Serafim Todorov
Encyclopedia
Serafim Simeonov Todorov or Gogi Todoridze (born July 6, 1969 in Peshtera
, Pazardzhik
) is a former Bulgaria
n/Georgian
boxer who won the amateur world championship three times. He is the last boxer to ever defeat the highly regarded Floyd Mayweather Jr.
from Cuba in the final. He also won the European amateur championships in 1989 and 1991 in bantamweight and in 1993 in featherweight.
Todorov represented Bulgaria on the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games. In 1992 he lost in the quarter-finals to Li Gwang-Sik
from North Korea. In 1996 he qualified to the semi-finals where he met the then 19-year old Floyd Mayweather Jr.
from the United States. Though most observers felt that Mayweather won the fight, the victory was awarded to Todorov by a narrow 10-9 points margin. Even the referee seemed to be somewhat surprised because he initially raised Mayweather's hand at the end of the fight. The United States team protested the result but with no success. Todorov went on to the final where he lost to Somluck Kamsing
from Thailand and settled for the silver medal.
1996 (as a featherweight)
Peshtera
Peshtera is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, part of Pazardzhik Province, located in the Upper Thracian Lowlands at the foot of the Western Rhodopes. It takes its name from the many caves found in the vicinity. The town is the administrative centre of the homonymous Peshtera Municipality...
, Pazardzhik
Pazardzhik
Pazardzhik is a city situated along the banks of the Maritsa river, Southern Bulgaria. It is the capital of Pazardzhik Province and centre for the homonymous Pazardzhik Municipality...
) is a former Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n/Georgian
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
boxer who won the amateur world championship three times. He is the last boxer to ever defeat the highly regarded Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Amateur career
As an amateur, Todorov won the world championships three times, in 1991 in bantamweight, and in 1993 and 1995 in featherweight. He won a silver medal in bantamweight in 1989 losing to Enrique CarrionEnrique Carrion
Enrique Carrion is a Cuban boxer best known to win the 1989 World Amateur Boxing Championships at bantamweight.He won the 1989 final against Bulgarian Serafim Todorov who beat him in 1991 and at featherweight in 1993....
from Cuba in the final. He also won the European amateur championships in 1989 and 1991 in bantamweight and in 1993 in featherweight.
Todorov represented Bulgaria on the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games. In 1992 he lost in the quarter-finals to Li Gwang-Sik
Li Gwang-Sik
Li Gwang-Sik is a North Korean boxer, who won a bronze medal in the men's bantamweight category at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona...
from North Korea. In 1996 he qualified to the semi-finals where he met the then 19-year old Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Joy Mayweather, Jr. is an American professional boxer. He is a five-division world champion, where he has won seven world titles, as well as the lineal championship in three different weight classes...
from the United States. Though most observers felt that Mayweather won the fight, the victory was awarded to Todorov by a narrow 10-9 points margin. Even the referee seemed to be somewhat surprised because he initially raised Mayweather's hand at the end of the fight. The United States team protested the result but with no success. Todorov went on to the final where he lost to Somluck Kamsing
Somluck Kamsing
Somluck Kamsing is a Thai boxer. His name is sometimes spelled as Somrak Khamsing.During the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Kamsing lit the torch during the Games' opening ceremony. Kamsing was born in Khon Kaen...
from Thailand and settled for the silver medal.
Olympic results
1992 (as a bantamweight)- Defeated John Sem (Papua New Guinea) 11-0
- Defeated Joseph Chongo (Zambia) 18-6
- Lost to Li Gwang-SikLi Gwang-SikLi Gwang-Sik is a North Korean boxer, who won a bronze medal in the men's bantamweight category at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona...
(North Korea) 15-16
1996 (as a featherweight)
- Defeated Yevheniy ShestakovYevheniy ShestakovYevheniy Shestakov is a retired male boxer from Ukraine.He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was stopped in the first round of the men's featherweight division by Bulgaria's eventual silver medalist Serafim Todorov.-References:*...
(Ukraine) 11-4 - Defeated Robbie PedenRobbie PedenRobert Lloyd Peden is a professional boxer from Australia.-Amateur career:Member of the 1992 Australian Olympic team as a Flyweight...
(Australia) 20-8 - Defeated Falk HusteFalk HusteFalk Huste is a boxer from Germany, who won the bronze medal in the Men's Featherweight division at the 2000 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Tampere, Finland...
(Germany) 14-6 - Defeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (United States) 10-9
- Lost to Somluck KamsingSomluck KamsingSomluck Kamsing is a Thai boxer. His name is sometimes spelled as Somrak Khamsing.During the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Kamsing lit the torch during the Games' opening ceremony. Kamsing was born in Khon Kaen...
(Thailand) 5-8