Owen Beck (boxer)

Last updated

Owen LeFranc Beck
Born
Owen LeFranc Beck

(1976-05-31) 31 May 1976 (age 49)
Other namesWhat the Heck Beck
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Reach198.1 cm (78 in)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights42
Wins29
Wins by KO20
Losses13
Draws0

Owen LeFranc Beck (born 31 May 1976), nicknamed "What the Heck Beck", is a Jamaican former professional boxer who challenged for the WBA heavyweight title in 2006.

Contents

Amateur career

He had an amateur record of 73 wins and 5 losses. [1]

Professional career

Known as Owen "What the Heck" Beck, Beck began his career in 1998 by winning his first 24 fights, but all against limited opposition, the best being amateur star Derrell Dixon and undefeated Taurus Sykes.

This streak and a contract with Don King set up a WBC & IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator bout against heavyweight contender Monte Barrett in 2005, where Beck lost by technical knockout in the third round.

After his first defeat, Beck again lost to Ray Austin, but beat cruiserweight Darnell Wilson to set up a shot against the former WBA Heavyweight Title holder Nikolay Valuev. Valuev defeated Beck, dropping him twice and winning via TKO in the 3rd. After he fought Valuev he made a comeback and won the fight against Ricardo Arce via 2nd-round technical knockout and had another fight against Marvin Hunt and beat him via first-round knockout.

He took a 19-month break from boxing before returning to the ring in June 2009.

He fought Andrew Greeley and won the match by split decision on 13 June 2009.

He fought Jermell Barnes on 21 August 2009 in a fight which he won by unanimous decision with the scores of 79–73, 77–75 and 80–72 all in favor of Beck. Also in late 2009 Owen enlisted a new trainer Clinton Barnes.

On 16 January 2010, Beck fought Manuel Charr and lost by technical knockout in the tenth and final round with 16 seconds left on the clock.

On 16 April, Beck fought Tony Thompson in Memphis, Tennessee, and was knocked out at 2-minutes and 50-seconds of the 4th round.

Professional boxing record

42 fights29 wins13 losses
By knockout2010
By decision83
By disqualification10
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
42Loss29–13 Flag of Mexico.svg Ignacio Esparza MD1029 Oct 2016 Flag of Mexico.svg Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara
41Loss29–12 Flag of Russia.svg Oleg Maskaev TKO3 (10), 2:5930 Dec 2012 Flag of Russia.svg Sports Palace Quant, Moscow
40Loss29–11 Flag of the United States.svg Deontay Wilder RTD3 (8), 3:0023 Jun 2012 Flag of the United States.svg Killer Buzz Arena, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
39Loss29–10 Flag of Russia.svg Sergey Rozhnov UD48 Feb 2012 Flag of Russia.svg Krylia Sovetov, Moscow
38Loss29–9 Flag of Poland.svg Artur Szpilka RTD4 (6)15 Oct 2011 Flag of Poland.svg Spodek, Katowice
37Loss29–8 Flag of the United States.svg David Rodriguez KO3 (10), 2:0224 May 2011 Flag of the United States.svg Don Haskins Convention Center, El Paso, Texas For vacant WBC FECOMBOX heavyweight title.
36Loss29–7 Flag of the United States.svg Cedric Boswell KO9 (10), 2:297 Dec 2010 Flag of the United States.svg Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida For WBC Latino Heavyweight title.
35Loss29–6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alex Leapai TKO6 (10), 2:5012 Aug 2010 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Southport RSL Club, Southport
34Loss29–5 Flag of the United States.svg Tony Thompson TKO4 (10), 2:5016 Apr 2010 Flag of the United States.svg The New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee
33Loss29–4 Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Manuel Charr TKO10 (10), 2:449 Jan 2010 Flag of Germany.svg Bordelandhalle, Magdeburg
32Win29–3 Flag of the United States.svg Jermell BarnesUD821 Aug 2009 Flag of the United States.svg Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana
31Win28–3 Flag of the United States.svg Andrew GreeleySD813 Jun 2009 Flag of the United States.svg Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, Michigan
30Win27–3 Flag of the United States.svg Marvin HuntTKO1 (6), 2:278 Nov 2007 Flag of the United States.svg San Jose Fiesta, Nashville, Tennessee
29Win26–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Ricardo ArceTKO2 (10), 1:4028 Sep 2007 Flag of Mexico.svg Coliseo Olimpico de la UG, Guadalajara
28Loss25–3 Flag of Russia.svg Nikolai Valuev TKO3 (12), 2:443 Jun 2006 Flag of Germany.svg TUI Arena, Hanover For WBA heavyweight title
27Win25–2 Flag of the United States.svg Darnell Wilson UD8 7 Jan 2006 Flag of the United States.svg Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
26Loss24–2 Flag of the United States.svg Ray Austin SD123 Sep 2005 Flag of the United States.svg Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio For vacant WBC–USNBC heavyweight title
25Loss24–1 Flag of the United States.svg Monte Barrett TKO9 (12), 2:52 5 Feb 2005 Flag of the United States.svg Savvis Center, St. Louis, Missouri
24Win24–0 Flag of the United States.svg Troy WeidaTKO1 (10), 2:394 Sep 2004 Flag of the United States.svg Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
23Win23–0 Flag of the United States.svg Vernon WoodwardTKO2 (8)18 Jun 2004 Flag of the United States.svg Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, Louisiana
22Win22–0 Flag of the United States.svg Byron PolleyTKO1 (8), 2:43 15 May 2004 Flag of the United States.svg Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
21Win21–0 Flag of the United States.svg Daniel FrankTKO3 (10), 1:041 May 2004 Flag of the United States.svg Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida
20Win20–0 Flag of the United States.svg Scott ConnerDQ2 (8), 2:5715 Apr 2004 Flag of the United States.svg Airport Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas
19Win19–0 Flag of Brazil.svg George Arias UD1220 Sep 2003 Flag of the United States.svg Uncasville, Connecticut Won vacant WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight title
18Win18–0 Flag of the United States.svg Mike MiddletonTKO1 (10)4 Jan 2003 Flag of the United States.svg D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C.
17Win17–0 Flag of the United States.svg Craig TomlinsonTKO5 (10), 2:20 14 Dec 2002 Flag of the United States.svg Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
16Win16–0 Flag of Brazil.svg Rogério Lobo TKO4 (8), 1:2627 Jun 2002 Flag of the United States.svg Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
15Win15–0 Flag of the United States.svg Chavez FranciscoKO1 (8), 2:2830 Mar 2002 Flag of the United States.svg Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania
14Win14–0 Flag of the United States.svg Franklin EdmondsonTKO525 Oct 2001 Flag of the United States.svg South Carolina
13Win13–0 Flag of the United States.svg Roy BedwellKO29 Sep 2001 Flag of the United States.svg Fairgrounds Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
12Win12–0 Flag of the United States.svg Ron GulletteTKO228 Jun 2001 Flag of the United States.svg The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina
11Win11–0 Flag of the United States.svg Sean WilliamsTKO224 May 2001 Flag of the United States.svg The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina
10Win10–0 Flag of the United States.svg Ramon HayesTKO212 Apr 2001 Flag of the United States.svg Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, South Carolina
9Win9–0 Flag of the United States.svg David SmithTKO210 Mar 2001 Flag of the United States.svg Virginia
8Win8–0 Flag of the United States.svg Ken WilliamsTKO217 Feb 2001 Flag of the United States.svg Radisson Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina
7Win7–0 Flag of the United States.svg Taurus Sykes UD67 Oct 2000 Flag of the United States.svg Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut
6Win6–0 Flag of the United States.svg Rocky BentleyTKO514 Sep 2000 Flag of the United States.svg Nashville, Tennessee
5Win5–0 Flag of the United States.svg James HollyTKO226 Aug 2000 Flag of the United States.svg Gallatin, Tennessee
4Win4–0 Flag of the United States.svg Derrell Dixon UD425 May 2000 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi
3Win3–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lee Swaby PTS411 Dec 1999 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool
2Win2–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Simpkin PTS47 Aug 1999 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham
1Win1–0 Flag of the United States.svg Max KeyTKO112 Dec 1998 Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta, Georgia

References

  1. Knish, Joey (4 February 2005). "Heavyweight Boxing: Who the Heck is Owen Beck?". The Sweet Science. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
Vacant
Title last held by
Fres Oquendo
WBA Fedelatin heavyweight champion
20 September 2003 – 2003
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Taras Bidenko