burnie, MD......................................................... W............................. 6 137
June 17 MARTY
ROBBINS, Glen Burnie, MD................................................... W............................. 6 138
Aug. 5 JUAN
URANGO, Hollywood, FL............................................................ D........................... 12 139
Oct. 22 JESSE
FELICIANO, Santa Ynez, CA................................................... KO............................. 1 139
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