Charles Lamont Shufford, Jr. (born February 3, 1973) is an American former professional boxer. He challenged once for the WBO world heavyweight title in 2001.

Charles Shufford
Born
Charles Lamont Shufford, Jr.

(1973-02-03) February 3, 1973 (age 51)
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
Stanceorthodox
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins20
Wins by KO9
Losses8
Draws1
No contests0

Amateur career

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Charles Shufford, a nephew of former welterweight contender Horace Shufford, was considered a star of Las Vegas amateur boxing, frequently fighting at Golden Gloves tournaments and Olympic trials.[1][2] Shufford had 35 (?) amateur fights at super heavyweight (no exact record given), which included fights against Michael Grant (most notably in 1993)[3] and Lance Whitaker, famously beating Whitaker at 1996 Olympic trials, before turning professional in 1996.[4]

Professional career

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Shufford made his professional debut at November 11, 1996, defeating Kirk Holyfield by first-round TKO.[5] Within five years, Shufford compiled 17–1 record that included back-to-back wins over Jimmy Thunder by seventh-round TKO[6] and rising star Lamon Brewster via unanimous decision.[7]

These wins lined him up for a shot at the WBO world heavyweight title against Wladimir Klitschko. For the bout Shufford weighed in at 234 lbs., dropping 17 pounds compared to his last bout.[5] Shufford, having played George Foreman opposite Will Smith in the movie Ali, entered the ring with Smith by his side.[8] Shufford was knocked down three times, once in round two, once in round three (both times with a straight right hand) and in round six with a left hook, with referee stopping the bout after the third knockdown. According to punch stats, Klitschko landed 58 of 262 punches (22%) and Shufford connected on 16 of 190 (8%).[9]

After that, Shufford was not able to stay in the heavyweight title scene. He remained inactive for over a year before returning to the ring against Marcellus Brown, winning by unanimous decision. He then beat Elieser Castillo but lost to Lawrence Clay-Bey and Jameel McCline.[5] After losing to a rising star Samuel Peter by one-sided unanimous decision, Shufford was inactive for two years, and fought only sporadically since.[5] He went 0–2–1 in his last three fights with a draw against Kelvin Davis and losses to Malik Scott and Jason Estrada.[5]

Professional boxing record

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20 Wins (9 knockouts, 11 decisions), 8 Losses (2 knockouts, 6 decisions), 1 Draw [1]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 20-8-1   Jason Estrada UD 10 25/01/2008   Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.
Loss 20-7-1   Malik Scott UD 10 04/05/2007   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Draw 20-6-1   Kelvin Davis PTS 6 07/07/2006   Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S.
Loss 20-6   Samuel Peter UD 10 17/05/2004   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss 20-5   Gilbert Martinez SD 10 25/10/2003   Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
Win 20-4   Willie Chapman MD 10 12/07/2003   Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
Loss 19-4   Jameel McCline TKO 3 09/05/2003   Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 2:39 of the third round.
Loss 19-3   Lawrence Clay Bey UD 10 03/01/2003   Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Win 19-2   Elieser Castillo UD 12 13/10/2002   Choctaw, Mississippi, U.S. IBA Americas Heavyweight Title.
Win 18-2   Marcellus Brown UD 6 21/09/2002   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss 17-2   Wladimir Klitschko TKO 6 04/08/2001   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. WBO World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:55 of the sixth round. Shufford was knocked down thrice in the bout.
Win 17-1   Rodney McSwain TKO 5 17/06/2001   West Wendover, Utah, U.S.
Win 16-1   Lamon Brewster UD 10 21/10/2000   Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Win 15-1   Jimmy Thunder TKO 8 07/09/2000   Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Thunder failed to come out for the ninth round.
Win 14-1   Derrick Banks UD 10 05/05/2000   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss 13-1   Robert Davis UD 10 18/02/2000   Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win 13-0   Jeff Lally TKO 2 22/01/2000   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 0:55 of the second round.
Win 12-0   Anthony Moore UD 8 04/11/1999   Worley, Idaho, U.S.
Win 11-0   Bruce Bellocchi TKO 4 17/06/1999   Worley, Idaho, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of the fourth round.
Win 10-0   Louis Monaco UD 6 06/05/1999   Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Win 9-0   Terry Verners TKO 1 02/11/1998   Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 2:19 of the first round after Verners had been knocked down twice in the bout.
Win 8-0   Tui Toia KO 1 12/05/1998   Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Win 7-0   Derrick Ryals DQ 3 09/04/1998   Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Win 6-0   Felton Hamilton SD 6 19/12/1997   New York City, U.S.
Win 5-0   Thomas Allen KO 3 14/11/1997   Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Win 4-0   Anthony Curry UD 4 28/05/1997   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win 3-0   Roberto Ramirez TKO 2 29/04/1997   Tempe, Arizona, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 2:27 of the second round after Ramirez had been knocked down thrice in the bout.
Win 2-0   Willie Chapman UD 4 11/01/1997   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win 1-0   Kirk Holyfield TKO 1 30/11/1996   Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the first round.

Other

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Perhaps Shufford's most notable accomplishment has been outside of the ring, playing the role of George Foreman in the 2001 film Ali.

References

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  1. ^ "Boxing Wise Joe Mesi interview". Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Shufford steps up to main event". Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  3. ^ "1993 amateur boxing Shufford vs Grant". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Going for Green, Not Gold". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Professional boxing record: Charles Shufford". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Charles Shufford vs Jimmy Thunder". boxrec.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Charles Shufford vs Lamon Brewster". boxrec.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Photo: Will Smith in the ring cheering on Charles Shufford. The German boxer Wladimir Klitschko won the fight against Shufford. (Photo by Chris Farina/Corbis via Getty Images)". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Wladimir Klitschko vs. Charles Shufford". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
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