Joe Hipp

Last updated
Joe Hipp
Born (1962-12-07) December 7, 1962 (age 61)
Browning, Montana
Other namesThe Boss
Residence Yakima, Washington
Nationality American Blackfeet Nation
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight105.0 kg (231.5 lb; 16.53 st)
Division Heavyweight
Reach73 in (185 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Years active18 (1987-2005)
Professional boxing record
Total50
Wins43
By knockout29
Losses7
By knockout6
Amateur boxing record
Total128
Wins119
Losses9
Other information
OccupationAll Nations Foundation, founder
Notable school(s) A.C. Davis High School
Boxing record from BoxRec
Last updated on: October 17, 2009

Joe "The Boss" Hipp (born December 7, 1962) is a retired professional American heavyweight boxer. A member of the Blackfeet Tribe, he became the first Native American to challenge for a world heavyweight boxing championship on August 19, 1995 when he fought WBA champion Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. In May 2009, he was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame.

Contents

Professional career

Hipp began his professional career with a 4-round decision over Steve Cortez at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene, Oregon on August 29, 1987. For his second fight 2 months later, Hipp travelled to Carson City, Nevada to face Utah native Veti Katoa. The fight was stopped by the ringside doctor after Hipp suffered a broken jaw in the third round.

Hipp rebounded successfully from the defeat by notching 3 consecutive first-round knockout victories before facing Katoa in a rematch at Gardnerville Park in Gardnerville, Nevada on July 2, 1988. Hipp dominated the action on the inside with his hard-hitting, banging style to take a 5-round unanimous decision.

Hipp then took a year-long hiatus from boxing before returning to face Andrew Matthews on the 4th of July of the following year. Outweighing his opponent by over 30 pounds, Hipp punched his way to a first-round stoppage. Exactly two weeks later, Hipp scored a unanimous four-round decision over up-and-coming contender Cleveland Woods in what Ring Magazine referred to as "...the upset of the night" on the card for that evening.

Hipp began another winning streak (including a brutal third-round knockout of Katoa in their third and final meeting) before facing Bert Cooper in Cooper's final bout prior to his fight with Evander Holyfield for the world title one month later. Cooper outslugged Hipp en route to a fifth-round stoppage by referee Joe Cortez.

Hipp again rebounded by winning 3 consecutive contests before facing Tommy Morrison on June 27, 1992 in Reno, Nevada. In a slugfest that saw Morrison break his jaw and one of his hands, Hipp lost by a 9th-round TKO, resulting in broken cheekbones for Hipp. After recovering from his injuries, Hipp fought once in 1993, earning a victory with a ten-round decision in a rematch with Kevin Ford.

Hipp began 1994 with a victory over Alex Garcia for the fringe NABF heavyweight title and finished the year with two more wins. He began the following year by continuing his winning ways with a third-round TKO of journeyman Phillip Brown. This win would lead to Hipp's most important bout, the fight that would land him in the history books as the first Native American to challenge for one of the four recognized heavyweight title belts.

WBA Heavyweight Title Bout

On August 19, 1995 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on the undercard of the infamous Mike Tyson v. Peter McNeeley fight (Tyson's first fight after being released from prison for rape), Hipp squared off against Bruce Seldon for the WBA Heavyweight championship. With Seldon well ahead on all scorecards, the fight was stopped in the tenth round by referee Richard Steele after Hipp experienced massive swelling and bleeding on his face.

Career Decline

Hipp's career was rather undistinguished afterwards. He fired off a series of victories over third-rate competition before being knocked out by hard-hitting journeyman Ross Puritty on June 15, 1997. Hipp had secured a comfortable lead on the scorecards before Puritty came out swinging for the tenth and final round of their bout. An exhausted Hipp was no match for Puritty in the last round and he suffered his first KO defeat. Hipp racked up three consecutive victories against nondescript competition after the Puritty fight, but then blew out his knee against Jeff Pegues in a fifth-round TKO loss on December 9, 1999.

He attempted a comeback four years later, but that came to an abrupt end in his second fight as he dropped a six-round decision to journeyman Billy Zumbrun on November 14, 2003.

Hipp, referred to as "The Boss" by his loyal fans, returned from another extended layoff to win a six-round decision over Ted Reiter on August 13, 2005, in what was his final fight.

Professional boxing record

43 Wins (29 knockouts, 14 decisions), 7 Losses (6 knockouts, 1 decision) [1]
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Win43-7 Flag of the United States.svg Ted ReiterMD613/08/2005 Flag of the United States.svg Lewiston, Idaho, U.S.
Loss42-7 Flag of the United States.svg Billy ZumbrunMD614/11/2003 Flag of the United States.svg Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Win42-6 Flag of the United States.svg Chris BrownKO222/08/2003 Flag of the United States.svg Spokane, Washington, U.S.Brown knocked out at 2:37 of the second round.
Loss41-6 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff PeguesTKO509/12/1999 Flag of the United States.svg Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.Hipp suffered a severe knee injury during the fight causing a stoppage.
Win41-5 Flag of the United States.svg Everett MartinUD1225/06/1999 Flag of the United States.svg Saint Charles, Missouri, U.S.WBF World heavyweight title.
Win40-5 Flag of the United States.svg Jack BastingUD1027/03/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Win39-5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg George McFallTKO211/02/1998 Flag of the United States.svg Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Loss38-5 Flag of the United States.svg Ross Puritty KO1015/06/1997 Flag of the United States.svg Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
Win38-4 Flag of the United States.svg Marcus RhodeTKO129/03/1997 Flag of the United States.svg Bellevue, Washington, U.S.
Win37-4 Flag of the United States.svg Lorenzo BoydKO110/03/1997 Flag of the United States.svg Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.Boyd knocked out at 2:45 of the first round.
Win36-4 Flag of the United States.svg Will HintonTKO113/12/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Tacoma, Washington, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 1:30 of the first round.
Win35-4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Troy RobertsKO205/10/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Win34-4 Flag of the United States.svg Fred HoupeTKO123/09/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Bellevue, Washington, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 1:55 of the first round.
Win33-4 Flag of the United States.svg Bill CorriganKO104/08/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Sequim, Washington, U.S.Corrigan knocked out at 1:39 of the first round.
Win32-4 Flag of the United States.svg Anthony MooreTKO517/07/1996 Flag of the United States.svg Worley, Idaho, U.S.Western States heavyweight title.
Win31-4 Flag of Mexico.svg Martin JacquesTKO115/12/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Loss30-4 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Seldon TKO10 19/08/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. WBA World heavyweight title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:47 of the tenth round.
Win30-3 Flag of the United States.svg Philipp BrownTKO317/04/1995 Flag of the United States.svg Moline, Illinois, U.S.
Win29-3 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Rodolfo MarinSD1001/11/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win28-3 Flag of Cuba.svg José Ribalta KO210/05/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S. NABF heavyweight title. Ribalta knocked out at 1:53 of the second round.
Win27-3 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Garcia UD1201/03/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.NABF heavyweight title.
Win26-3 Flag of the United States.svg Keith McMurrayKO414/01/1994 Flag of the United States.svg Saint George, Utah, U.S.McMurray knocked out at 2:52 of the fourth round.
Win25-3 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Ford UD1003/04/1993 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss24-3 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Morrison TKO927/06/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Reno, Nevada, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 2:47 of the ninth round.
Win24-2 Flag of the United States.svg Jesse ShelbyUD1028/02/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win23-2 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Ford UD801/02/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win22-2 Flag of the United States.svg John MortonKO305/01/1992 Flag of the United States.svg Reno, Nevada, U.S.Morton knocked out at 3:00 of the third round.
Loss21-2 Flag of the United States.svg Bert Cooper TKO518/10/1991 Flag of the United States.svg Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 1:01 of the fifth round.
Win21-1 Flag of the United States.svg Cleveland WoodsKO115/07/1991 Flag of the United States.svg Irvine, California, U.S.Woods knocked out at 0:27 of the first round.
Win20-1 Flag of the United States.svg Bill DuncanKO102/07/1991 Flag of the United States.svg Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Win19-1 Flag of the United States.svg David Bey TKO726/02/1991 Flag of the United States.svg Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 1:07 of the seventh round.
Win18-1 Flag of the United States.svg Mike CohenKO414/01/1991 Flag of the United States.svg Fife, Washington, U.S.World Boxing Foundation (WBFo) Intercontinental heavyweight title. Cohen knocked out at 2:30 of the fourth round.
Win17-1 Flag of the United States.svg Richard CadeKO216/11/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Fort Lewis, Washington, U.S.Cade knocked out at 0:52 of the second round.
Win16-1 Flag of the United States.svg Harry TerrellKO211/09/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Fife, Washington, U.S.Terrell knocked out at 2:14 of the second round.
Win15-1 Flag of Mexico.svg Gerardo ValeroKO126/07/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Yakima, Washington, U.S.Valero knocked out at 3:04 of the first round.
Win14-1 Flag of the United States.svg Tracy ThomasUD1012/06/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Win13-1 Flag of the United States.svg Danny WoffordPTS624/04/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Reseda, California, U.S.
Win12-1 Flag of the United States.svg Veti KatoaKO316/03/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Butte, Montana, U.S.
Win11-1 Flag of the United States.svg Dan RossKO112/02/1990 Flag of the United States.svg Butte, Montana, U.S.Ross knocked out at 2:09 of the first round.
Win10-1 Flag of the United States.svg Marvin Camel TKO602/12/1989 Flag of the United States.svg Lacey, Washington, U.S.
Win9-1 Flag of the United States.svg Sean McClainTKO426/09/1989 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win8-1 Flag of the United States.svg Shaun AyersUD1026/08/1989 Flag of the United States.svg Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
Win7-1 Flag of the United States.svg Cleveland WoodsUD418/07/1989 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win6-1 Flag of the United States.svg Andrew MatthewsTKO104/07/1989 Flag of the United States.svg Gardnerville, Nevada, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 0:34 of the first round.
Win5-1 Flag of the United States.svg Veti KotoaUD502/07/1988 Flag of the United States.svg Gardnerville, Nevada, U.S.
Win4-1 Flag of the United States.svg Steve CortezTKO118/06/1988 Flag of the United States.svg Vancouver, Washington, U.S.
Win3-1 Flag of the United States.svg Paul BradshawTKO104/06/1988 Flag of the United States.svg Albany, Oregon, U.S.
Win2-1 Flag of the United States.svg John ElkinsTKO102/06/1988 Flag of the United States.svg Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Loss1-1 Flag of the United States.svg Veti KatoaTKO324/10/1987 Flag of the United States.svg Carson City, Nevada, U.S.
Win1-0 Flag of the United States.svg Steve CortezUD429/08/1987 Flag of the United States.svg Eugene, Oregon, U.S.

Outside the Ring

In 2004, Rocky Mountain College and the Billings Writer's Voice sponsored a poetry reading held by various Native American groups in tribute to Hipp.

In December 2005, Hipp was a FEMA worker for the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Responding to the call, he joined his fellow Blackfeet members who were called upon due to their experience in wildfires and search and rescue missions.

By 2007 Hipp was working for his former manager Ray Frye at a Seattle area sweeping company. He also co-owned a small construction company.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evander Holyfield</span> American boxer (born 1962)

Evander Holyfield is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2011. He reigned as the undisputed champion at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and at heavyweight in the early 1990s, and is the only boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes in the three belt era. Nicknamed "the Real Deal", Holyfield is the only four-time world heavyweight champion, having held the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF titles from 1990 to 1992, the WBA and IBF titles again from 1993 to 1994, the WBA title a third time from 1996 to 1999; the IBF title a third time from 1997 to 1999 and the WBA title for a fourth time from 2000 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Moorer</span> American boxer

Michael Lee Moorer is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2008. He won a world championship on four occasions in two weight classes, having held the WBO light heavyweight title from 1988 to 1991; compiling 22 straight KOs in 22 fights and the WBO heavyweight title from 1992 to 1993; the unified WBA, IBF and lineal heavyweight titles in 1994; and regained the IBF heavyweight title again from 1996 to 1997 becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion.

Tony Craig Tucker is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 1998. He won the IBF heavyweight title in 1987, and was the shortest-reigning world heavyweight champion at just 64 days. In an interview with Barry Tompkins, he referred to himself as the "invisible champion," due to the press and general public largely neglecting him. He is best known for giving Mike Tyson in his prime a relatively close fight, in which he, in the words of Larry Merchant, "rocked Tyson" in the first round. However, Tyson went on to win a unanimous decision. As an amateur, he won the 1979 United States national championships, the 1979 World Cup, and a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games, all in the light heavyweight division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hasim Rahman</span> American boxer

Hasim Sharif Rahman is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2014. He is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having held the unified WBC, IBF, IBO and lineal titles in 2001; and the WBC title again from 2005 to 2006. He was ranked as a top 10 heavyweight by BoxRec from 2000 to 2007, and reached his highest ranking of world No.6 in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Bugner</span> Hungarian-born British-Australian boxer and actor

József Kreul Bugner is a former heavyweight professional boxer and actor. He holds triple nationality, being a citizen of Hungary and a naturalised citizen of both Australia and the United Kingdom. He unsuccessfully challenged Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship in 1975, losing by a unanimous decision. As an actor, he is best known for his role in the 1994 action film Street Fighter alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Toney</span> American boxer (born 1968)

James Nathaniel Toney is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2017. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF and lineal middleweight titles from 1991 to 1993, the IBF super middleweight title from 1993 to 1994, and the IBF cruiserweight title in 2003. Toney also challenged twice for a world heavyweight title in 2005 and 2006, and was victorious the first time but was later stripped due to a failed drug test. Overall, he competed in fifteen world title fights across four weight classes.

Kirk Cyron Johnson is a Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2010, and challenged once for the WBA heavyweight title in 2002.

Alexander Viktorovych "Sascha" Dimitrenko is a Ukrainian-born German former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2019, and held the European heavyweight title from 2010 to 2011.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Seldon</span> American boxer

Bruce Samuel Seldon is an American former professional boxer and current boxing trainer, who competed from 1988 to 1996, and 2004 to 2009. He held the WBA heavyweight title from 1995 to 1996, most notably losing to Mike Tyson via knockout in his second defense.

Fres Oquendo is a Puerto Rican professional heavyweight boxer. He had a successful amateur record before turning professional in 1997. He has challenged three times for world heavyweight titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield</span> Boxing competition

Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield, billed as Finally, was a professional boxing match fought between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson for the WBA heavyweight championship on November 9, 1996, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada. The bout was Tyson's first defence of the WBA title that he had won from Bruce Seldon on September 7 of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francesco Pianeta</span> Italian boxer

Francesco Pianeta is an Italian former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2018. He challenged for the unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and The Ring heavyweight championship in 2013, the WBA (Regular) title in 2015, and in his final fight for the Lineal heavyweight championship in 2018. At regional level, he held the European Union heavyweight title from 2008 to 2009.

Ross Puritty is an American former professional boxer. A high-level journeyman and occasional heavyweight contender, Puritty is best remembered for his shocking upset of Wladimir Klitschko in 1998 that won him the WBC international Heavyweight title, as well as for fighting former World Boxing Organization's world Heavyweight champion, Tommy Morrison, to a draw. He also holds fairly notable victories over former world title challengers Jorge Luis Gonzalez and Joe Hipp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley</span> Boxing competition

Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley, billed as He's Back, was a professional boxing match contested on August 19, 1995. The match marked the return of Mike Tyson to professional boxing after over four years away due to his 1991 arrest and subsequent conviction for rape in 1992 which led to Tyson serving three years in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe</span> Boxing competition

Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe was a professional boxing match that took place on November 13, 1992 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was contested for the undisputed world heavyweight championship, which consisted of the WBA, WBC, and IBF championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield III</span> 1995 boxing match

Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield III, billed as "The Final Chapter", was a professional boxing match contested on November 4, 1995. The non-title match marked the third and final fight in the Bowe–Holyfield trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson</span> Boxing competition

Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson, billed as Liberation, was a professional boxing match fought on September 7, 1996 for the WBA heavyweight championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riddick Bowe vs. Michael Dokes</span> 1993 boxing match

Riddick Bowe vs. Michael Dokes, billed as The Homecoming, was a professional boxing match contested on February 6, 1993 for the WBA and IBF heavyweight championships. The fight emanated from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes</span> Boxing competition, April 1995

Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes, billed as "Burden of Proof", was a professional boxing match contested on April 8, 1995 for the WBC Heavyweight Championship. The undercard included world championship bouts in four other categories.

References

  1. "BoxRec - Joe Hipp".