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Michael Sprott (born 16 January 1975) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2018. At regional level, he held multiple heavyweight championships, including the British and Commonwealth titles in 2004; and challenged three times for the European title in 2005, 2010 and 2011; and won the Prizefighter series in 2010 and 2013.
Seemingly relegated to journeyman status, In February 2001 in London, Sprott scored an upset when he outpointed the once-beaten German Timo Hoffmann, who had lost only to Vitali Klitschko. He travelled to Germany for the rematch, controversially outpointed by Hoffmann in a result that was jeered loudly by the German crowd.
In November 2001, he travelled to South Africa to face hard hitting fringe contender Corrie Sanders. In a brief and entertaining fight, Sprott rocked the Southpaw stance before being decked himself, and suffering a controversial stoppage by the referee, with even the South African commentators deploring the stoppage.
In February 2002, Keith Long pulled out from a British and Commonwealth title fight with Danny Williams, and Sprott flew in from a holiday in Jamaica on only a few days notice. After a few rounds he ran out of gas and was stopped in the seventh round, but showed he could compete at national level. It was around this time that Sprott brought in trainer John Bloomfield, who spent six years with Frank Bruno.
After this challenge, Sprott went on a successful run of form, winning 8 fights, including knockouts of Pele Reid (KO7), ex-British champ Michael Holden (KO4), Mark Potter (KO3), and Colin Kenna (KO1), setting up a rematch with Williams.
In September 2003, Sprott qualified for another shot at Williams and his titles, but after a far more competitive fight, Sprott was the victim of several low blows. When he complained to the referee he was controversially knocked out by a Williams left hook.
In January 2004, Sprott narrowly outpointed Williams in their third and final fight (115–114), lifting the British and Commonwealth titles. A few months later Williams would knockout Mike Tyson, however Sprott would lose his titles in his first defense, matched with fast undefeated Matt Skelton (12–0), Sprott was mauled and stopped in the 12th. His last fight of 2004 was a win against Czech heavyweight champ Robert Šulgan in Bethnal Green.
In 2005, Sprott would take the first of many trips abroad fighting top prospects, usually at short notice. In April he beat the German amateur star Cengiz Koc, but in October was beaten on points by Olympian Paolo Vidoz in a European title fight, both fights in Germany. In December he fought future European champ Vladimir Virchis in Austria, but was once-again the victim of a controversial decision loss.
In February 2006, he outboxed veteran Antoine Palatis in Scotland, but in a WBA Eliminator in July was hammered in 8 one-sided rounds by undefeated Ruslan Chagaev. Despite the loss he went back to Germany and beat a third German prospect when he upset undefeated southpaw Rene Dettweiller in November.
During his travels in Germany, Sprott had picked up the second-tier European Heavyweight title, the "EU" title, which he defended against 2000 Olympic Gold medallist Audley Harrison in London, February 2007. Harrison had demolished Danny Williams in his last fight and was on course to face Matt Skelton in a world title eliminator. A 9/2 underdog with most bookies, Sprott came off the floor in the 1st round to score a rare stoppage win by knocking Harrison clean out in the 3rd with a left hook; and seemingly ending his career.
On 14 July 2007, Sprott lost to Matt Skelton in a 12-round contest. The fight was of a very poor standard with Skelton winning on points.
On 31 May 2008, Sprott travelled to Germany to face hot prospect, and the WBA's #4 ranked contender Taras Bidenko. Sprott was outpointed in a 10-round unanimous decision, with 2 judges scoring the bout 97–93, and the other seeing it 97–94.
On 14 March 2009, Sprott fought former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster and lost a unanimous decision.
He fought Alexander Ustinov on 20 June 2009, but lost by unanimous decision after ten rounds. However he beat German Werner Kreiskott by round 1 TKO in March 2010 and this earned him a shot at the vacant European Boxing Union title against old foe Audley Harrison at Alexandra Palace in April 2010. Sprott was leading the bout on all three scorecards before Harrison knocked out Sprott with seconds remaining of round 12.
On 9 October 2010, a 35-year-old Sprott competed in Sky Sports' Prizefighter series (Heavyweights), reaching the final where he fought Matt Skelton in a three round contest. It was third time lucky for Sprott, who had lost his previous 2 fights with the 43-year-old Skelton, as Sprott won via split decision. One judge scored the fight 29–28 in favour of Skelton, while the other two judges both scored it 29–28 to Sprott, with Sprott winning £32,000 in 'winner take all' prize money. In September 2011, he suffered a third defeat in a European heavyweight title bout when he lost a unanimous points decision to Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko in Hamburg.
He lists his hobbies as weights, travelling and meeting new people. Outside boxing, Sprott enjoys rugby football and the Wimbledon Championships. His favourite football teams are Reading FC and Arsenal F.C.
| 71 | Loss | 42–29 | Lukasz Rozanski | TKO | 2 (6), | 2 Jun 2018 | ||
| 70 | Loss | 42–28 | Ali Eren Demirezen | TKO | 5 (8), | 23 Dec 2017 | ||
| 69 | Loss | 42–27 | Marcin Siwy | UD | 6 | 5 Nov 2016 | ||
| 68 | Loss | 42–26 | Christian Hammer | KO | 1 (10), | 18 Mar 2016 | ||
| 67 | Loss | 42–25 | Adrian Granat | KO | 1 (8), | 5 Dec 2015 | ||
| 66 | Loss | 42–24 | Carlos Takam | KO | 5 (8) | 13 Jun 2015 | ||
| 65 | Loss | 42–23 | Anthony Joshua | TKO | 1 (10), | 22 Nov 2014 | ||
| 64 | Loss | 42–22 | Kali Meehan | KO | 1 (3) | 4 Jun 2014 | ||
| 63 | Win | 42–21 | Anthony Nansen | UD | 3 | 4 Jun 2014 | ||
| 62 | Win | 41–21 | Martin Rogan | MD | 3 | 4 Jun 2014 | ||
| 61 | Win | 40–21 | Jason Gavern | UD | 3 | 14 Nov 2013 | ||
| 60 | Win | 39–21 | Brian Minto | UD | 3 | 14 Nov 2013 | ||
| 59 | Win | 38–21 | Damian Wills | UD | 3 | 14 Nov 2013 | ||
| 58 | Loss | 37–21 | Erkan Teper | TKO | 1 (10), | 31 Aug 2013 | ||
| 57 | Loss | 37–20 | Robert Helenius | UD | 10 | 23 Mar 2013 | ||
| 56 | Win | 37–19 | Edmund Gerber | MD | 10 | 15 Dec 2012 | ||
| 55 | Loss | 36–19 | Edmund Gerber | TKO | 4 (8), | 15 Sep 2012 | ||
| 54 | Loss | 36–18 | Kubrat Pulev | RTD | 9 (12), | 14 Jan 2012 | ||
| 53 | Loss | 36–17 | Alexander Dimitrenko | UD | 12 | 24 Sep 2011 | ||
| 52 | Loss | 36–16 | Tye Fields | SD | 3 | 7 May 2011 | ||
| 51 | Win | 36–15 | Serdar Uysal | UD | 4 | 19 Mar 2011 | ||
| 50 | Win | 35–15 | Matt Skelton | SD | 3 | 9 Oct 2010 | ||
| 49 | Win | 34–15 | Shane McPhilbin | UD | 3 | 9 Oct 2010 | ||
| 48 | Win | 33–15 | Danny Hughes | UD | 3 | 9 Oct 2010 | ||
| 47 | Loss | 32–15 | Audley Harrison | KO | 12 (12), | 9 Apr 2010 | ||
| 46 | Win | 32–14 | Werner Kreiskott | TKO | 1 (4) | 20 Mar 2010 | ||
| 45 | Loss | 31–14 | Alexander Ustinov | UD | 10 | 20 Jun 2006 | ||
| 44 | Loss | 31–13 | Lamon Brewster | UD | 8 | 14 Mar 2009 | ||
| 43 | Win | 31–12 | Zack Page | PTS | 6 | 19 Nov 2008 | ||
| 42 | Loss | 30–12 | Taras Bidenko | UD | 10 | 31 May 2008 | ||
| 41 | Loss | 30–11 | Matt Skelton | 12 | 14 Jul 2007 | |||
| 40 | Win | 30–10 | Audley Harrison | KO | 3 (12), | 17 Feb 2007 | ||
| 39 | Win | 29–10 | Rene Dettweiler | SD | 12 | 4 Nov 2006 | ||
| 38 | Loss | 28–10 | Ruslan Chagaev | TKO | 8 (12), | 15 Jul 2006 | ||
| 37 | Win | 28–9 | Antoine Palatis | UD | 10 | 18 Feb 2006 | ||
| 36 | Loss | 27–9 | Vladimir Virchis | UD | 12 | 13 Dec 2005 | ||
| 35 | Loss | 27–8 | Paolo Vidoz | UD | 12 | 1 Oct 2005 | ||
| 34 | Win | 27–7 | Cengiz Koc | 10 | 23 Apr 2005 | |||
| 33 | Win | 26–7 | Robert Sulgan | TKO | 1 (8), | 10 Sep 2004 | ||
| 32 | Loss | 25–7 | Matt Skelton | KO | 12 (12), | 24 Apr 2004 | ||
| 31 | Win | 25–6 | Danny Williams | PTS | 12 | 24 Jan 2004 | ||
| 30 | Loss | 24–6 | Danny Williams | TKO | 5 (12), | 26 Sep 2003 | ||
| 29 | Win | 24–5 | Colin Kenna | TKO | 1 (10), | 1 Aug 2003 | ||
| 28 | Win | 23–5 | Petr Horacek | KO | 1 (6), | 10 Jun 2003 | ||
| 27 | Win | 22–5 | Mark Potter | TKO | 3 (10), | 18 Mar 2003 | ||
| 26 | Win | 21–5 | Mike Holden | TKO | 4 (8), | 24 Jan 2003 | ||
| 25 | Win | 20–5 | Tamas Feheri | TKO | 2 (6), | 12 Dec 2002 | ||
| 24 | Win | 19–5 | Derek McCafferty | PTS | 8 | 17 Sep 2007 | ||
| 23 | Win | 18–5 | Garing Lane | PTS | 6 | 10 Jul 2002 | ||
| 22 | Win | 17–5 | Pele Reid | TKO | 7 (10), | 9 May 2002 | ||
| 21 | Loss | 16–5 | Danny Williams | RTD | 7 (12), | 12 Feb 2002 | ||
| 20 | Win | 16–4 | Jermell Barnes | PTS | 8 | 20 Dec 2001 | ||
| 19 | Loss | 15–4 | Corrie Sanders | KO | 1 (8), | 3 Nov 2001 | ||
| 18 | Loss | 15–3 | Timo Hoffmann | 8 | 24 Mar 2001 | |||
| 17 | Win | 15–2 | Timo Hoffmann | PTS | 8 | 17 Feb 2001 | ||
| 16 | Loss | 14–2 | Wayne Llewellyn | TKO | 3 (6) | 14 Oct 2000 | ||
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Tony Booth | PTS | 6 | 18 Jan 2000 | ||
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Chris Woollas | RTD | 4 (6), | 10 Jul 1999 | ||
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Gary Williams | PTS | 6 | 16 Jan 1999 | ||
| 12 | Loss | 11–1 | Harry Senior | TKO | 6 (10), | 12 Sep 1998 | ||
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Michael Murray | PTS | 6 | 14 Mar 1998 | ||
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Ray Kane | 1 (6), | 14 Feb 1998 | |||
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Johnny Davison | TKO | 2 (6), | 10 Jan 1998 | ||
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Nick Howard | TKO | 1 (4), | 6 Dec 1997 | ||
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Darren Fearn | PTS | 6 | 8 Nov 1997 | ||
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Gary Williams | PTS | 6 | 2 Sep 1997 | ||
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Wladek Framas | 6 | 20 May 1997 | |||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Tim Redman | KO | 2 (4), | 16 Apr 1997 | ||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Alvin Miller | KO | 1 (4), | 17 Mar 1997 | ||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Johnny Davison | 2 (6), | 19 Feb 1997 | |||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Geoff Hunter | 1 (6) | 20 Nov 1996 |
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