At the age of 29, Mahir is a nine-year pro. A contender at 160 pounds, he has won 18 fights in a row since his only loss in March, 2004.
Mahir is a stablemate of Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis, Selcuk Aydin, Juan Carlos Gomez, Erislandy Lara – all are promoted by Ahmed Oner’s Germany-based Arena-box Promotion..
Mahir is training at the Arena-box Gym in Hamburg. His sparring partners include Avtandil Khurtsideze, who is ranked No. 4 in the WBA at 160 pounds, and Kofi Jantuah, who lost a 12-round unanimous decision against Arthur Abraham for the IBF middleweight title in May, 2006.
An aggressive fighter, Mahir likes his chances against Abraham.
“I’m an offensive boxer – just go ahead to the front,” Mahir said. “I don’t like the distance, I like the close range. I have a little bit of an American style because I was trained for eight or nine weeks in New York at Gleason’s Gym in 2003.”
Mahir has some experience and knowledge of Abraham from sparring with him in Cologne, Germany in 2004.
“I sparred with Abraham maybe five, six times,” Mahir said. “We sparred 30, 35 rounds. I know him really well. I have a chance to win this fight, because I sparred with him and I looked very good. Now, I’m better than before, but he’s good, too.”
“He’s one of the biggest and the strongest champions in the middleweight division, and everybody wants to fight Abraham.”
Mahir, who is on an impressive winning streak since his only professional defeat, is ready for his first world title challenge.
“I think I’m ready for this big fight,” Mahir said. “I know Abraham really well. I know how to beat him. I think I have a real chance to win, and I try to give my best.
“This is the chance to show the world how good I am really. I’ve waited all my life for this fight. Now, I’m ready, I’m ready for this fight. I think the world will see a good fight. I want to show a good fight.”
Mahir got his nickname, “The Lion,” because of his determined and aggressive fighting style.
“My first coach gave me that name after my first pro fight,” Mahir said. “It’s because I never give up and I fight like a lion – he said my heart is like a lion.”
Key Fights
2008 – WON WBC MEDITERRANEAN MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE – In his last fight on 11-18-08 in Cuxhaven, GER, Mahir TKO’d Alexander Sipos (19-4-2). The rematch headlined at Kugelbake Halle. Mahir consistently out-boxed and outworked Sipos, and dominated the fight. Sipos indicated that one of his arms was injured in the fourth round, he fought on, but didn’t continue after the 7th round.
On 7-4-08 in Ankara, TUR, Mahir won an eight round decision against Jurijs Boreiko (15-14). The fight was on the undercard at the Bueyuek Anadolu Hotel. Mahir outboxed Borelko and dominated most of the fight, scored 79-76 by the scoring referee.
On 5-30-08 in in Bilbao, SP, Mahir won a 12-round unanimous decision against Alexander Sipos (19-3-2). The fight was co-featured at Pabelon Deportivo Asesarre-Barakaldo, and it was very close. Sipos started fast and built an early lead, but Mahir rallied in the middle and late rounds and won by scores of 115-114, 115-113, 116-113.
On 4-26-08 in Trabzon, TUR, Mahir TKO’d Joel Mayo (40-12). the fight was on the undercard of the Selcuk Aydin-Lucky Lewele main even. Mahir stopped Mayo in the second round.
2007 – On 7-6-07 in Hamburg, GER, Mahir won an eight round unanimous decision against former prospect Murad Machmudov (16-2). The fight was on the undercard of a card at the Arena-box Promotion gym, and Mahir was the naturally bigger man. Machmidov scored a knockdown in the third round, but Mahir recovered and dominated most of the fight, scored 78-73, 78-73, 77-74.
WON WBC INTERNATIONAL MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE – On 3-24-07 in Hamburg, Mahir won a 12-round split decision against previously undefeated defending champion Domenico Spada (22-0). the fight headlined at the Alsterdorfer Sport Halle and it was very close. Both gave strong efforts and the momentum shifted back and forth. It was scored 116-112, 116-111 Oral, 114-113 Spada.
After the fight, Mahir said, “I had visualized a tough fight, but it was tougher than I thought.”
2006 – On 11-10-06 in Hamburg, Mahir knocked out Genaro Andujar (11-28-2). Mahir knocked down Andujar with a body punch in the fourth round, and he was counted out at 0:46.
WON EUROPEAN MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE – On 9-9-06 in Hamburg, Mahir he TKO’d Dirk Dzemski (27-1) at 1:42 of the first round.
On 7-15-06 in Hamburg, Mahir TKO’d Francesco Pernice (11-12-1) at 1:45 of the second round.
On 3-11-06 in Hamburg, Mahir he won an eight round unanimous decision against Arsen Khachatrian (28-1), scored 77-75 on all three scorecards.
On 1-7-06 in Munich, GER, Mahir won an eight round unanimous decision against Attila Kiss (6-29-3), scored 80-72 on all three scorecards.
2005 – On 12-13-05 in Soelden, AUS, Mahir won an eight round unanimous decision against Joszef Balazs (3-11-2), scored 80-72 on all three scorecards.
On 11-12-05 in Hamburg, Mahir won an eight round split decision against Christophe Karagoz (10-7-3).
On 10-25-05 in Vienna, AUS, Mahir won a six round unanimous decision against Ihar Filonau (5-2).
On 9-10-05 in Berlin, Mahir knocked out Josef Sovijus (1-19-2) at 2:27 of the third round.
On 7-9-05 in Magdeburg, GER, Mahir won a four round unanimous decision against Ramdane Kaouane (5-21-1).
On 7-2-05 in Hamburg, Mahir TKO’d Richard Remen (2-11) at 0:56 of the fourth round.
On 6-18-05 in Puloa, CRO, Mahir won a four round unanimous decision against Attila Kathi (2-2).
He debuted at the age of 19 on 3-4-00.
AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Mahir was born in Hamburg, Germany. He has an older brother and a younger sister.
Always a fan of sports, Mahir started kickboxing when he was six years old. He got into amateur boxing when he was 12 and hasn’t looked back.
“My brother was going to the boxing club and he asked me if I wanted to go,” Mahir said. “I said, ‘Yes, why not?’ I liked it and I was good. My first amateur coach said, ‘You’ve got talent.’”
Mahir had about 75 amateur fights, compiling 65 wins, three or four draws and only six or seven losses. He competed on the German national team, but only had two or three international fights.
Mahir got married six months ago and focuses his time on boxing.
“Boxing is my only job,” Mahir said. “I have no time for anything else. I need all my power and all my interest for boxing.”
STRENGTHS: Has good speed, skills, and movement…at his best, he keeps a fast pace, pressures his opponents, and wears them down.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks big punching power…has limited experience against good opposition.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 9 years, 3 months…28 fights…148 total rounds.
AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 5.2 rounds.
KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 40 percent.
DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – 2 (2-0)…10 rounds – 0…8 rounds – 7 (7-0).
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“The Lion” MAHIR ORAL
Age: 29 (5-23-80)
Residence: Hamburg, Germany
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Record: 25-1-2, 10 KOs
Height: 6’1”
Promoter-manager: Ahmed Oner
Trainer: Hans-Jurgen Witte
Corner: Hans-Jurgen Witte (chief second), Petros Katsares (assistant), Mark Vaz (cutman)
“The Lion” MAHIR (pr. “MY-hear”) ORAL (pr. or-AL) (25-1-2, 10 KOs)
Ranked WBC No. 3, WBA No. 7, IBF No. 11, WBO No. 13 at 160 pounds
WBC Mediterranean middleweight champion
Former WBC International middleweight champion
Former European middleweight champion