ARTHUR ABRAHAM: "THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS ‘SMURFS’ BOXER"

EastsideBoxing.com
18 Sept 2006

18.09.06 – IBF middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham has been
dealing with countless issues just days before his mandatory defense
against Edison Miranda, the Columbian knockout artist at the Rittal
arena in Wetzlar, Germany (10:20 PM, live in Germany at "das Erste"
– ARD). First of all, Abraham received his German passport at the
district office in Berlin-Charlottenburg. However, the passport
contained his Armenian name "Avetik Abraham," not his stage name
"Arthur Abraham," a name that he uses for boxing..

After much wrangling, Abraham was allowed to use his stage name for
his passport. However, he was no longer allowed to use the moniker
"Smurf’s boxer," a nickname that has made Abraham widely known in
Germany, a country where the cartoon "The Smurfs" is still wildly
popular. In addition, Abraham can no longer use the Smurf’s hat or use
the song as his walk in music before fights, as both are protected by
copy rights by the "Studio Peyo S.A., which holds the rights and use
for the Smurf’s figure," Sauerland’s managing director Chris Meyer
has learned.

"For that reason, Arthur Abraham, will now be competing under the
stage name "The artist formally known as ‘Smurf’s boxer,’ following in
the example of the singer ‘Prince.’ All of Abraham’s photos with him
wearing the Smurf hat, had to be deleted at the Sauerland’s website
boxen.com. "It’s a great pity, Abraham said later. "Back then,
when my Manager, Mr. Sauerland, had the idea about the Smurf’s,
I was sceptical, too. But, in the meantime, the Smurf’s brought me
so much luck, and the fans liked that, too."

Besides Abraham’s powerful punching style, his walking in before fights
wearing the Smurf’s hat, while Father Abraham sang the Smurf’s song,
has been Abraham’s trademark. Now things will be slightly different,
as "Arthur has thought up something really special," Manager Wilfried
Sauerland reveals. "He’s a world champion; he’s undefeated, and has
the Middleweight’s hardest punch worldwide. Plus, he’s the king of
his weight class; He’s King Arthur!"

"King Arthur" is going to be making his first appearance with his new
King’s outfit when he fights challenger Edison Miranda on Saturday
night in Germany. Certainly, Miranda will understand this message
better than the funny Smurf’s cap.