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Dariusz Michalczewski: Unsung Polish 'Tiger,' 90s icon

Lee Cleveland Updated
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We don't hear much about Dariusz Michalczewski (48-2, 38 KO) today even though he's a former light heavyweight champion who defended the WBO version of that title 23 times.

He should be a much bigger star than he is.

  • Fact: Dariusz Michalczewski won his first 48 professional fights prior to losing the last two bouts in his career.

It would have been cool to see him against the likes of Roy Jones, James Toney, Henry Maske and Michael Nunn. However, negotiations failed with Jones's team, Henry Maske retired in 1996 after losing to Virgil Hill, Antonio Tarver was still a bit green and Toney and Nunn were at transition moments in their careers.

During the late 90s, Toney was in a slump or sorts and having issues making weight while Nunn was on the decline... And the legendary Bernard Hopkins was still campaigning at middleweight and, although stellar, didn't have a lot of juice with the public during the decade.


As a result, he was mostly paired against satisfactory opposition throughout his career. However, he wasn't without several signature wins.

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Yes, Dariusz KO'd a champion in the 90s who'd twice defeated the great James Toney a few years prior.

Amateur stint

Ultimately, his aggressive style would earn him the nickname "The Tiger."


Pro ranks

Dariusz had proven he wasn't a paper champion, and would be a force to be reckoned with the next six years.


However, Michalczewski's reign as a concurrent three-belt champion would be short-lived as he was soon forced the relinquish his new straps. The WBA stripped him for displaying its belt along with that of the WBO, an organization it didn't recognize. And the IBF did the same a few weeks later when Michalczewski was unable to immediately defend his title against its mandatory challenger following the win over Hill.


  • Strengths: Aggression, timing, stamina and durability

Jones vs Michalczewski

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What If? Roy Jones Jr vs Dariusz Michalczewski 


Given Roy was the much bigger international star, he wasn't about to cede turf to a champion no one in the U.S. had heard of. To be fair, the onus was on Team Michalczewski to fight Jones, the bigger name, in the US.

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End game
In the penultimate fight of his career, Michalczewski lost a tight split decision to Julio Gonzalez in October 2003. Had he won, 'The Tiger' would have been the first boxing champion in quite some time to tie Rocky Marciano's record of 49-0.



  • In popular culture
    Tiger Energy Drink is named after the famous boxer. His picture and text "Recommended by Dariusz 'Tiger' Michalczewski" appears on the cans and bottles

  • Dariusz Michalczewski struck a friendship with performer Mark Wahlberg, known at the time by his stage name Marky Mark of the formation Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. In 1995, Marky Mark released a track called "No Mercy" about his friend Dariusz Michalczewski, including excerpts in Polish language from Dariusz, who also appears in the video clip shot by Frank Papenbroock."No Mercy" appears in the album The Remix Album by Prince Ital Joe and Marky Mark, although this particular track is a solo effort by Marky Mark.


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Dariusz Michalczewski

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