In 2000 he lost at the European Championships to Valeriy Sydorenko in the finals and at the Olympics 2000 against reigning world champ Brian Viloria (6:8) in the first round.

In 2003 he won the World Championships with a close final victory against future star Zou Shiming (23:19).

He added a victory at the European championships 2002 and 2004 by beating Alfonso Pinto.

2004 at the Olympics he was upset by young Turk Atagün Yalçınkaya and had to settle for bronze.

2005 at the world championships he again lost to a teenager in Hungary's Pal Bedak.