Michael Holden (born 13 March 1968) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2012. He held the British heavyweight title in 2000.

Mike Holden
Born
Michael Holden

(1968-03-13) 13 March 1968 (age 56)
NationalityBritish
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Reach81 in (206 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights21
Wins10
Wins by KO6
Losses10
Draws1

Professional career

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Born in Ashton-under-Lyne and based in Manchester, Holden began his professional career in October 1994 with a 4th round stoppage of Gary Williams. After a win and two defeats from his next three fights he fought Julius Francis in July 1996, losing on points. He also did some acting work, including as an extra in Coronation Street.[2]

He won five of his next six fights, earning him a shot at the British title in March 2000 that was then held by Francis; Holden won on points to become British champion.[3] Only two months earlier Holden had acted as bodyguard for Francis during the latter's fight against Mike Tyson and acted as a sparring partner for Francis.[2] After being forced to relinquish his title, he fought Francis again in April 2001 in a fight for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title that was also a final eliminator for the British title;[4] This time Francis got the points decision. In September Holden fought Keith Long in another eliminator for the British title but again lost on points.[5] Holden won only two more fights and lost three of his last five fights, including defeats to Michael Sprott and Matt Skelton, the latter a fight for the vacant English title in 2003, after which he retired.

In 2008 he began training for a comeback and sparred with Tyson Fury.[2] He made his return to the ring in September 2009 against Tomáš Mrázek, a boxer who had lost 22 of 28 fights. The 4-round fight ended in a draw. In 2010 Holden was scheduled to compete in television knockout series but was omitted at the last minute Prizefighter.[6] Holden returned again in 2012 to fight the undefeated Dillian Whyte, with Whyte winning by a TKO in the third round after putting Holden down three times.

Post career

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After retiring from boxing, Holden joined the police force.[2]

Professional boxing record

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21 fights 10 wins 10 losses
By knockout 6 4
By decision 4 6
Draws 1
Boxing record
No. Result Record Opponent Method Round Time Date Location Notes
21 Loss 10–10–1   Dillian Whyte TKO 3 (6) 1:35 15 Sep 2012   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK
20 Draw 10–9–1   Tomas Mrazek PTS 4 N/a 4 Sep 2009   Eston Sports Academy, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, UK
19 Loss 10–9   Matt Skelton TKO 6 (10) 0:32 18 Sep 2003   Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, Greater London, UK For vacant English heavyweight title
18 Loss 10–8   Albert Sosnowski PTS 6 N/a 12 Apr 2003   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK
17 Loss 10–7   Michael Sprott TKO 4 (8) 0:50 24 Jan 2003   Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK
16 Win 10–6   Antoine Palatis PTS 6 N/a 15 Oct 2002   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK
15 Win 9–6   Luke Simpkin PTS 6 N/a 15 Mar 2002   Britannia Hotel, Millwall, Greater London, UK
14 Loss 8–6   Keith Long PTS 10 N/a 13 Sep 2001   Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK
13 Loss 8–5   Julius Francis PTS 12 N/a 3 Apr 2001   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK For vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title
British heavyweight title eliminator
12 Win 8–4   Julius Francis PTS 12 N/a 13 Mar 2000   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK Won British heavyweight title
11 Win 7–4   Derek McCafferty TKO 1 (6) 2:28 15 Jul 1999   Werrington Sports Centre, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK
10 Loss 6–4   Harry Senior PTS 8 N/a 8 May 1999   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK
9 Win 6–3   Nigel Rafferty RTD 2 (6) 3:00 12 Dec 1998   Northgate Arena, Chester, Cheshire, UK
8 Win 5–3   Mika Kihlstrom TKO 1 (10) 1:36 4 Mar 1997   Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, Greater London, UK
7 Win 4–3   Israel Ajose TKO 1 (6) 0:14 26 Jun 1997   The Willows, Salford, Lancashire, UK
6 Win 3–3   Mikael Lindblad PTS 6 N/a 28 Sep 1996   The Broadway, Barking, Greater London, UK
5 Loss 2–3   Julius Francis PTS 10 N/a 9 Jul 1996   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK
4 Loss 2–2   Michael Murray PTS 6 N/a 14 Nov 1995   Castle Leisure Centre, Bury, Lancashire, UK
3 Win 2–1   Roger McKenzie TKO 2 (6) ? 7 Oct 1995   Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
2 Loss 1–1   Pat Passley RTD 3 (6) 3:00 20 Dec 1994   York Hall, Bethnal Green, Greater London, UK
1 Win 1–0   Gary Williams TKO 4 (6) ? 4 Oct 1994   Grosvenor House Hotel, Mayfair, Greater London, UK

References

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  1. ^ "Boxing record for Mike Holden". BoxRec.
  2. ^ a b c d Brennan, Scott (2009) "Holden Tips Colossus Fury", Manchester Evening News, 19 February 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2014
  3. ^ "Boxing: Francis loses British heavyweight title", RTÉ, 14 June 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2014
  4. ^ "Francis out for revenge", BBC, 2 April 2001. Retrieved 28 September 2014
  5. ^ "Woods sets up Jones showdown", BBC, 14 September 2001. Retrieved 28 September 2014
  6. ^ "Holyfield Conducts Prizefighter Heavyweight Draw", prizefighter.co.uk, 1 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2014
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Previous:
Julius Francis
British heavyweight champion
13 March 2000 – 2000
Vacant
Title next held by
Danny Williams