Armenian-German professional boxer Arthur Abraham has presented a pair of his own boxing gloves to Pope Francis.

Meeting the sportsman in Rome, the pontiff blessed the athlete and his championship belt.

"I told the pope I am a boxer and a spiritual man. He wished me all the best upon leaving," Abraham said.

Abraham is a former two-weight world champion, having held the IBF middleweight title from 2005 to 2009 (his ten successful defenses being the fourth most in middleweight history); and the WBO super-middleweight title twice between 2012 and 2016.