William Joppy

Last updated
William Joppy
Born
William Torelle Joppy

(1970-09-11) September 11, 1970 (age 54)
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Reach72+12 in (184 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights49
Wins40
Wins by KO30
Losses7
Draws2

William Torelle Joppy (born September 11, 1970) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2011, and held the WBA middleweight title three times between 1996 and 2003.

Contents

Professional career

Turning pro in 1993, Joppy built up a record of 21–0–1 (17 KO) before getting his first shot a world title.

WBA middleweight champion

Joppy won his first of two WBA middleweight titles in June 1996 by stopping defending champion Shinji Takehara in Japan with a flurry of punches in the ninth round. He then would make a couple defenses of his crown. However, on August 23, 1997, Joppy lost a decision to Julio César Green. Joppy's very next fight, on January 31 of the next year, saw him avenge that loss with a decision win by a wide margin. This fight won Joppy the WBA title for the second time. After recovering from a neck injury, Joppy stopped Green on cuts in the seventh round in a rubber match (Green had been the interim champion while Joppy recovered), and made a few more defenses, including a 3rd-round TKO of a 47-year-old Roberto Durán. [1]

Losing his title against Trinidad

Joppy lost the title a second time, however, on May 12, 2001, to Félix Trinidad in the middleweight unification tournament. [2] Joppy was knocked down in rounds one and four before finally being stopped in the fifth. He would credit Trinidad's power after the fight saying "I've never been hit like that before." [3]

Post title

After Bernard Hopkins beat Trinidad, Joppy had the chance to fight for the new WBA (Regular) belt. He claimed the title from British contender Howard Eastman in a close majority decision where he was knocked down by Eastman in the final few seconds.

On December 14, 2003, Joppy was stripped of his title following a challenge to undisputed champion Bernard Hopkins, losing by a wide points margin on all three judges' cards. A year later, Joppy lost another lopsided unanimous decision against Jermain Taylor.

Joppy returned as a Super Middleweight on July 29, 2005 knocking out journeyman Rashaan Blackburn in the third round. Joppy said then that he hoped to have one final title run as a Super Middleweight before retirement. After a string of five victories against lesser opponents, Joppy obtained a title fight against the new IBF champion Lucian Bute on February 29, 2008. Bute won by way of technical knockout in round 10 and Joppy retired after the bout, only to come back two years later.

Retirement

Following a close decision loss to Sebastien Demers in March 2010 Joppy announced his retirement from boxing, although it was not the first time that Joppy has announced that he is leaving the sport. [4] He returned to the ring later that year, fighting Baltimore native Cory Cummings to a draw, and subsequently defeated Cummings by unanimous decision in a 2011 rematch.

Professional boxing record

49 fights40 wins7 losses
By knockout303
By decision104
Draws2
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
49Win40–7–2Cory CummingsUD10Mar 12, 2011Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
48Loss39–7–2 Beibut Shumenov KO6 (12), 0:15Jan 8, 2011Sport Palace, Shymkent, KazakhstanFor WBA and IBA light heavyweight titles
47Draw39–6–2Cory CummingsMD10Nov 6, 2010 Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
46Loss39–6–1 Sébastien Demers MD10Mar 6, 2010 Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
45Loss39–5–1 Lucian Bute TKO10 (12), 1:08Feb 29, 2008 Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaFor IBF super middleweight title
44Win39–4–1Etianne WhitakerTKO1, 1:58Nov 16, 2007 Beauséjour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
43Win38–4–1Virgil McClendonRTD1 (10), 3:00Apr 27, 2007 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
42Win37–4–1Jonathan CornKO5 (10), 2:18Jul 8, 2006 Savvis Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
41Win36–4–1Eric HowardTKO5 (8), 2:12 Jan 7, 2006 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
40Win35–4–1Rashaan BlackburnTKO3 (8), 2:08Jul 29, 2005The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
39Loss34–4–1 Jermain Taylor UD12Dec 4, 2004 Barton Coliseum, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.For WBC Continental Americas middleweight title
38Loss34–3–1 Bernard Hopkins UD12 Dec 13, 2003 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles
37Win34–2–1Naotaka HozumiTKO10 (12), 2:48Oct 10, 2002 Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA (Regular) middleweight title
36Win33–2–1 Howard Eastman MD12 Nov 17, 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBA (Regular) middleweight title
35Loss32–2–1 Félix Trinidad TKO5 (12), 2:25 May 12, 2001 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBA middleweight title
34Win32–1–1 Jonathan Reid TKO4 (12), 2:43 Dec 2, 2000 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA middleweight title
33Win31–1–1 Hacine Cherifi UD12Sep 16, 2000MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA middleweight title
32Win30–1–1Rito RuvalcabaTKO1 (12), 1:53May 20, 2000 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.Retained WBA middleweight title
31Win29–1–1Fernando ZunigaUD10 Mar 3, 2000 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
30Win28–1–1 Julio César Green TKO7 (12), 1:52Sep 24, 1999 MCI Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.Retained WBA middleweight title
29Win27–1–1Napoleon PittTKO1 (10), 2:38Jul 24, 1999 Flamingo Hilton, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
28Win26–1–1 Roberto Durán TKO3 (12), 2:54 Aug 28, 1998 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA middleweight title
27Win25–1–1 Julio César Green UD12Jan 31, 1998 Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, U.S.Won WBA middleweight title
26Loss24–1–1 Julio César Green UD12Aug 23, 1997 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBA middleweight title
25Win24–0–1Peter VenancioUD12May 10, 1997 Coconut Grove Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA middleweight title
24Win23–0–1Ray McElroyTKO7 (12), 1:41Oct 19, 1996The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.Retained WBA middleweight title
23Win22–0–1 Shinji Takehara TKO9 (12), 2:29Jun 24, 1996 Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, JapanWon WBA middleweight title
22Win21–0–1Dave BooneTKO2 (10), 1:42Feb 10, 1996 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
21Win20–0–1Israel FigueroaKO1Dec 7, 1995The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
20Draw19–0–1Rodney ToneyMD12Sep 16, 1995 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For NABF middleweight title
19Win19–0Joaquin VelasquezPTS10Apr 29, 1995 USAir Arena, Landover, Maryland, U.S.
18Win18–0Tony McCrimmionKO3 (10), 2:02Mar 1, 1995 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
17Win17–0Tony CartelKO2Sep 20, 1994Washington, D.C., U.S.
16Win16–0Richard EvansPTS8Aug 13, 1994 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win15–0Miguel Angel HernandezKO3 (6), 1:08Jul 30, 1994 Silver Nugget, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
14Win14–0Carlos ChristiePTS6Jun 15, 1994 Elephant and Castle Shopping Center, London, England
13Win13–0Carl SullivanTKO4May 13, 1994The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
12Win12–0Muhammad ShabazzTKO5Apr 14, 1994 Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
11Win11–0Kenneth ParkerKO2Apr 8, 1994The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
10Win10–0Tony McCrimmionTKO2Feb 27, 1994 Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9Win9–0Robert HarrisKO1Feb 17, 1994The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
8Win8–0Willie TaylorTKO3Jan 7, 1994 The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
7Win7–0Tyrone HaywoodKO2Oct 21, 1993 Washington, D.C., U.S.
6Win6–0Ivory TeagueKO2Sep 25, 1993Prince George's Community College, Largo, Maryland, U.S.
5Win5–0George TaylorKO3Aug 13, 1993 Prince George's Community College, Largo, Maryland, U.S.
4Win4–0Tim TisdaleKO1Jun 18, 1993Total Sports Pavilion, Woodbridge, Virginia, U.S.
3Win3–0Shane MartinTKO3 (4), 2:29May 12, 1993 Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
2Win2–0Ken RuffinTKO1Apr 30, 1993Total Sports Pavilion, Woodbridge, Virginia, U.S.
1Win1–0Dwayne TennetUD4Feb 26, 1993 Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S.Professional debut

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References

  1. Duran suffers loss; Hopkins triumphs, Deseret News article, 1998-08-29, Retrieved on 2024-06-02
  2. Lena Williams (15 March 2001). "PLUS: BOXING; Middleweights Descend on Garden". New York Times. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. Associated Press (12 May 2001). "Trinidad unbeaten in 40 fights". espncdn.com. New York: ESPN. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  4. "Martin Cruz » fightnews.com".
Sporting positions
Minor world boxing titles
New title WBA (Regular) middleweight champion
November 17, 2001 – December 13, 2003
Lost bid for Super title
Vacant
Title next held by
Maselino Masoe
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by WBA middleweight champion
June 24, 1996 – August 23, 1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Julio César Green
WBA middleweight champion
January 31, 1998 – May 12, 2001
Succeeded by