Willie Chapman
Willie Chapman
Documentary
Willie Chapman (born April 4, 1968 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a former professional boxer.[20]
Career
Boxed Professionally For Twelve Years
Has 21 Professional Wins
Chapman went by name "Wreckless" during his boxing career.
He boxed professionally from 1996 until 2008.
His debut was on November 30, 1996 at the Pepermill Oasis Casino in Mesquite,Nevada. Future World Boxing Organization heavyweight world champion Lamon Brewster tko'd Chapman at the Mandalay Bay on July 27, 2002. Brewster also holds wins against Andrew Golota, Wladimir Klitschko, Luan Krasniqi and Kali Meehan.
Had Many Upset Wins
Despite his losing record,Chapman had a number of upset wins in his career.
He ko'd DaVarryl Williamson on October 6, 2000 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Williamson later challenged Chris Byrd for the IBF heavyweight world championship in 2004. Williamson also defeated Kevin McBride. McBride holds a win over Mike Tyson. Chapman won decisions against Cliff Couser, Malcolm Tann, Preston Hartzog and TJ Wilson. Hartzog was 1997-1998 All-Army champion. Chapman defeated TJ Wilson when Wilson had a record of 9 wins and 0 losses; their bout took place at the MontBleu (formerly Caesars Tahoe) in Stateline, Nevada in 2003.
He had a draw with Zuri Lawrence. Chapman lost a decision to Ricky Womack in 2001. Womack was booed for his performance against Chapman. Chapman also defeated Cliff Couser in 2001. Couser portrayed Mike Tyson in the 1997 movie Don King:Only in America.[14]
Boxed Against 2004 Olympic Champion
Chapman finished with a record of 21 wins, 29 losses, and four draws.
He lost 10 of his last 14 bouts.
Chapman competed against future World Boxing Association world heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin on December 17, 2005 at Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin. Chapman lost on a fifth round technical knockout.[5] Povetkin won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics as a superheavyweight. Chapman boxed his last four fights at the The Orleans in Las Vegas, Nevada.[16]
Bout Against Womack
Competed Against 2004 Gold Medalist Povetkin
Ricky Womack competed against Chapman on November 23, 2001 and won a unanimous decision.[6] Womack had defeated Evander Holyfield in the amateurs and recieved a signing bonus before his first professional fight. Womack was arrested for armed robbery and spent years in prison before he attempted a comeback in 2001. [3]
After defeating Chapman, Ricky was highly upset by his performance and was booed by the crowd.
The Womack-Chapman boxing match was attended by 10,000 people at the The Palace of Auburn Hills. On the way out of the arena, Ricky gave indications to his manager, Dr. Stuart Kirshenbaum, that he would “end this thing". Dr. Kirschenbaum was the Michigan boxing commissioner from 1981 to 1992. Chapman was clearly frustrated by his performance against Chapman.
Ricky Womack committed suicide two months after his win over Chapman.
Some speculated he did so because he was upset by his poor performance against Chapman.
Las Vegas Sun
The following is from a 2009 article written about Chapman in the Las Vegas Sun:
These Wreckless Willies are derisively called professional opponents.
Or tomato cans.
Chapman hates this talk, and with good reason.
On his own and without professional management or training, he’s beaten his share of solid opponents, including a few who were unbeaten, spoiling the night for promoters who assumed he’d be a patsy.
From the back of his car, Chapman sells a DVD compilation of his knockouts,each one spectacular in its own way.
A few offer up a sound beating by one man of another.
The others attest to the mysterious nature of the brain — one punch in the right spot at the right angle with the right force can leave a man unconscious.
Despite his surprising flashes of prowess, Chapman and fighters like him are fill-ins,called in on short notice to fill out a boxing card, whaling on each other or allowing the up-and-comers and former contenders to pad their records with victories.
Chapman has fought on less than 48 hours’ notice at least 17 times.
They fight at small venues like the Orleans for a few thousands bucks, the air thick with Vegas small-timers, tourists, grifters, drunk and blood-lusty.
For Chapman, this existence isn’t harmless fun, either.
Having passed 40 years old and 50 fights — significant warning signs for doctors who work with boxers — he risks injuring body or brain every time he steps into the ring.[13]
Denied a License
Chapman was denied a license by the Nevada Athletic Commission past the age of forty because of the abuse he suffered in the ring. Chapman has resided in Ogden, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada. Willie's son graduated from high school in 2012 and Chapman still speaks clearly.
Everipedia
Everipedia Boxing Show On Spotify
Everipedia's top ranked editor Matthew E. O'Neil tko'd Preston Hartzog in a USA Boxing sanctioned match in 1999. Hartzog's only loss in the professional ranks was against Chapman. However, the only person to conclusively stop Hartzog at the amateur or pro level is O'Neil. Hartzog was 1997 US Armed Forces Champion in the superheavyweight division.[15] O'Neil contacted Chapman via Facebook in 2020 and Chapman responded:
I'm looking to fight.
Well, it's all based in suffering.
l no longer work with my assistant and trainer so I'll have to use my 19 yr old son.
Plus, I'm low on funds so I'll have to move back to Vegas to rebuild train group plus get good sparring then I'll take 1st few good fights after revamping my abilities to war.
I have a great new gym plan but can't put it together just yet.
He (Hartzog) and Ricky Womack killed themselves with self inflicted gun shot.
Brad Rone also died after we fought but from natural causes.
Three men died after fighting me.
Hartzog was 15-0 as a boxer but as a person l did not know him at all.
Chapman still has hopes to box again.
He last competed in 2009 at The Orleans in Las Vegas against Carlos Barnett. Chapman lost a split decision.[18]