Darrin Van Horn

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Darrin Van Horn
Personal information
Nickname
Schoolboy
Born (1968-09-07) September 7, 1968 (age 57)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight
Boxing career
Reach73 in (185 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights57
Wins54
Win by KO30
Losses3

Darrin Van Horn (born September 7, 1968) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1994. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior middleweight title in 1989, and the IBF super middleweight title from 1991 to 1992.

Contents

Professional boxing career

Van Horn boxed as an amateur for four years, winning Golden Gloves and Junior Olympic titles. With his father as his manager and trainer, he made his professional debut in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 2, 1984. Van Horn was just five days short of his 16th birthday.

Since Van Horn was still a high school student when he turned professional, he was given the nickname "Schoolboy." In 1986, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky, to attend the University of Kentucky where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Boxing with the letters "UK" on his trunks, the "Schoolboy" angle was played up heavily. [1]

He compiled a record of 38–0 before challenging for a world title. Van Horn, a 2:1 underdog, defeated Robert Hines by a 12-round unanimous decision to win the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship on February 5, 1989, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. [2] On July 15, 1989, Van Horn returned to Atlantic City to make his first title defense against Gianfranco Rosi, the former WBC Super Welterweight Champion. Rosi, a decided underdog, took the title by winning by a 12-round unanimous decision. [3]

After five consecutive wins, Van Horn had a rematch with Rosi in Italy on July 21, 1990. Although Van Horn fought better than he did in the first fight against Rosi, he was unable to regain the title. Rosi once again won by a 12-round unanimous decision. [4]

Van Horn moved up in weight and won the IBF Super Middleweight Championship with an 11th-round knockout of Lindell Holmes in Italy on May 18, 1991. In his first title defense, he scored a third-round knockout of mandatory challenger John Jarvis in Irvine, California, on August 17, 1991.

On January 10, 1992, Van Horn lost the title to Iran Barkley, the former WBC Middleweight Champion, by a second-round technical knockout in New York City. Barkley, a 2-1 underdog, wobbled Van Horn with a left hook early in the first round and floored him three times in the second.

In May 1992, Van Horn graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.< [5]

Van Horn was scheduled to face James Toney for the IBF Super Middleweight Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 29, 1993, but he pulled out of the fight after claiming a shoulder injury. The Boston Globe reported: "Sadly, word around boxing says his real problem has been near-constant headaches that recently forced him to stay in a darkened room for days at a time." The Van Horn camp denied that was true, but one fight figure was quoted as saying: "It would be child abuse for his father to put him back in the ring. When I was with him, he knew me and why I was there, but every 15 or 20 minutes he'd ask, 'Why are you guys here?' It's pretty sad."

Van Horn was scheduled to face Nigel Benn for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship in England on September 10, 1994, but the fight was called off. According to Boxing news, it was cancelled after Van Horn failed a brain scan. However, during an interview with Boxing news online in 2015, Van Horn said: "I never failed any scan, not ever. I have no idea where that came from. I fought a few times after the Barkley fight. Rumors and things come up, it's just ridiculous. I just became disenchanted with the sport. I said to myself I was going to step back for a while and get a few things done; like going back to college, and my intention was to come back to boxing. But I never did." [6]

Retirement

Van Horn won his final six fights. His last bout took place in Harlingen, Texas, on August 3, 1994. He defeated journeyman Willie Bell by a second-round technical knockout.

After retiring from boxing, Van Horn became a state trooper.

Professional boxing record

57 fights54 wins3 losses
By knockout301
By decision242
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
57Win54–3Willie BallTKO2 (10), 1:45Aug 3, 1994Harlingen Garden, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
56Win53–3Ricky ThomasUD10Dec 15, 1992 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
55Win52–3Rollin WilliamsUD10Oct 16, 1992 Boise Centre, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
54Win51–3Bill BradleyRTD2 (10), 3:00Sep 24, 1992 Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
53Win50–3 Martín Amarillas UD10Sep 4, 1992 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
52Win49–3Nicky WalkerUD10Jun 30, 1992 Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
51Loss48–3 Iran Barkley TKO2 (12), 1:33 Jan 10, 1992 Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost IBF super middleweight title
50Win48–2John JarvisKO3 (12), 1:11Aug 17, 1991 Bren Events Center, Irvine, California, U.S.Retained IBF super middleweight title
49Win47–2 Lindell Holmes KO11 (12), 1:49May 18, 1991Palazzo Dello Sport, Verbania, ItalyWon IBF super middleweight
48Win46–2Randy WilliamsUD10Dec 28, 1990Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
47Loss45–2 Gianfranco Rosi UD12Jul 21, 1990 Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Marino, ItalyFor IBF junior middleweight title
46Win45–1Jake TorrancePTS8Apr 14, 1990 Loew's Hotel, Monte Carlo, Monaco
45Win44–1Ruben CortinaKO1 (?), 2:45Mar 2, 1990Community Center, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
44Win43–1Salim MuhammadUD10Oct 9, 1989Clarion Hotel Ballroom, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
43Win42–1Mike SacchettiPTS10Sep 25, 1989Nogent-le-Phaye, France
42Win41–1Steve LangleyUD10Sep 13, 1989 Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
41Loss40–1 Gianfranco Rosi UD12Jul 15. 1989Trump Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Lost IBF junior middleweight title
40Win40–0 Robert Hines UD12Feb 5, 1989 Trump Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won IBF junior middleweight title
39Win39–0Miguel Angel HernandezTKO5 (10), 2:22Nov 3, 1988 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
38Win38–0Jake TorranceUD10Sep 20, 1988 Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
37Win37–0Juan ElizondoKO3 (10)May 5, 1988Fairgrounds, Louisville, U.S.
36Win36–0 John Munduga TKO7 (10), 2:12Feb 21, 1988Hilton Hotel, Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.
35Win35–0Joe SummersUD10 Dec 5, 1987 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34Win34–0Juan Alonso VillaUD10Oct 17, 1987 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
33Win33–0Norberto BuenoKO3 (10), 1:26Sep 17, 1987 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
32Win32–0Greg TaylorUD8Aug 25, 1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
31Win31–0 Luis Santana UD10Jun 21, 1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
30Win30–0 Elio Díaz UD10Apr 20, 1987Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
29Win29–0John MooreTKO6 (8), 2:46Feb 24, 1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
28Win28–0Danny ThomasUD10Jan 13, 1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
27Win27–0Sammy FloydUD10Sep 9, 1986 Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
26Win26–0Keheven JohnsonKO8 (8)Hil 1, 1986 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
25Win25–0Donald GwinnTKO5 (8), 2:45Jun 24, 1986Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
24Win24–0David RamseyKO4 (?)Apr 15. 1986Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
23Win23–0Norberto SabaterTKO2 (10), 2:00Mar 6, 1986Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
22Win22–0Ed ModicueUD8Jan 21, 1986Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
21Win21–0Reggie DixonPTS6Oct 15, 1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
20Win20–0Javier MunizKO5 (?)Oct 2, 1985Houma, Louisiana, U.S.
19Win19–0Pablo ValdezTKO4 (8)Sep 17, 1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
18Win18–0Earl WhiteKO5 (?)Sep 6, 1985VFW Hall, Terrytown, Louisiana, U.S.
17Win17–0Robert ManousKO3 (?)Jul 11, 1985Sports Palace, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
16Win16–0Reggie DixonUD6Jun 26, 1985Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
15Win15–0Alonzo StringfellowTKO1 (6), 1:10Jun 10, 1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
14Win14–0John Wesley MortonSD6May 7, 1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
13Win13–0Ronald PaigeKO1 (?)Apr 18, 1985 Civic Center, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
12Win12–0James SandersKO4 (6), 1:33Mar 20, 1985Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
11Win11–0Derrick EarvinSD4Mar 7, 1985Convention Hall, Gadsden, Alabama, U.S.
10Win10–0Jessie HopkinsKO1 (4)Mar 4, 1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
9Win9–0Jimmy MitchellTKO5 (?)Feb 12, 1985Municipal Auditorium, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
8Win8–0David SevilleKO2 (?)Feb 8, 1985Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
7Win7–0Mike FrenchTKO1 (?)Jan 16, 1985Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
6Win6–0Jamie HobbsKO1 (?)Dec 18, 1984Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
5Win5–0Rodney JonesTKO2 (?), 2:42Dec 4, 1984St. Bernard Civic Center, Chalmette, Louisiana, U.S.
4Win4–0Pete LeeKO1 (6), 1:14Nov 29, 1984Municipal Auditorium, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
3Win3–0Willie RimmerUD6Nov 20, 1984Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
2Win2–0Richard MorrisTKO2 (?)Nov 13, 1984Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
1Win1–0Leon KerlingerKO2 (?)Sep 2, 1984New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kentucky New Era, April 16, 1987
  2. ↑ Pittsburgh Press, February 6, 1989
  3. ↑ Gainesville Sun July 16, 1989
  4. ↑ Gadsden Times, July 22, 1990
  5. ↑ "Commentary Van Horns: boxing's 'pros and cons'". United Press International. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  6. ↑ "Darrin Van Horn reflects on the highs and lows of his two world title reigns". Boxing News. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
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