Michael Nunn

Michael Nunn - From a young age, Michael Nunn exhibited prodigious talent as a boxer, and over his 17-year career, he demonstrated his formidable skills by going 58-4 in 62 professional fights.

Starting his career at just 21 years of age, Nunn rapidly accumulated a perfect record, winning his first 36 fights in a row, including 23 via stoppage. He became the middleweight champion of the world after defeating Frank Tate via a ninth-round TKO in 1988.

By the end of his career, Nunn had won two world titles at two different weights and had successfully defended one of those titles nine times. His career was nothing short of spectacular. In this article, we will examine Nunn's career further, including his top performances in the ring and his most significant achievements.

Career Summary

Nunn began his professional boxing career in 1984 with a TKO victory over John Borman. He went on to win 35 more consecutive fights after the debut, which included 23 wins via stoppage.

In 1988, at the age of 25, Nunn fought Frank Tate for the middleweight IBF title, marking his first world-title fight. In another impressive performance, he defeated Tate via 9th round TKO to become the middleweight champion of the world.

Nunn's world titles at two weight classes make up just a small part of his legacy. One of the more remarkable features of his career was his dominant period in the middleweight division. During this period, he had some significant victories over boxers such as hall-of-famers Donald Curry, Sumbu Kalambay, and Marlon Starling.

Michael Nunn had a total of four losses in his professional boxing career — all of them in title bouts. His first defeat was against James Toney via 11th round TKO on May 10, 1991, which ended his 36-fight win streak. He lost three times via decision and was stopped once.

However, it's worth noting that we can only speculate on what else he could have accomplished had he remained committed to the sport. Nunn's professional career came to a standstill after being convicted of cocaine distribution in 2002. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison, effectively ending his professional boxing career abruptly.

Career Highlights

Nunn fought a total of 62 times during his professional career. Putting on some fantastic performances in these fights, here are the six fights that best highlight his career.

July 28, 1988: Nunn wins his first world title

Michael Nunn's first world title fight at the age of 25 was a memorable one. He defeated Frank Tate via 9th round TKO to become the middleweight champion of the world. This victory established Nunn's stature as one of the finest boxers on the planet.

March 25, 1989: Nunn successfully defends the IBF middleweight title

Nunn defended his IBF middleweight title against Sumbu Kalambay on March 25, 1989, winning via 1st round KO. This was a crucial victory, as it exhibited Nunn's ability to handle the pressure of defending his newly won title. The victory also helped to support his growing legend as a middleweight contender.

April 14, 1990: Nunn successfully defends the IBF middleweight title

On April 14, 1990, Nunn defeated Marlon Starling in a 12-round majority decision to retain his IBF middleweight title. This was another impressive performance from Nunn, as he managed to beat a quality opponent in a closely contested fight.

October 18, 1990: Nunn defeats Donald Curry

Donald Curry was a formidable opponent who proved challenging to beat. Nunn managed to triumph via a 10th round KO, marking another notable victory for the middleweight champion.

January 30, 1993: Nunn defends the WBA super-middleweight title

After moving up in weight, Nunn defeated Víctor Córdoba via a 12 round unanimous decision to defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) super-middleweight title. It was an impressive performance from the veteran boxer, showing his adaptability to move up in weight classes and retain his fighting edge.

February 20, 1993: Nunn successfully defends the WBA super-middleweight title

Nunn's final world-title victory came on February 20, 1993, against Danny Morgan. In just one round, Nunn displayed his raw power, knocking out his opponent to retain the WBA super-middleweight title.

Conclusion

Michael Nunn was a dominant boxing figure in the '80s and '90s. His record is a testament to his considerable talent, durability, and skill inside the ring. Despite his professional career being cut short due to his conviction in 2002, his performances during his productive years as a boxer will forever be remembered.

In all, Nunn's career was one of the more rewarding in boxing history. In a professional career spanning over 20 years, he won two world titles, successfully defending one nine times, became one of the best boxers in his weight class during the period, and his impressive record speaks to his dedication to the sport.

Michael Nunn's contribution to boxing history as a whole cannot be overemphasized; his remarkable talent and dedication to the sport would ensure his place as one of the best boxers in history.

Michael Nunn Fight Record