He earned European and world champion titles in juniors category.

In 1989, Hafız Süleymanov became world and European champion in seniors category for the Soviet Union.

After his participation at the 1989 World Weightlifting Championships, he defected from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic and immigrated to Turkey.

He earned his first medal for Turkey in gold in the -56 kg snatch division at the 1990 World Weightlifting Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.

At the 1998 World Weightlifting Championships held in Lahti, Finland, he could reach the 9th rank only.