James Scott (boxer)
Encyclopedia
James Scott is an American
former boxer
and former prison
inmate. He is best known for having become a contender in the World Boxing Association
's light heavyweight
division while incarcerated at Rahway State Prison
in Avenel, New Jersey
.
, spent much of his time behind bars starting at the age of 13, when he was sent to a reformatory for truancy
. He first took up boxing while serving time at Trenton State Prison and was released in 1968, but only pursued the sport seriously after a subsequent robbery conviction and being incarcerated again.
As part of its rehabilitation system, the New Jersey prison system offered inmates a variety of job training programs—including training in boxing, whether as a fighter, a trainer
, or a cutman
. Scott became the light heavyweight champion of the New Jersey prison system.
, he won 10 bouts and had one draw between January 1974 and February 1975. However, Scott returned to New Jersey where he was convicted of robbery
.
From then to the end of his career, all of Scott's professional fights were held in Rahway State Prison. In Scott's third professional bout after returning to prison, he defeated Eddie Gregory
, who was then the WBA's No. 1 light heavyweight contender. (Gregory later changed his name to Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
and gained the WBA light heavyweight championship in 1980.)
At least four of Scott's professional bouts held in prison were broadcast by NBC Sports
, two by CBS Sports
and one by HBO. ABC Sports, on the other hand, declined to provide Scott with national television coverage due to his felony conviction and incarceration.
questioned whether those were the real motives for removing Scott from the rankings, given that the same conditions had applied when the WBA had started to rank him the year before.
As a result of losing his ranking, Scott announced his retirement from boxing. Nevertheless, Scott changed his mind shortly afterward and announced that he was "unretired" and would fulfill his contracts.
On May 25, 1980, Scott had his first professional loss, an upset in which he was defeated by Jerry "Bull" Martin.
Scott's last professional fight was on September 5, 1981, when he lost a unanimous decision to Dwight Braxton
, later known as Dwight Muhammad Qawi
. Qawi himself had formerly been an inmate at Rahway State Prison.
Scott finished his boxing career with a record of 19 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
and former prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
inmate. He is best known for having become a contender in the World Boxing Association
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
's light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
division while incarcerated at Rahway State Prison
Rahway State Prison
East Jersey State Prison , originally Rahway State Prison, was established in 1896 as the first reformatory in New Jersey. It is a maximum-security institution operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections, housing approximately 1,900 men .The prison is actually located in Avenel in...
in Avenel, New Jersey
Avenel, New Jersey
Avenel is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 17,552...
.
Early life
Scott, originally from Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, spent much of his time behind bars starting at the age of 13, when he was sent to a reformatory for truancy
Truancy
Truancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
. He first took up boxing while serving time at Trenton State Prison and was released in 1968, but only pursued the sport seriously after a subsequent robbery conviction and being incarcerated again.
As part of its rehabilitation system, the New Jersey prison system offered inmates a variety of job training programs—including training in boxing, whether as a fighter, a trainer
Boxing training
Boxing training is the training method that boxers use in order to get more fit for their sport. This training method is often cited by medical doctors, boxing trainers, and writers as one of the most spartan forms of sports training.- Training :...
, or a cutman
Cutman
A cutman is a person responsible for preventing and treating physical damage to a fighter during the breaks between rounds of a full contact match such as a boxing, kickboxing or a mixed martial arts bout. Cutmen typically handle swelling, nosebleeds and lacerations...
. Scott became the light heavyweight champion of the New Jersey prison system.
Rise in the rankings
In 1974, Scott was released on parole to pursue a professional boxing career. Fighting out of Miami Beach, FloridaMiami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, he won 10 bouts and had one draw between January 1974 and February 1975. However, Scott returned to New Jersey where he was convicted of robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
.
From then to the end of his career, all of Scott's professional fights were held in Rahway State Prison. In Scott's third professional bout after returning to prison, he defeated Eddie Gregory
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad is a retired American boxer.- Amateur career :Boxing under his birth name, Eddie Gregory, Muhammad won two New York Golden Gloves Championships. Gregory won both the 1971 and the 1972 New York Golden Gloves 147 lb Open Championships...
, who was then the WBA's No. 1 light heavyweight contender. (Gregory later changed his name to Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad is a retired American boxer.- Amateur career :Boxing under his birth name, Eddie Gregory, Muhammad won two New York Golden Gloves Championships. Gregory won both the 1971 and the 1972 New York Golden Gloves 147 lb Open Championships...
and gained the WBA light heavyweight championship in 1980.)
At least four of Scott's professional bouts held in prison were broadcast by NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
, two by CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
and one by HBO. ABC Sports, on the other hand, declined to provide Scott with national television coverage due to his felony conviction and incarceration.
Loss of ranking and later career
Although Scott was considered a potential challenger for the light heavyweight championship, the WBA removed him from its rankings in October 1979. The WBA cited concerns that as an imprisoned convict, Scott did not set a "good example", and that his opponents were disadvantaged because they had to come to the prison for all of his bouts. Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
questioned whether those were the real motives for removing Scott from the rankings, given that the same conditions had applied when the WBA had started to rank him the year before.
As a result of losing his ranking, Scott announced his retirement from boxing. Nevertheless, Scott changed his mind shortly afterward and announced that he was "unretired" and would fulfill his contracts.
On May 25, 1980, Scott had his first professional loss, an upset in which he was defeated by Jerry "Bull" Martin.
Scott's last professional fight was on September 5, 1981, when he lost a unanimous decision to Dwight Braxton
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi is a former world boxing champion in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions...
, later known as Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi is a former world boxing champion in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions...
. Qawi himself had formerly been an inmate at Rahway State Prison.
Scott finished his boxing career with a record of 19 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw.