Darrin Van Horn

Last updated
Darrin Van Horn
Born (1968-09-07) September 7, 1968 (age 55)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesSchoolboy
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach73 in (185 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights57
Wins54
Wins by KO30
Losses3

Darrin Van Horn (born September 7, 1968) is an American former professional boxer. He held the IBF Super Middleweight title from 1991 until 1992, as well as the IBF Junior Middleweight title in 1989.

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)03/08/1994Harlingen Garden, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
56Win53–3Ricky ThomasUD10 (10)15/12/1992 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
55Win52–3Rollin WilliamsUD10 (10)16/10/1992 Boise Centre, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
54Win51–3Bill BradleyRTD2 (10)29/09/1992 Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
53Win50–3 Martín Amarillas UD10 (10)04/09/1992 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
52Win49–3Nicky WalkerUD10 (10)30/06/1992 Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
51Loss48–3 Iran Barkley TKO2 (12)10/01/1992Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost IBF Super Middleweight Title
50Win48–2John JarvisKO3 (12)17/08/1991 Bren Events Center, Irvine, California, U.S.Retained IBF Super Middleweight Title
49Win47–2 Lindell Holmes KO11 (12)18/05/1991Palazzo Dello Sport, Verbania, ItalyWon IBF Super middleweight Title
48Win46–2Randy WilliamsUD10 (10)28/12/1990Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
47Loss45–2 Gianfranco Rosi UD12 (12)21/07/1990 Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Marino, ItalyFor IBF Junior middleweight Title
46Win45–1Jake TorrancePTS8 (8)14/04/1990 Loew's Hotel, Monte Carlo, Monaco
45Win44–1Ruben CortinaKO1 (?)02/03/1990Community Center, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
44Win43–1Salim MuhammadUD10 (10)09/10/1989Clarion Hotel Ballroom, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
43Win42–1Mike SacchettiPTS10 (10)25/09/1989Nogent-le-Phaye, France
42Win41–1Steve LangleyUD10 (10)13/09/1989 Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
41Loss40–1 Gianfranco Rosi UD12 (12)15/07/1989Trump Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Lost IBF Junior middleweight Title
40Win40–0 Robert Hines UD12 (12)05/02/1989 Trump Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won IBF Junior middleweight Title
39Win39–0Miguel Angel HernandezTKO5 (10)03/11/1988 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
38Win38–0Jake TorranceUD10 (10)20/09/1988 Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
37Win37–0Juan ElizondoKO3 (10)05/05/1988Fairgrounds, Louisville, U.S.
36Win36–0 John Munduga TKO7 (10)21/02/1988Hilton Hotel, Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.
35Win35–0Joe SummersUD10 (10)05/12/1987 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34Win34–0Juan Alonso VillaUD10 (10)17/10/1987 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
33Win33–0Norberto BuenoKO3 (10)17/09/1987 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
32Win32–0Greg TaylorUD8 (8)25/08/1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
31Win31–0 Luis Santana UD10 (10)21/06/1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
30Win30–0 Elio Díaz UD10 (10)20/04/1987Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
29Win29–0John MooreTKO6 (8)24/02/1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
28Win28–0Danny ThomasUD10 (10)13/01/1987Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
27Win27–0Sammy FloydUD10 (10)09/09/1986 Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
26Win26–0Keheven JohnsonKO8 (8)01/07/1986 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
25Win25–0Donald GwinnTKO5 (8)24/06/1986Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
24Win24–0David RamseyKO4 (?)15/04/1986Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
23Win23–0Norberto SabaterTKO2 (10)06/03/1986Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
22Win22–0Ed ModicueUD8 (8)21/01/1986Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
21Win21–0Reggie DixonPTS6 (6)15/10/1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
20Win20–0Javier MunizKO5 (?)02/10/1985Houma, Louisiana, U.S.
19Win19–0Pablo ValdezTKO4 (8)17/09/1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
18Win18–0Earl WhiteKO5 (?)06/09/1985VFW Hall, Terrytown, Louisiana, U.S.
17Win17–0Robert ManousKO3 (?)11/07/1985Sports Palace, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
16Win16–0Reggie DixonUD6 (6)26/06/1985Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
15Win15–0Alonzo StringfellowTKO1 (6)10/06/1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
14Win14–0John Wesley MortonSD6 (6)07/05/1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
13Win13–0Ronald PaigeKO1 (?)18/04/1985 Civic Center, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
12Win12–0James SandersKO4 (6)20/03/1985Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
11Win11–0Derrick EarvinSD4 (4)07/03/1985Convention Hall, Gadsden, Alabama, U.S.
10Win10–0Jessie HopkinsKO1 (4)04/03/1985Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
9Win9–0Jimmy MitchellTKO5 (?)21/02/1985Municipal Auditorium, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
8Win8–0David SevilleKO2 (?)08/02/1985Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
7Win7–0Mike FrenchTKO1 (?)16/01/1985Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
6Win6–0Jamie HobbsKO1 (?)18/12/1984Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
5Win5–0Rodney JonesTKO2 (?)04/12/1984St. Bernard Civic Center, Chalmette, Louisiana, U.S.
4Win4–0Pete LeeKO1 (6)29/11/1984Municipal Auditorium, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
3Win3–0Willie RimmerUD6 (6)20/11/1984Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
2Win2–0Richard MorrisTKO2 (?)13/11/1984Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
1Win1–0Leon KerlingerKO2 (?)02/09/1984New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

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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.
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by IBF junior middleweight champion
February 5, 1989 – July 15, 1989
Succeeded by
Preceded by IBF super middleweight champion
May 18, 1991 – January 10, 1992
Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by Youngest Junior Middleweight Champion
20

February 5, 1989 – present
Incumbent
Preceded by Youngest Super Middleweight Champion
22

May 18, 1991 – September 8, 2017
Succeeded by