Former Romanian world boxing champion Mihai Leu who won the WBO welterweight tile in 1997, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 56.
Romania’s first professional world boxing champion died on Tuesday evening at the Fundeni Clinical Institute in Bucharest where he had been receiving treatment for the past two months, his family said. He was transported by helicopter to Bucharest from his home town in western Romania at the end of April suffering from internal bleeding.
He was diagnosed with cancer of the colon in 2014 and had suffered several medical complications.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Mihai this evening. A true champion, both in the boxing ring and on the motorsport circuits, Mihai was much more than an exceptional athlete, he was a symbol of willpower, courage and passion,” a message on his Facebook page said.
“For fans, Mihai will remain a role model. He was a man who inspired people through every struggle, through every competition and through the dignity with which he lived his life. For us, his family, he was a friend, a husband and a wonderful father”, the post said.
Mihai Leu, also known as Michael Lowe, was a former professional boxer between 1991 and 1998, winning the WBO welterweight title in 1997.
He was forced to hang up his gloves early after suffering an injury to his hand but went on to become a rally driver following in the footsteps of his father. He held three national titles.
He began boxing in 1977 at the Hunedoara Constructorul club in his home town and then moved to Dinamo Bucharest, winning the the national championship four times. In 1987, he became the World Junior Champion and won 190 out of 200 amateur matches he fought during his career.
In 1991, he became a professional boxer in Germany, using the German version of his name, Michael Lowe. He went on to win the vacant WBO welterweight title in 1997 by defeating Santiago Samaniego and defended the title once against Irish challenger Michael Carruth, before finally retiring in 1998.
He took up rally driving and became Romania’s national champion in 2003 driving a Hyundai Accent WRC with co-driver Ciprian Solomon. He gave up competitive rallying in 2008.
He was the son of Nicolae Leu, a Romanian rally driver of the 1970s and 1980s.
But his sporting career was cut short when he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014 and his condition deteriorated in the last 18 months.
He is survived by his wife, Anna, and son Marco. There was no immediate word on funeral arrangements.
