King Ipitan (Professional Boxer)
King Ipitan (Professional Boxer)
Early Life & Education
He was born in Nigeria and he moved to the United States when he was fourteen years old. He attended Hawthorne High School and also attended Pasadena City College.
Boxing Career
Competed At Top Venues
Ipitan boxed professionally as a heavyweight from 1991 to 2005.
He was promoted by Don King and managed by Michael Marley. He held a version of the IBO heavyweight title for part of his career. He stands 6 feet 5 inches and he boxed out of the orthodox stance. He won his first thirteen professional boxing matches before losing to Bobby Crabtree. His early career found him competing in places like The Forum (Inglewood, California), Thomas & Mack Center and the Riviera. He defeated Jerome Jones at the MGM Grand Las Vegas on March 4,1994. He defeated Marseilles Brown at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 23, 2000. He lost a split decision to Chauncy Welliver on October 24, 2002 at the Coeur d'Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho. Welliver was at one time ranked in the top thirty by the World Boxing Council. His boxing career was covered by the Los Angeles Times.[19][20]
Boxed On USA Network & Fox Sports
Ipitan boxed against United States Army veteran and undefeated boxer Lorenzo Neilson on July 27, 1993 in Las Vegas and he won by technical knockout, the bout was televised on the USA Network and the announcers were Al Albert and Sean O'Grady. He had sparred with Lennox Lewis in lead up to his match with Tony Tucker. The Lennox Lewis vs.Tony Tucker match was held for the World Boxing Council world heavyweight championship and was held on May 8, 1993 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. He boxed on La Cadena Deportiva against Archie Perry and Calvin Veasley, La Cadena Deportiva is a defunct American Spanish language regional sports network that was owned by Liberty Media. He boxed on Fox Sports on August 24, 2000 in Idaho against Zuri Lawrence and lost by disqualification, He had scored three knockdowns in the fight before he lost by disqualification. Steve Farhood interviewed Ipitan after the fight and Ipitan stated that the low blows were unintentional.
He finished his professional boxing career with a record of 19 wins and 8 losses, with one draw.
He was briefly managed by NBA Hall of Farmer Magic Johnson during the end of his career. Probably His biggest fight was competing against Jameel McCline on January 24, 2001. He lost to McCline by technical knockout. McCline lost a disputed decision to Chris Byrd for the International Boxing Federation heavyweight world title at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 2004. He lost his last seven boxing matches. At one point in his career, he was ranked seventh in the world by the World Boxing Association. He had also been ranked in the top ten by the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization. He honed his craft by being a chief sparring partner for Riddick Bowe in 1995 and 1996.
Had An Outstanding Amateur Career
He boxed as an amateur and had a record of 14 wins and 1 loss, with 11 knockouts.
He did a lot of sparring with former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Tony Tubbs. He has three children.
Actor
Contacted By Everipedia
O'Neil Beat 1997 US Armed Forces Champion
Matthew E. O'Neil, a top ten editor, and reporter for Everipedia reached out to her in 2020. BoxRec had listed He as being born in 1970. He responded to O'Neil:
I have been unable to make those changes in the internet!
My correct date of birth is actually August 10th 1974.
I told some journalist those numbers because I didn't wanna be seen as young,at that time i was only 19yrs old.
I turned pro in 1991 and I signed an 11 year contract with Don King with my then manager Michael Marley.
I won the IBO championship in 2002.
Then I wanted out of my contract, Don King cheated me and refused to let me go,till I refused to train that's how I got those consecutive losses on my record then he left me alone and terminated the contract!
On Social Media
Fought On USA Network
As of 2020, he resides in Pasadena, California. He was quoted on Facebook in 2019:
Boxing is a physical activity that became the first main act that was called a (sport) on planet earth.
Going way back to 688 BC.
Although this so called sport has been the biggest physical contact sport in the world that has gradually destroyed human mental and physical stability.
This is why I NEVER allowed my children to Box!
I teach the sport of Boxing only to those people that has that strong will and desires like myself, that won't take a NO for an answer!
98% of real Boxer's today has some type of physical or mental issues regardless of whoever they are.