Derrick Jefferson boxer
- bouts
- 33
- won
- 28
- lost
- 4
- draw
- 1
- Status
- inactive
- Division
- heavyweight
- Debut
- 1995-06-19
- Height
- 6′ 6″/198cm
- Reach
- 82″/208cm
- Age
- -
- Born
- 1968-03-10
- Death
- -
- Nationality
- USA
Derrick Lavon Jefferson (born March 10, 1968) is an American former professional boxer. He challenged once for the WBO title in 2001, and is perhaps best remembered for his brutal left hook-knockout of Maurice Harris in 1999.Jefferson grew up in Detroit, Michigan, having attended Martin Luther King High School. In high school, Jefferson played basketball and football, and was a Division I basketball player during his college years. Jefferson dropped from college after being shot in the leg during an argument at a party store in November 1993, ending his basketball career. His brother Kenyatta, a football player, was shot in the head and ended up partially paralyzed.Jefferson took up boxing in 1994, after a coach of the local boxing gym, Claude Strickland, spotted him shooting hoops at YMCA. That same year, Jefferson won the National Golden Gloves super heavyweight championship, defeating Michael Grant on points (and handling Grant his only amateur loss) in semifinals, and DaVarryl Williamson by TKO in the final. Overall, Jefferson spent 1.5 years at amateur level, before turning professional in 1995.Jefferson made his professional boxing debut on 19 June 1995 against Ismail Muhammad, knocking him out in the first round. Within three years Jefferson had won 16 fights, winning all but two of them by knockout inside three rounds. Jefferson, at 6'6" and generally weighing 240 pounds, quickly rose to prominence by combining explosive power with furious combinations. In 1998, he faced his first formidable opponent Marion Wilson. With 11–27–3 record, Wilson was known for his durability and toughness, having never lost inside the distance and occasionally pulling upsets, such as wins over Corey Sanders and Paea Wolfgramm or split draw against Ray Mercer. Jefferson won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the bout 79–73 and one judge having a score 77–75.Having been described as a brawler and a fan friendly attraction, Jefferson became a frequently featured fighter on HBO. Jefferson then stepped up in competition, knocking out former world heavyweight title challenger Bert Cooper in the second round. Within two months, Jefferson faced once-highly regarded prospect Obed Sullivan. This was the first twelve-round fight in Jefferson's professional career. He won the fight by split decision, with the scorecards being 117–112, 117–113 in favor of Jefferson and 115–114 in favor of Sullivan.Six months later, Jefferson was scheduled to face Maurice Harris. Despite having 16–9–2 record, Harris was considered a formidable fighter, with Jim Lampley describing him as "the best 16–9 fighter out there". Harris' record included wins over then-undefeated David Izon and popular gatekeeper Jimmy Thunder and a split decision loss against faded Larry Holmes. Coming into the bout, Harris was on a seven-fight winning streak, which included a wide UD win over Jeremy Williams.
Date | Opponent | Last Opponents' Results | Place | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005-04-30 | DaVarryl Williamson | WLWWLW | Madison Square Garden, New York | LOST Technical knockout |
2004-11-27 | Ed White | LLLLLL | Riehle Brothers Pavilion, Lafayette | WIN Technical knockout |
2004-02-27 | Julius Long | WWWWLL | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia | WIN |
2002-09-21 | Sedreck Fields | LDWWLW | Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | WIN Split-decision |
2002-02-16 | Phil Jackson | WLLLLW | Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas | WIN Unanimous decision |
2001-11-23 | Eric Curry | WLLLL | Ramada Inn, Southfield | WIN KO |
2001-03-24 | Wladimir Klitschko | WWWWWW | Rudi Sedlmayer Halle, Munich | LOST Technical knockout |
2000-11-04 | Marcus Johnson | LLLLLD | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York | WIN Technical knockout |
2000-05-20 | Oleg Maskaev | WWWWWW | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City | LOST Technical knockout |
2000-01-15 | David Izon | WLWWWW | Radio City Music Hall, New York | LOST Technical knockout |
1999-11-06 | Maurice Harris | WWWWWW | Convention Hall, Atlantic City | WIN KO |
1999-09-10 | Melvin Foster | LLLWWL | Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant | WIN Technical knockout |
1999-05-20 | Obed Sullivan | WLWLLW | Grand Casino, Tunica | WIN Split-decision |
1999-03-04 | Bert Cooper | WLLLWL | Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant | WIN Technical knockout |
1999-01-07 | Marselles Brown | WWWWLW | Grand Casino, Tunica | DRAW |
1998-10-02 | Marion Wilson | WLLWLL | Civic Center, Lake Charles | WIN Unanimous decision |
1998-08-22 | Jeff Lally | LLWLDL | Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis | WIN Technical knockout |
1998-05-24 | Levi Billups | LLWLLL | The Palace, Auburn Hills | WIN Unanimous decision |
1998-04-21 | Clement Hassan | LLWWLW | Players Island Casino, Lake Charles | WIN KO |
1998-02-27 | Tui Toia | LLLLWL | UAW Hall, Parma | WIN Technical knockout |
1997-11-22 | Isaac Brown | LLLLLW | Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1997-10-07 | Lorenzo Boyd | LLWLLL | The Palace, Auburn Hills | WIN Technical knockout |
1997-08-21 | Brian Yates | LWLLLL | Harvey's Casino, Council Bluffs | WIN Unanimous decision |
1997-07-08 | Wendell Blount | debut | Incahoots, Indianapolis | WIN KO |
1997-04-26 | Ralph West | WWWWLW | Convention Center, Atlantic City | WIN KO |
1997-03-18 | Harold Johnson | LLLLLW | IMA Sports Arena, Flint | WIN KO |
1996-12-21 | Fred Peppers | LLLLLL | Beaumont Club, Kansas City | WIN KO |
1996-12-04 | Tom Jablonski | LD | Toledo | WIN KO |
1996-11-15 | Larry Fleming | LLLLLL | Fiesta Palace, Waukegan | WIN Technical knockout |
1996-10-08 | Terrence Holley | debut | IMA Sports Arena, Flint | WIN KO |
1995-10-23 | Robert Toyer | L | Great Western Forum, Inglewood | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-09-25 | Roberto Ramirez | L | Great Western Forum, Inglewood | WIN KO |
1995-06-19 | Ismail Muhammad | L | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles | WIN KO |