Michael Grant (boxer)

Michael Anthony Grant (born August 4, 1972) is an American professional boxer and world heavyweight title challenger. Before his boxing career, he blossomed into a three-sport star at Chicago's Harper High School. He was a right handed pitcher who drew attention from the Kansas City Royals, an imposing two-way player at tight end and defensive end on the football field and a front court force on the basketball court. Grant graduated in 1991 and went on to play American Football at Mount San Antonio College near Los Angeles, and Fullerton College in Orange County, California. At 6'7", he was a towering defensive end looking to leap to a major college program. But poor grades forced him to the sidelines.

The pinnacle of Grant's boxing career came in 2000, when he unsuccessfully challenged Lennox Lewis for the IBF, WBC and IBO heavyweight titles. Grant, who came in undefeated, was knocked out in two rounds.

Amateur

Grant had just 12 amateur fights. In the Golden Gloves 1994 semi-finals he lost his only amateur fight to Derrick Jefferson on points.

Pro career

In his early career, Grant beat Corey Sanders, Ross Puritty, ex-contender Lionel Butler, Al Cole, Cuban Jorge Luis Gonzalez, hard-punching David Izon and Obed Sullivan. He knocked down and outpointed Lou Savarese before most notably fighting Andrew Golota. During that fight Grant was knocked down twice in the first round only to come from behind to score a knockout in the tenth round. By this point the Ring Magazine ranked him as the #3 heavyweight in the world.

Challenge against Lewis

Grant's undefeated record and victories against Sullivan, Savarese and Golota earned him an opportunity to challenge newly crowned undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. Lewis was coming off a unanimous decision victory against Evander Holyfield and wanted to make a statement with his first title-defence.

Grant started the fight very aggressively but Lewis put him down with a right hand. He got back to his feet and was beaten badly by Lewis, a left hand on the side of the head sending Grant reeling into the corner and counting as a second knockdown. Grant was badly hurt but seemed to recover toward the end of the first round until a vicious right hand sent him down for the third time. Remarkably Grant beat the count. His trainer Don Turner implored him to use his legs. While Grant tried to rally, Lewis took his time in round two before finishing Grant off with an uppercut.

Later career

Sidelined by injuries for fifteen months, in his comeback fight Grant fought and lost to Jameel McCline in 2001. McCline knocked him down in the first round, and Grant had to retire due to a broken ankle. After a brief comeback, then-undefeated Dominick Guinn knocked him out in 2003 in seven rounds. Since the loss, Grant has fought sporadically against limited opposition.

The once heavily-hyped Grant has had several high-profile trainers, including Don Turner, Teddy Atlas, Buddy McGirt and currently Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

On May 7, 2010, Grant fought for the first time in eighteen months and won by first-round technical knockout over Kevin Burnett at Oheka Castle, Huntingdon, NY.^[1]

On Aug 21, 2010, with a 20 kg weight advantage, Grant was physically dominant, but lost on points to Tomasz Adamek by a unanimous decision.^[2]

On March 11, 2011, Grant fought Tye Fields (45-2) at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Grant scored a one-punch third-round knockout.^[3]

On November 19, 2011, Grant faced Francois Botha for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Heavyweight title. Grant won by a 12th-round KO, having needed a KO due to being well behind on all three cards. The fight took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, the first time he had fought outside the USA. Immediately after the fight, Grant called out the Klitschko brothers who hold all of the major heavyweight titles.^[4]

After an 18-month layoff, Grant planned to defend the WBF belt against France-based Cameroonian Carlos Takam on May 24, 2013 in Noisy-le-Grand, France.

Professional boxing record

48 Wins (36 knockouts), 6 Losses, 0 Draws
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	48–6	Manuel Charr	RTD	5 (10)	24/10/2014	Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Central Federal District
Loss	48–5	Carlos Takam	TKO	8 (12)	24/05/2013	Gymnase du Clos de l'Arche, Noisy-le-Grand, Île-de-France, France	Defending WBF heavyweight title.
Win	48–4	Francois Botha	KO	12 (12)	19/11/2011	Monte Casino, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa	Won vacant WBF heavyweight title.
Win	47–4	Tye Fields	KO	3 (10)	11/03/2011	Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	46–4	Tomasz Adamek	UD	12	21/08/2010	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, United States	For IBF International & NABO heavyweight titles.
Win	46–3	Kevin Burnett	TKO	1 (8)	07/05/2010	Oheka Castle, Huntington, New York, United States
Win	45–3	Paul Marinaccio	UD	12	15/11/2008	Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, Niagara Falls, New York, United States	Won vacant NABA USA heavyweight title.
Win	44–3	Demetrice King	UD	8	11/07/2008	National Guard Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	43–3	Kevin Montiy	TKO	7 (8)	05/09/2007	Cipriani Wall Street, New York, New York, United States
Win	42–3	Billy Zumbrun	TKO	5 (8)	27/06/2007	Cipriani Wall Street, New York, New York, United States
Win	41–3	Marcus McGee	UD	8	24/06/2005	Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Win	40–3	Wallace McDaniel	UD	8	08/04/2005	Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, United States
Win	39–3	Charles Hatcher	TKO	8 (8)	21/02/2004	City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, United States
Loss	38–3	Dominick Guinn	TKO	7 (10)	07/06/2003	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	38–2	Gilbert Martinez	TKO	8 (10)	18/04/2003	Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, United States
Win	37–2	Carlton Johnson	TKO	5 (10)	24/01/2003	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	36–2	James Walton	TKO	4 (10)	07/11/2002	Hilton Hotel, Washington, United States
Win	35–2	Robert Davis	TKO	3 (10)	03/08/2002	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States
Win	34–2	Anthony Willis	TKO	2 (10)	01/06/2002	Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	33–2	Joe Lenhart	TKO	5 (8)	13/04/2002	Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, United States
Win	32–2	Reynaldo Minus	TKO	4 (8)	09/03/2002	A. J. Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss	31–2	Jameel McCline	TKO	1 (10)	21/07/2001	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	31–1	Lennox Lewis	KO	2 (12)	29/04/2000	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States	For WBC, IBF, & IBO heavyweight titles.
Win	31–0	Andrew Golota	TKO	10 (12)	20/11/1999	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Retained NABF heavyweight title. WBC heavyweight title eliminator.
Win	30–0	Lou Savarese	UD	10	19/06/1999	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	29–0	Ahmed Abdin	RTD	10 (12)	30/01/1999	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Won vacant NABF heavyweight title.
Win	28–0	Obed Sullivan	TKO	9 (12)	30/05/1998	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Retained IBC heavyweight title.
Win	27–0	David Izon	TKO	5 (12)	17/01/1998	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Retained IBC heavyweight title.
Win	26–0	Jorge Luis Gonzalez	TKO	1 (12)	07/11/1997	Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Retained IBC heavyweight title.
Win	25–0	Alfred Cole	RTD	10 (12)	20/06/1997	Bally's Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Won vacant
Win	24–0	Lionel Butler	DQ	4 (10)	19/04/1997	Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	23–0	Jeff Wooden	SD	10	14/03/1997	Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York, United States
Win	22–0	Ray Anis	UD	10	06/12/1996	Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	21–0	Louis Monaco	TKO	3 (?)	06/10/1996	Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	20–0	Ross Puritty	UD	10	21/07/1996	Teamster's Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Win	19–0	Ed Donaldson	TKO	3 (?)	11/06/1996	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States
Win	18–0	Olian Alexander	TKO	4 (?)	10/05/1996	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	17–0	Corey Sanders	TKO	2 (?)	15/03/1996	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	16–0	Rick Sullivan	TKO	1 (6)	30/01/1996	Medieval Times, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, United States
Win	15–0	Bradley Rone	UD	6	12/03/1996	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	14–0	Mike Dixon	TKO	6 (?)	07/12/1995	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	13–0	Tim Noble	TKO	2 (6)	10/11/1995	Bally's Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	12–0	Stanley Wright	TKO	2 (10)	22/09/1995	Lewiston, Maine, United States
Win	11–0	Lou Turchiarelli	TKO	1 (8)	20/05/1995	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	10–0	Tyrone Dixon	TKO	1 (?)	06/12/1994	Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win	9–0	Danny Wofford	PTS	8	03/12/1994	Grundy, Virginia, United States
Win	8–0	Steve Edwards	DQ	5 (6)	05/11/1994	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	7–0	John Basil Jackson	UD	4	01/11/1994	Omni New Daisy Theater, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win	6–0	Carlton Brown	KO	1 (?)	22/10/1994	Grundy, Virginia, United States
Win	5–0	Ed Strickland	KO	1 (?)	04/10/1994	Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win	4–0	Elvin Evans	TKO	6 (?)	23/09/1994	Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Win	3–0	Frankie Hines	KO	1 (?)	06/09/1994	Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win	2–0	Jerome Jones	TKO	2 (?)	07/08/1994	Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Win	1–0	Ernest English	TKO	1 (4)	21/07/1994	Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, United States	Professional debut.

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Michael Grant from BoxRec