Mihai Leu, the Romanian boxer who won the WBO welterweight title and retired undefeated in 1997, died Tuesday at the age of 56.
Leu had been battling colon cancer since 2014, and had been placed in a medically induced coma, it was announced last week by his wife, Anna.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Michael tonight,” read a message on Leu’s Facebook account. “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 will, courage and passion.”
Leu, who won gold at the World Junior Championships in Cuba at light welterweight in 1987, earned his crowning achievement in the ring in 1997, when he defeated Panamanian contender Santiago Samaniego by unanimous decision in Hamburg, Germany, to win a vacant belt. Leu would make just one defense, defeating Irish contender Michael Carruth by majority decision later that year on a card that also included a WBA light heavyweight title fight between Lou Del Valle and Eddy Smulders, plus future Hall of Famers Wladimir Klitschko and Regina Halmich, before retiring early due to injury.
After retiring from the ring, Leu followed his father, former race car driver, Nicolae Leu, into the family business, winning the 2003 Romanian National Rally Championship. In 2007, Leu ran in the European Parliamentary elections on the Conservative Party ticket but didn’t secure a seat.
Although Leu was treated for cancer after first being diagnosed, it was reported in Romanian media that he had relapsed in December 2024. Leu stated in May that, despite being hospitalized in intensive care, he hoped to return to racing “as quickly as possible.” Last month, it was reported that his cancer had spread to his lungs.
Leu is survived by Anna and his son, Marco.
“For fans, Mihai was and will remain a model,” the family said in a statement. “A man who inspired through every fight, through every race and by the dignity he lived his life. To us, to our family, a friend, a wonderful husband and father. His legacy lives on through all of us who have loved, supported him and witnessed his unique journey. We will never forget you.”
Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for jeetwin68.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at .
