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Michael Grant (boxer)

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Michael Anthony Grant is a professional heavyweight

Heavyweight

Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...

boxer. He is 6' 7" (200.5 cm) tall, with an 86' reach. A natural born athlete before boxing 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 still gets fired up thinking about his varsity debut. Grant graduated in 1991 and went on to play football at Mount San Antonio College near Los Angeles. At 6-foot-7, he was a towering defensive end looking to leap to a major college program. But poor grades forced him to the sidelines.

Amateur

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

Derrick Jefferson

Derrick Lavon Jefferson is a heavyweight turned boxer.-Amateur:Jefferson became the 1994 National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champion handing Michael Grant his only amateur loss in the semifinals.-Pro:...

on points.

Pro career

In his early career, Grant beat Corey Sanders, Ross Puritty

Ross Puritty

Ross Puritty is a retired heavyweight professional boxer. A high-level journeyman and occasional heavyweight contender, Puritty is best remembered for his shocking upset of Wladimir Klitschko in 1998 that won him the WBC international Heavyweight title.- Professional Boxing career :Purrity made...

, ex-contender Lionel Butler, Al Cole

Al Cole

Alfred "Ice" Cole is a heavyweight boxer.Cole was a champion and a major force in the cruiserweight division prior to moving up to the heavyweight division, where he had less success....

, Cuban Jorge Luis Gonzalez

Jorge Luis Gonzalez

Jorge Luis González is a former heavyweight boxing contender and prospect born in Havana, Cuba. He won the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1987 Pan American Games and the former WBO Latino Heavyweight Champion.-Amateur:González compiled an Amateur Record of 220-13...

, hard-punching David Izon and Obed Sullivan

Obed Sullivan

Obed Benjamin Sullivan, born January 17, 1968 in Gulfport, MS, was a heavyweight boxer. Nicknamed "The Fighting Marine", Sullivan was at times a highly-ranked heavyweight who fought many significant fighters of his era....

. He knocked down and outpointed Lou Savarese

Lou Savarese

Lou Savarese is an Italian-American boxer, and a former professional boxer from Houston, Texas, United States.-Amateur career:...

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

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...

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

Lennox Lewis

Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...

. Lewis was coming off a unanimous decision victory against Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...

and wanted to make a statement with his first title defence.

Grant started the fight very aggressively but was put down by 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

Don Turner

-Biography:He is well known for his work with Evander Holyfield during the late 1990s, specifically during Holyfield's two wins over Mike Tyson. He was also at Holyfield's side when he fought Lennox Lewis....

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

Jameel McCline

Jameel “Big Time” McCline is a professional heavyweight boxer notable for his speed, strength, and size at 6'6" and 269 lbs. Currently ranked at number 9 in the WBCworld heavyweight ratings...

in 2001, where he was knocked down in the first round and had to retire due to a broken ankle. After a brief comeback, then-undefeated Dominick Guinn

Dominick Guinn

Dominick Alexander Guinn, , is an American professional boxer with a record of 33-6-1, with 22 KOs. He is self-managed and he is trained by Ronnie Shields...

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

Teddy Atlas

Theodore A. "Teddy" Atlas, Jr. is a well-known boxing trainer and fight commentator.-Personal life:...

, Buddy McGirt

Buddy McGirt

James Walter "Buddy" McGirt is a boxing trainer, and retired boxer. He was born in Brentwood, New York.- Professional boxing career :...

and currently 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...

.

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

Oheka Castle

Oheka Castle, also known as the Otto Kahn Estate, is located on the Gold Coast of Long Island, in Huntington, New York. It was the country home of financier and philanthropist Otto Kahn. Built by Kahn between 1914 and 1919, it was and remains the second largest private home in the United States,...

, Huntingdon, NY.

On Aug 21, 2010, with a 20 kg weight advantage, Grant was physically dominant, but lost on points to Tomasz Adamek

Tomasz Adamek

Tomasz Adamek is a Polish professional heavyweight boxer. His record is 44-2 .He is the former WBC world light heavyweight champion and the former IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine cruiserweight champion. As of the end of 2009, Ring Magazine has ranked Adamek as the 30th best boxer in the world...

by a unanimous decision.

On March 11th, 2011, Grant fought Tye Fields

Tye Fields

Tye "Big Sky" Fields is an American heavyweight boxer.-Career:Tye Fields grew up in Beaverton, Oregon. Fields played college basketball and was a starter at forward for San Diego State University. Fields never was an amateur...

(45-2) at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Grant scored a one-punch third-round knockout.

On November 19, 2011, Grant faced Francois Botha

Francois Botha

Francois Botha , also known as Frans Botha, is a South African boxer, nicknamed the "White Buffalo". Botha won the vacant IBF heavyweight title in 1995 when he outpointed Axel Schulz in Germany...

for the vacant WBF

World Boxing Federation

The World Boxing Federation is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. Its offices are located in Luxembourg.-History:...

Heavyweight title. Grant won by a 12th round KO. The fight took place at Monte Casino

Montecasino

Montecasino is a leisure and casino complex located at No.1 Montecasino Boulevard in Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Montecasino is built on 26 hectares of land . It was designed and built by South African architect company, Bentel Associates International, at a cost of R1.6...

, Johannesburg

Johannesburg

Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...

, Gauteng

Gauteng

Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...

, South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. Immediately after the fight, Grant called out the Klitschko brothers who hold all of the major Heavyweight titles.

Professional boxing record

Francois Botha

Francois Botha , also known as Frans Botha, is a South African boxer, nicknamed the "White Buffalo". Botha won the vacant IBF heavyweight title in 1995 when he outpointed Axel Schulz in Germany...

|KO
|12
|19/11/2011
|align=left|

Tye Fields

Tye "Big Sky" Fields is an American heavyweight boxer.-Career:Tye Fields grew up in Beaverton, Oregon. Fields played college basketball and was a starter at forward for San Diego State University. Fields never was an amateur...

|KO
|3
|11/03/2011
|align=left|

Tomasz Adamek

Tomasz Adamek is a Polish professional heavyweight boxer. His record is 44-2 .He is the former WBC world light heavyweight champion and the former IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine cruiserweight champion. As of the end of 2009, Ring Magazine has ranked Adamek as the 30th best boxer in the world...

|UD
|12
|21/08/2010
|align=left|

Kevin Burnett
|TKO
|1
|07/05/2010
|align=left|

Paul Marinaccio
|UD
|12
|15/11/2008
|align=left|

Demetrice King
|UD
|8
|11/07/2008
|align=left|

Kevin Montiy
|TKO
|7
|05/09/2007
|align=left|

Billy Zumbrun
|TKO
|5
|27/06/2007
|align=left|

Marcus McGee
|UD
|8
|24/06/2005
|align=left|

Wallace McDaniel
|UD
|8
|08/04/2005
|align=left|

Charles Hatcher
|TKO
|8
|21/02/2004
|align=left|

Dominick Guinn

Dominick Alexander Guinn, , is an American professional boxer with a record of 33-6-1, with 22 KOs. He is self-managed and he is trained by Ronnie Shields...

|TKO
|7
|07/06/2003
|align=left|

Gilbert Martinez
|TKO
|8
|18/04/2003
|align=left|

Carlton Johnson
|TKO
|5
|24/01/2003
|align=left|

James Walton
|TKO
|4
|07/11/2002
|align=left|

Robert Davis
|TKO
|3
|03/08/2002
|align=left|

Anthony Willis
|TKO
|2
|01/06/2002
|align=left|

Joe Lenhart
|TKO
|5
|13/04/2002
|align=left|

Reynaldo Minus
|TKO
|4
|09/03/2002
|align=left|

Jameel McCline

Jameel “Big Time” McCline is a professional heavyweight boxer notable for his speed, strength, and size at 6'6" and 269 lbs. Currently ranked at number 9 in the WBCworld heavyweight ratings...

|TKO
|1
|21/07/2001
|align=left|

Lennox Lewis

Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...

|KO
|2
|29/04/2000
|align=left|

Andrew Golota
|TKO
|10
|20/11/1999
|align=left|

Lou Savarese

Lou Savarese is an Italian-American boxer, and a former professional boxer from Houston, Texas, United States.-Amateur career:...

|UD
|10
|19/06/1999
|align=left|

Ahmed Abdin
|RTD
|10
|30/01/1999
|align=left|

Obed Sullivan

Obed Benjamin Sullivan, born January 17, 1968 in Gulfport, MS, was a heavyweight boxer. Nicknamed "The Fighting Marine", Sullivan was at times a highly-ranked heavyweight who fought many significant fighters of his era....

|TKO
|9
|30/05/1998
|align=left|

David Izon
|TKO
|5
|17/01/1998
|align=left|

Jorge Luis Gonzalez

Jorge Luis González is a former heavyweight boxing contender and prospect born in Havana, Cuba. He won the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1987 Pan American Games and the former WBO Latino Heavyweight Champion.-Amateur:González compiled an Amateur Record of 220-13...

|TKO
|1
|07/11/1997
|align=left|

Alfred Cole

Al Cole

Alfred "Ice" Cole is a heavyweight boxer.Cole was a champion and a major force in the cruiserweight division prior to moving up to the heavyweight division, where he had less success....

|RTD
|10
|20/06/1997
|align=left|

Lionel Butler
|DQ
|4
|19/04/1997
|align=left|

Jeff Wooden
|SD
|10
|14/03/1997
|align=left|

Ray Anis
|UD
|10
|06/12/1996
|align=left|

Louis Monaco

Louis "The Facelifter" Monaco, is a professional boxer in the Heavyweight division and the former CAM Heavyweight Champion...

|TKO
|3
|06/10/1996
|align=left|

Ross Puritty

Ross Puritty is a retired heavyweight professional boxer. A high-level journeyman and occasional heavyweight contender, Puritty is best remembered for his shocking upset of Wladimir Klitschko in 1998 that won him the WBC international Heavyweight title.- Professional Boxing career :Purrity made...

|UD
|10
|21/07/1996
|align=left|

Ed Donaldson

-Amateur:As an amateur, Donaldson was a United States amateur Super Heavyweight champion in 1992.-Pro:Donaldson, a full time police officer, turned pro 1992 with first round knock out of Ben Green. His next fight he went the distance decisioning a tough Warren Williams whom sported a decent record...

|TKO
|3
|11/06/1996
|align=left|

Olian Alexander
|TKO
|4
|10/05/1996
|align=left|

Corey Sanders
|TKO
|2
|15/03/1996
|align=left|

Rick Sullivan
|TKO
|1
|30/01/1996
|align=left|

Bradley Rone
|UD
|6
|12/03/1996
|align=left|

Mike Dixon
|TKO
|6
|07/12/1995
|align=left|

Tim Noble
|TKO
|2
|10/11/1995
|align=left|

Stanley Wright
|TKO
|2
|22/09/1995
|align=left|

Lou Turchiarelli
|TKO
|1
|20/05/1995
|align=left|

Tyrone Dixon
|TKO
|1
|06/12/1994
|align=left|

Danny Wofford
|PTS
|8
|03/12/1994
|align=left|

Steve Edwards
|DQ
|5
|05/11/1994
|align=left|

John Basil Jackson
|UD
|4
|01/11/1994
|align=left|

Carlton Brown
|KO
|1
|22/10/1994
|align=left|

Ed Strickland
|KO
|1
|04/10/1994
|align=left|

Elvin Evans
|TKO
|6
|23/09/1994
|align=left|

Frankie Hines
|KO
|1
|06/09/1994
|align=left|

Jerome Jones
|TKO
|2
|07/08/1994
|align=left|

Ernest English
|TKO
|1
|21/07/1994
|align=left|

|align=left|
|-align=center