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Charles Lamont Shufford, Jr. (born February 3, 1973) is an American former professional boxer. He challenged once for the WBO world heavyweight title in 2001.

Amateur career

Charles Shufford, a nephew of former welterweight contender Horace Shufford, was considered a star of Las Vegas amateur boxing, frequently fighting at Golden Gloves tournaments and Olympic trials. Shufford had 35 (?) amateur fights at super heavyweight (no exact record given), which included fights against Michael Grant (most notably in 1993) and Lance Whitaker, famously beating Whitaker at 1996 Olympic trials, before turning professional in 1996.

Professional career

Shufford made his professional debut at November 11, 1996, defeating Kirk Holyfield by first-round TKO. Within five years, Shufford compiled 17–1 record that included back-to-back wins over Jimmy Thunder by seventh-round TKO and rising star Lamon Brewster via unanimous decision.

These wins lined him up for a shot at the WBO world heavyweight title against Wladimir Klitschko. For the bout Shufford weighed in at 234 lbs., dropping 17 pounds compared to his last bout. Shufford, having played George Foreman opposite Will Smith in the movie Ali, entered the ring with Smith by his side. Shufford was knocked down three times, once in round two, once in round three (both times with a straight right hand) and in round six with a left hook, with referee stopping the bout after the third knockdown. According to punch stats, Klitschko landed 58 of 262 punches (22%) and Shufford connected on 16 of 190 (8%).

After that, Shufford was not able to stay in the heavyweight title scene. He remained inactive for over a year before returning to the ring against Marcellus Brown, winning by unanimous decision. He then beat Elieser Castillo but lost to Lawrence Clay-Bey and Jameel McCline. After losing to a rising star Samuel Peter by one-sided unanimous decision, Shufford was inactive for two years, and fought only sporadically since. He went 0–2–1 in his last three fights with a draw against Kelvin Davis and losses to Malik Scott and Jason Estrada.

Professional boxing record

20 Wins (9 knockouts, 11 decisions), 8 Losses (2 knockouts, 6 decisions), 1 Draw
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	20-8-1	Jason Estrada	UD	10	25/01/2008	Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.
Loss	20-7-1	Malik Scott	UD	10	04/05/2007	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Draw	20-6-1	Kelvin Davis	PTS	6	07/07/2006	Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S.
Loss	20-6	Samuel Peter	UD	10	17/05/2004	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	20-5	Gilbert Martinez	SD	10	25/10/2003	Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
Win	20-4	Willie Chapman	MD	10	12/07/2003	Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	19-4	Jameel McCline	TKO	3	09/05/2003	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Referee stopped the bout at 2:39 of the third round.
Loss	19-3	Lawrence Clay Bey	UD	10	03/01/2003	Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Win	19-2	Elieser Castillo	UD	12	13/10/2002	Choctaw, Mississippi, U.S.	IBA Americas Heavyweight Title.
Win	18-2	Marcellus Brown	UD	6	21/09/2002	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	17-2	Wladimir Klitschko	TKO	6	04/08/2001	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	WBO World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:55 of the sixth round. Shufford was knocked down thrice in the bout.
Win	17-1	Rodney McSwain	TKO	5	17/06/2001	West Wendover, Utah, U.S.
Win	16-1	Lamon Brewster	UD	10	21/10/2000	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Win	15-1	Jimmy Thunder	TKO	8	07/09/2000	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.	Thunder failed to come out for the ninth round.
Win	14-1	Derrick Banks	UD	10	05/05/2000	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Loss	13-1	Robert Davis	UD	10	18/02/2000	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win	13-0	Jeff Lally	TKO	2	22/01/2000	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Referee stopped the bout at 0:55 of the second round.
Win	12-0	Anthony Moore	UD	8	04/11/1999	Worley, Idaho, U.S.
Win	11-0	Bruce Bellocchi	TKO	4	17/06/1999	Worley, Idaho, U.S.	Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of the fourth round.
Win	10-0	Louis Monaco	UD	6	06/05/1999	Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Win	9-0	Terry Verners	TKO	1	02/11/1998	Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.	Referee stopped the bout at 2:19 of the first round after Verners had been knocked down twice in the bout.
Win	8-0	Tui Toia	KO	1	12/05/1998	Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Win	7-0	Derrick Ryals	DQ	3	09/04/1998	Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Win	6-0	Felton Hamilton	SD	6	19/12/1997	New York City, U.S.
Win	5-0	Thomas Allen	KO	3	14/11/1997	Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Win	4-0	Anthony Curry	UD	4	28/05/1997	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	3-0	Roberto Ramirez	TKO	2	29/04/1997	Tempe, Arizona, U.S.	Referee stopped the bout at 2:27 of the second round after Ramirez had been knocked down thrice in the bout.
Win	2-0	Willie Chapman	UD	4	11/01/1997	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	1-0	Kirk Holyfield	TKO	1	30/11/1996	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the first round.

Other

Perhaps Shufford's most notable accomplishment has been outside of the ring, playing the role of George Foreman in the 2001 film Ali.

References

1. "Boxing Wise Joe Mesi interview". Retrieved 11 April 2020.
2. "Shufford steps up to main event". Retrieved 11 April 2020.
3. "1993 amateur boxing Shufford vs Grant". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
4. "Going for Green, Not Gold". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
5. ^ "Professional boxing record: Charles Shufford". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
6. "Charles Shufford vs Jimmy Thunder". boxrec.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
7. "Charles Shufford vs Lamon Brewster". boxrec.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
8. "Photo: Will Smith in the ring cheering on Charles Shufford. The German boxer Wladimir Klitschko won the fight against Shufford. (Photo by Chris Farina/Corbis via Getty Images)". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
9. "Wladimir Klitschko vs. Charles Shufford". Retrieved 11 March 2020.

External links

• Boxing record for Charles Shufford from BoxRec (registration required)

• 1973 births
• Living people
• Boxers from Virginia
• American male boxers
• Heavyweight boxers
• 20th-century American sportsmen