Friday Ahunanya

Last updated
Friday Ahunanya
Statistics
Real nameFriday Chinedu Ahunanya
Nickname(s)The 13th
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
NationalityNigerian
Born (1971-11-19) 19 November 1971 (age 51)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights36
Wins24
Wins by KO13
Losses8
Draws3
No contests1

Friday Chinedu Ahunanya (born 19 November 1971) is a Nigerian professional boxer. [1] He is a journeyman heavyweight, best known for beating several undefeated prospects and for his appearances on ESPN fight cards.

Contents

Amateur career

Professional career

Known as Friday "The 13th," Ahunanya began his career in 1998 with a good deal of promise, winning his first 16 fights including a victory over undefeated (16-0-1) Nate Jones. In 2001 he lost a decision to undefeated (15-0) Olympian and future titlist Serguei Lyakhovich. In 2002, he handed French Olympian Josue Blocus his first loss.

In 2004, he had his only early loss when hit in the eye in the 4th round by Lance Whitaker. The loss to Whitaker was the beginning of the decline for Ahunanya. He went on to lose to Taurus Sykes in New Mexico, who was not highly regarded in spite of his 22-1-1 record in 2005, arguably the low point of his career.

He then drew with fringe contender Dominick Guinn, and then was competitive in losing efforts against undefeated prospects Sultan Ibragimov (Olympic silver medalist) and Alexander Povetkin (Olympic Gold medalist).

In 2007 he rebounded by handing 19-0 New Zealand prospect Shane Cameron his first loss by knocking him down twice in the 12th and final round. After the second knockdown, the referee intervened and stopped the contest, earning Ahunanya a TKO victory. In 2008 he stopped another undefeated prospect in Alonzo Butler.

Ahunanya lost to David Tua in March 2010 in New Zealand via decision. However Ahunanya and his manager claimed he should have won, and would have if the fight had been in the USA. After further review it was obvious that David Tua won the fight by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

24 Wins (13 knockouts, 11 decisions), 9 Losses (1 knockout, 8 decisions), 3 Draws [2]
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Loss17-0 Flag of Cuba.svg Mike Perez UD1030/12/2011 Flag of the United States.svg Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California
Loss32-2 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Arreola UD1009/07/2011 Flag of the United States.svg Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss23-17-2 Flag of Mali.svg Cisse SalifUD624/05/2011 Flag of the United States.svg Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California
Loss50-3-1 Flag of New Zealand.svg David Tua UD1231/03/2010 Flag of New Zealand.svg Trusts Stadium, Auckland WBO Asia Pacific/Oriental Heavyweight Titles.
Win26-0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Alonzo Butler UD1020/06/2008 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win19-0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Shane Cameron TKO1202/11/2007 Flag of New Zealand.svg Skycity Convention Centre, Auckland PABA/WBO Asia Pacific/WBA NABA Heavyweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 2:14 of the 12th round.
Draw7-1 Flag of the United States.svg Franklin LawrenceSD806/07/2007 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win21-9-2 Flag of the United States.svg James WaltonTKO215/06/2007 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada Referee stopped the bout at 2:50 of the second round.
Win15-23-1 Flag of the United States.svg Ramon HayesUD627/04/2007 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss6-0 Flag of Russia.svg Alexander Povetkin UD6 22/04/2006 Flag of Germany.svg SAP Arena, Mannheim
Loss17-0 Flag of Russia.svg Sultan Ibragimov TD916/09/2005 Flag of the United States.svg Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Georgia WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight Title.
Draw25-2 Flag of the United States.svg Dominick Guinn PTS1022/04/2005 Flag of the United States.svg Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss22-1-1 Flag of the United States.svg Taurus Sykes UD1211/03/2005 Flag of the United States.svg Lea County Events Center, Hobbs, New Mexico WBA NABA Heavyweight Title.
Loss27-2-1 Flag of the United States.svg Lance Whitaker TKO517/04/2004 Flag of the United States.svg Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, Florida WBO NABO/WBA NABA Heavyweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 0:42 of the fifth round.
Win28-15 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas WilliamsKO405/12/2003 Flag of the United States.svg Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida Williams knocked out at 1:34 of the fourth round.
Win15-17 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Onebo MaximeUD1023/08/2003 Flag of the United States.svg Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida
Win12-3-1 Flag of Brazil.svg Francisco Daniel SilvaTKO128/06/2003 Flag of the United States.svg Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida Referee stopped the bout at 1:13 of the first round.
Draw32-12 Flag of the United States.svg Terrence LewisPTS1028/02/2003 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win12-0 Flag of France.svg Josue Blocus SD10 01/06/2002 Flag of the United States.svg Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss15-0 Flag of Belarus.svg Siarhei Liakhovich UD12 17/11/2001 Flag of the United States.svg Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada WBA NABA Heavyweight Title.
Win6-8-2 Flag of the United States.svg James V. LesterTKO130/06/2001 Flag of the United States.svg Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada Referee stopped the bout at 2:28 of the first round.
Win16-0-1 Flag of the United States.svg Nate Jones SD12 03/03/2001 Flag of the United States.svg Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada WBA NABA Heavyweight Title.
Win11-5-1 Flag of the United States.svg Otis TisdaleUD828/11/2000 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win3-2-1 Flag of the United States.svg Ivy CalvinKO526/10/2000 Flag of the United States.svg Hollywood Park Racetrack, Inglewood, California Calvin knocked out at 1:06 of the fifth round.
Win11-1 Flag of the United States.svg Derrell Dixon PTS816/09/2000 Flag of the United States.svg MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win13-25-8 Flag of the United States.svg Wesley MartinTKO811/08/2000 Flag of the United States.svg Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win8-6-3 Flag of Mexico.svg Agustin CorpusTKO301/04/2000 Flag of the United States.svg The Regent, Las Vegas, Nevada Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the third round.
Win4-2-1 Flag of the United States.svg Donald MaconTKO103/03/2000 Flag of the United States.svg Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Referee stopped the bout at 1:40 of the first round.
Win-- Flag of Mexico.svg Juan Carlos MaldonadoTKO112/02/1999 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada Referee stopped the bout at 1:51 of the first round.
Win4-5-1 Flag of the United States.svg Willie ChapmanUD620/11/1998 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win3-2-1 Flag of the United States.svg James V. LesterPTS631/07/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada
Win--Tahavalu SamiuKO311/07/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Reno Hilton Casino Resort, Reno, Nevada
Win-- Flag of the United States.svg Joe L. GrayUD415/05/1998 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win1-0 Flag of the United States.svg Darrell MorganPTS409/04/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Phoenix, Arizona
Win6-0 Flag of the United States.svg Shane William HeavyrunnerTKO420/03/1998 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada Referee stopped the bout at 2:22 of the fourth round.
Win-- Flag of the United States.svg Larry WilsonTKO127/02/1998 Flag of the United States.svg The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada Referee stopped the bout at 1:18 of the first round.

Related Research Articles

Julio César González Ibarra was a Mexican professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2011, and held the WBO and lineal light heavyweight titles from 2003 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Tua</span> New Zealand boxer

Faumuina To'aletai Mafaufau David Tua, best known as David Tua, is a Samoan-New Zealand former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2013. A highly ranked heavyweight contender for most of his career, Tua was known for his formidable punching power, especially in his devastating left hook. He scored sixteen wins by knockout in the first round, which included knockouts of world heavyweight champions John Ruiz and Michael Moorer within thirty seconds of the first round, as well as late stoppages of world champions Oleg Maskaev and Hasim Rahman. He was ranked by BoxRec in the world's top 10 heavyweights from 1996 to 2003, reaching his highest ranking of No.3 in 1998. Tua ended his career with a knockout-to-win ratio of 82.6%. In a 2003 article by The Ring magazine, Tua was ranked 48th on a list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Michael Sprott is a British former professional boxer. He held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles in 2004 and the EBU European Union heavyweight title twice between 2005 and 2007. He was the winner of the 14th Prizefighter series.

Christopher Cornelius Byrd is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2009. He is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having first won the WBO title in 2000 after an upset corner stoppage over then-undefeated Vitali Klitschko. In his first title defense later that year, he lost to Vitali's brother Wladimir Klitschko. In 2002, Byrd defeated Evander Holyfield to win the IBF heavyweight title for his second reign as world champion. He made four successful defenses until losing his title again to Wladimir Klitschko in a 2006 rematch. He was ranked by BoxRec as the world's top 10 heavyweight from 1996 to 2003, reaching his highest ranking of No.4 in 1998.

DaVarryl Jerome Williamson is an American former professional boxer. A highly-touted amateur, he challenged once for the IBF world heavyweight title in 2005.

Tony Tubbs is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2006, and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1985 to 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francois Botha</span> South African boxer

Francois "Frans" Botha is a South African former professional boxer and kickboxer. He competed in boxing from 1990 to 2014, and is perhaps best known for winning the IBF heavyweight title against Axel Schulz in 1995, but was later stripped after failing a drug test. He later challenged twice for world heavyweight titles in 2000 and 2002. Botha has competed against former Heavyweight Champions Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Michael Moorer and Evander Holyfield late in their respective careers. Botha participated once in mixed martial arts in 2004.

Dominick Alexander Guinn is an American professional boxer. He is self-managed and he is trained by Ronnie Shields and Alexander Gutierrez. He stands at 6'3" tall.

Sultan-Ahmed Magomedsalihovich Ibragimov is a Russian former professional boxer of Dagestani descent. He competed from 2002 to 2008, and held the WBO world heavyweight title from 2007 to 2008. He was ranked by BoxRec as the world's seventh best active heavyweight in 2005 and 2006, and sixth in 2007 and 2008. As an amateur he won silver medals at the 2000 Olympics and 2000 European Championships, and bronze at the 2001 World Championships, all in the heavyweight division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Barrett</span> American boxer

Monte Barrett is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2014. He challenged once for the WBA heavyweight title in 2006, and fought many top heavyweight champions and contenders during his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Cole</span> American boxer

Alfred Rudolph Cole, best known as Al Cole, is an American former professional boxer. He won the IBF cruiserweight title and was a major force in the division until moving up to heavyweight, where he had less success. In 2001, Cole portrayed boxer Ernie Terrell in the film Ali.

Nathaniel Henry "Nate" Jones is an American former Olympic and professional boxer. Nicknamed "The Snake", Jones won the National Golden Gloves 1994 and 1995 and the Heavyweight bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Obed Benjamin Sullivan is an American former professional boxer. Nicknamed "The Fighting Marine", Sullivan was at times a highly ranked heavyweight who fought many significant fighters of his era.

Darroll Lamont Wilson is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2006. He is best known for his gutsy performances against some of the best fighters of his day, and his upset third-round TKO win over Shannon Briggs. He also beat contenders James Pritchard and Bert Cooper.

Kevin VladimirovichJohnson is a Russian and American professional boxer. He has challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title in 2009. He holds notable wins over former world champions Bruce Seldon and Yoan Pablo Hernández.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Arreola</span> American boxer

Cristobal Arreola is an American professional boxer who has challenged three times for the WBC heavyweight title. He was ranked by BoxRec as the world's No.8 heavyweight at the conclusion of 2007 and as No.7 heavyweight from 2008 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breidis Prescott</span> Colombian boxer

Breidis Enrique Prescott Consuegra is a Colombian professional boxer. In his early career he had a reputation as a formidable puncher, winning 18 of his first 20 fights by knockout. In 2008, Prescott first became known on the world stage when he upset heavily favoured and then-undefeated Olympian Amir Khan, which gave rise to Prescott's nickname of "The Khanqueror". His younger brother Daulis Prescott is also a professional boxer.

Uaine Fa Junior is a New Zealand professional boxer. As an amateur he represented Tonga at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the super-heavyweight division; he also represented Tonga at the Oceania Championships, winning gold and multiple silver medals. His knockout-to-win percentage stands at 53%.

Arturo Leon is a Mexican-American former boxer from Arizona, United States. He was a junior lightweight who once challenged Alexis Arguello for the Nicaraguan's World Boxing Council's world Junior Lightweight title, losing by 15 round unanimous decision.

Demetrice King is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2011. He holds a notable win over future world heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne.

References

  1. "Cris Arreola unsatisfied against Friday Ahunanya, but wins big". ESPN.com. July 10, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  2. "BoxRec". boxrec.com.