James Crayton
Encyclopedia
James Edward Crayton, alias Too Sweet, is a middleweight
professional boxer
from Nevada
.
, Nevada
.
win against Agustin Rocha. Crayton's career got off to a shaky start, with his first loss coming in his fourth bout and his second loss in his eighth bouth. However, Crayton pulled himself together and strung together 12 consecutive wins before falling at the hands of Derrick Gainer
in January 1996. By this time Crayton was considered a high-level journeyman, and saw action against such established pros as Javier Leon, John John Molina
, Arnulfo Castillo, Gabriel Ruelas
, and in a fight for the WBF lightweight title, Juan Lazcano
. Unfortunately for Crayton, he lost all these fights.
in Las Vegas. Both fighters had much to gain with a win - Montantes (28-3) was trying to make a name for himself and Crayton (23-8) was trying to keep his career afloat. The fight was fairly even through the fifth round, when Crayton knocked Montantes out with one violent right hook. Montantes was actually knocked unconscious (which is quite rare) and never regained consciousness. Two days later doctors declared him brain dead
and removed him from life support.
for the NABF lightweight title. Crayton lost that fight, then won three of five subsequent fights, and thereafter went on a slide. Though Crayton is still an active professional fighter at this writing (spring 2008), his record since the summer of 1999 is 4-18. To date, his career record stands at 34 wins, 27 losses, and 2 draws, with 21 wins by knockout
.
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Personal life
Crayton is a native and a resident of Las VegasLas Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Early career
Crayton's made his professional debut on April 7, of 1994, chalking up a knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
win against Agustin Rocha. Crayton's career got off to a shaky start, with his first loss coming in his fourth bout and his second loss in his eighth bouth. However, Crayton pulled himself together and strung together 12 consecutive wins before falling at the hands of Derrick Gainer
Derrick Gainer
Derrick "Smoke" Gainer is a US born boxer who started out in the featherweight division and now fights in the lightweight division. In 2000, he defeated Freddie Norwood to win the World Boxing Association featherweight title and after four defenses lost to Juan Manuel Márquez, who became super...
in January 1996. By this time Crayton was considered a high-level journeyman, and saw action against such established pros as Javier Leon, John John Molina
John John Molina
Juan Molina , better known as John John Molina in the world of boxing, is a former boxer whose career transcended boxing in Puerto Rico. A multiple time world champion, this boxer was also known as quite a socialite...
, Arnulfo Castillo, Gabriel Ruelas
Gabriel Ruelas
Gabriel Ruelas, , was a professional boxer.Career=Ruelas turned pro in 1988 and in 1993 challenged WBC Super Featherweight Title holder Azumah Nelson, losing a close majority decision. In 1994 he was able to capture the title by outpointing Jesse James Leija...
, and in a fight for the WBF lightweight title, Juan Lazcano
Juan Lazcano
Juan Lazcano is a Mexican American professional boxer from El Paso, Texas, who is now based in Sacramento, California, USA....
. Unfortunately for Crayton, he lost all these fights.
The death of Johnny Montantes
On September 26 of 1997 Crayton faced rising prospect Jumping Johnny MontantesJohnny Montantes
Johnny Montantes, alias Jumpin' Johnny, was a lightweight professional boxer from Minnesota.-Personal life:...
in Las Vegas. Both fighters had much to gain with a win - Montantes (28-3) was trying to make a name for himself and Crayton (23-8) was trying to keep his career afloat. The fight was fairly even through the fifth round, when Crayton knocked Montantes out with one violent right hook. Montantes was actually knocked unconscious (which is quite rare) and never regained consciousness. Two days later doctors declared him brain dead
Brain death
Brain death is the irreversible end of all brain activity due to total necrosis of the cerebral neurons following loss of brain oxygenation. It should not be confused with a persistent vegetative state...
and removed him from life support.
Later career
Crayton missed no time in the ring, and even put together a five-bout winning streak in the wake of Montantes' death, culminating in a match against Golden JohnsonGolden Johnson
Golden Demond Johnson is a professional boxer in the Welterweight division. He's the former three-time NABF champion at Lightweight, Light Welterweight, and Welterweight.-Personal life:...
for the NABF lightweight title. Crayton lost that fight, then won three of five subsequent fights, and thereafter went on a slide. Though Crayton is still an active professional fighter at this writing (spring 2008), his record since the summer of 1999 is 4-18. To date, his career record stands at 34 wins, 27 losses, and 2 draws, with 21 wins by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
.