Željko Mavrović (; born 17 February 1969) is ŽeljkoMavrovića Croatian former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 1998. In 1998, as an undefeated challenger, he faced Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title, but lost in what would be his final fight. After retiring from boxing, Mavrović became an entrepreneur. Željko Mavrović was the first vegetarian in the history of world boxing who fought for the title of world champion.
Early years
Mavrović was born in Zagreb. He was raised in the neighborhood Srednjaci (which is the source of his nickname Šaka sa Srednjaka or Fist from Srednjaci).
Amateur career
As an amateur boxer, Mavrović was the Mediterranean champion in 1991 and Croatian champion in 1991 and 1992. He quickly progressed from the 75 to the 91 kg weight class.
Highlights
European Junior Championships (Middleweight), Copenhagen, Denmark, September 1986: 1/8: Lost to Mario Nesemann (East Germany) by unanimous decision, 0–5 Balkan Junior Championships (Light heavyweight), Patras, Greece, November 1987: Finals: Defeated Petru Ohaci (Romania) Usti Grand Prix (Light heavyweight), Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia, March 1988: 1/4: Lost to Daniel Stantien (Czechoslovakia) by majority decision, 1–4 USA–Europe Duals (Heavyweight), Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 1988: Lost to Ray Mercer (United States) RSC 1 XXIV Summer Olympics (Heavyweight), Seoul, South Korea, September 1988: 1/8: Lost to Baik Hyun-Man (South Korea) by unanimous decision, 0–5 Trofeo Italia (Heavyweight), Mestre, Venice, Italy, March 1989: 1/8: Defeated Hamayak Shabazian (Sweden) by unanimous decision, 5–0 1/4: Defeated Salih Ozkaraaslan (Turkey) by unanimous decision, 5–0 1/2: Defeated Bert Teuchert (West Germany) by unanimous decision, 5–0 Finals: Lost to Axel Schulz (East Germany) by majority decision, 1–4 Intercup (Heavyweight), Cologne, West Germany, April 1989: Finals: Lost to Peter Stettinger (West Germany) by majority decision, 1–4 European Championships (Heavyweight), Athens, Greece, May 1989: 1/8: Lost to Axel Schulz (East Germany) by split decision, 2–3 World Championships (Heavyweight), Moscow, Soviet Union, September 1989: 1/8: Lost to Yevgeny Sudakov (Soviet Union) on points, 4–18 Goodwill Games (Heavyweight), Seattle, Washington, July 1990: 1/4: Lost to Yevgeny Sudakov (Soviet Union) by split decision, 2–3 USA–Yugoslavia Duals (Heavyweight), Rapid City, South Dakota, January 1990: Defeated John Bray (United States) by unanimous decision, 3–0
Trofeo Italia (Heavyweight), Mestre, Venice, Italy, March 1990: 1/2: Defeated José Ortega (Spain) RSCI 3 Finals: Defeated Marcelino Filho (Brazil) by unanimous decision, 5–0 Yugoslavia–USA Duals (Heavyweight), Umag, Yugoslavia, July 1990: Defeated James Johnson (United States) by unanimous decision, 3–0 Copenhagen Cup (Heavyweight), Copenhagen, Denmark, November 1990: Finals: Defeated Tom Glesby (Canada) by unanimous decision, 5–0 European Championships (Heavyweight), Stockholm, Sweden, May 1991: 1/8: Defeated Vasile Adumitroaie (Romania) on points, 31–8 1/4: Lost to Arnold Vanderlijde (Netherlands) on points, 17–20 Trofeo Italia (Heavyweight), Mestre, Venice, Italy, March 1991: 1/4: Defeated Mikael Lindblad (Sweden) RET 1 1/2: Defeated Vasile Adumitroaie (Romania) RET 3 Finals: Defeated Peter Stettinger (Germany) by unanimous decision, 5–0 Box-Am Tournament (Heavyweight), Almeria, Spain, March 1991: Finals: Defeated Freddy Rojas (Cuba) on points XI Mediterranean Games (Heavyweight), Athens, Greece, July 1991: 1/2: Defeated M. A. Ibrahim Mohamed (Egypt) Finals: Defeated Georgios Stefanopoulos (Greece) on points, 20–17 Chemistry Cup (Heavyweight), Halle, Germany, March 1992: 1/8: Defeated Peter Hart (Hungary) RET 2 1/4: Defeated Paul Douglas (Ireland) on points, 17–5 1/2: Defeated Paul Lawson (England) by walkover Finals: Lost to Bert Teuchert (Germany) on points, 7–8 XXV Summer Olympics (Heavyweight), Barcelona, Spain, July 1992: 1/16: Defeated Mark Hulstrøm (Denmark) on points, 8–2 1/8: Lost to Danell Nicholson (United States) on points, 6–9
Mavrović had 140 fights as an amateur, compiling an amateur record of 124 wins, 16 losses.
Professional career
Upon turning professional, he won the EBU Champion of Europe title in 1995 and kept his title in 1996 and 1997 defending it seven times.