As an amateur he won a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympics; gold at the 2003 World Championships; and consecutive gold at the 2002 and 2004 European Championships.
He won a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympics. This was as an amateur. He won a gold medal in gold at the 2003 World Championships. This was as an amateur. He won a gold medal in consecutive gold at the 2002 and 2004 European Championships. This was as an amateur.