'Mighty' Mike Arnaoutis      

Athens born, ‘Mighty Mike' - has been a champion 

since 1993. His amateur record of 110 fights,103 wins and 68 

knockouts speaks for itself. Mighty Mike returned to the United States

in March of 2004 after a year-long stay in his native Greece.  

In his last bout, Nov 18, 2006 Mike was the co-feature on one of the biggest HBO PPV cards in 2006, Pacquiao/Morales III. It was the much anticipated fight against WBO #2 Contender, Ricardo Torres (29-1-9 27KO's) for the Vacant WBO Junior-Welterweight World Title. 

Mighty Mike thought he had the fight won when it was over. So did most of the fans in attendance, the vast majority of those press row and the HBO commentators. Mike clearly out-boxed the crude slugger in no fewer than eight of the 12 rounds.

Mike Arnaoutis (L) with Ricardo Torres (R) 

Photo by: Raymond Spencer

Arnaoutis jumped out to an early lead on the strength of his jab and excellent footwork. The stick-and-move strategy prevented Torres, a devastating puncher, from getting his offense started. However, Torres warmed up in the fourth round, marching forward with a two-fisted attack that sent Arnaoutis backpedaling. Torres stayed the aggressor through round five and continued to charge forward in round six with little regard for Arnaoutis’ return fire, which was a mistake as the Greek boxer buzzed the Colombian puncher with a right hook near the end of the round.

In round seven, Arnaoutis went one further by dropping Torres with a beautiful one-two combination punctuated with a right hook. Torres was pummeled in the remainder of the round and through round eight and rendered ineffective by the superior skill and technique of Arnaoutis in the final four rounds of the bout.

Photo by: Raymond Spencer

Yet Mike, somehow, was not awarded a 12-round decision over Torres as two official ringside judges favored the Colombian. Adalaide Byrd saw it 116-111 and Harry Davis had it 114-113. Jerry Roth scored the bout in favor of Arnaoutis 114-113. When the official verdict was announced, awarding Torres the vacant WBO junior-welterweight title, the 18,000+ that filled the arena jeered and booed, voicing their disapproval.

April 7, 2006, for the 3rd time in a row, “Mighty” Mike dropped his opponent, Mike Walker, in the opening round, proving that he was more than ready to face former WBA champion Vivian Harris. The fight was scheduled for July 29, 2006 live on HBO' BAD but an unfortunate accident in training, resulting a cut on his left eye prevented Mike from fighting and now a month later he is ready to return to training for the biggest fight of his career to date.  

January 27, 2006 in Mike’s adopted hometown, Atlantic City, NJ, Mike made his third defense of his WBO/NABO Title winning by sensational style, knocking-out the previously undefeated (14-0 12KO’s), Mighty Marc Thompson in just one round. On December 9, 2005 Mike made his second defense of his WBO/NABO Junior-Welterweight Title against then undefeated Jose Leo Moreno (12-1 (KOs 10) at the famous Kissimmee Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida; Mike won in sensational style only needing two minutes of the first round to KNOCKOUT Moreno to retain his title.                

Scrappy, exuberant and fun-loving, Mighty Mike's killer instinct in the ring hides his playful side, which emerges immediately after the final bell sounds.  Ever the showman, Mike's love for both the sport and fans of professional boxing is evident in the way he talks, fights and lives.