| Michael Nunn | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Michael John Nunn |
| Nickname(s) | Second To |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | April 14, 1963 Davenport, Iowa, United States |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 62 |
| Wins | 58 |
| Wins by KO | 37 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 0 |
Michael Nunn (born April 14, 1963 in Davenport, Iowa) is a former American boxer. Nicknamed "Second to Nunn," he was a 6' 2" southpaw with great speed.[1] Nunn was the IBF middleweight champion and the WBA super middleweight champion. In 2004, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for drug trafficking.
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Nunn, known as "2nd To Nunn," won three Iowa Golden Gloves titles and posted an amateur record of 168-8.[2]
At the 1984 Olympic trials, U.S. boxing officials asked Nunn, who was boxing as a 156-pounder, to move up to the 165-pound division. They wanted to clear the way for Frank Tate, the eventual Olympic gold medalist, who was being heralded as America's next great middleweight. Tate's last loss was to Nunn.
After agreeing to move up in weight, Nunn boxed Virgil Hill at the Olympic trials in Fort Worth, Texas. Hill defeated Nunn by a 4-1 decision. Nunn and Hill boxed again at the Olympic box-offs in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nunn won the first box-off by a 5-0 decision. In the second box-off, Hill dropped Nunn and won by a 5-0 decision to make the Olympic team as the U.S. representative in the 165-pound division.[3]
Nunn turned professional in 1984. After winning his first thirty fights, he fought IBF middleweight title holder Frank Tate, who was 23-0. The fight took place on July 28, 1988 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Nunn won the title by a ninth-round knockout.
In his first title defense, he knocked out Juan Roldan in the eighth round. His second defense was a stunning first-round knockout of Sumbu Kalambay to capture the Lineal middleweight championship. Nunn's next two title defenses were twelve-round majority decision wins over Iran Barkley and Marlon Starling. For his fifth defense, Nunn went to France and knocked out Donald Curry in ten rounds. On May 10, 1991, in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa, Nunn lost his title in a big upset to James Toney. Nunn, well ahead on points after ten rounds, was knocked out after being dropped by a left hook in the eleventh round.[4]
On September 12, 1992, Nunn won the WBA super middleweight title with a controversial twelve-round split decision over Victor Cordoba. The WBA ordered a rematch, which took place on January 30, 1993. Nunn fought much better in the rematch, winning by a one-sided twelve-round unanimous decision.[5]
In his fifth title defense, Nunn lost the title to Steve Little by a twelve-round split decision on February 26, 1994, in another huge upset.[6] On December 17, 1994, Nunn traveled to Ecuador to fight Frankie Liles in an attempt to regain the WBA super middleweight title. Liles, who had defeated Little in his previous fight to win the title, defeated Nunn by a twelve-round unanimous decision.
After nine consecutive wins, Nunn got another title shot. On March 21, 1998, he fought Graciano Rocchigiani for the vacant WBC light heavyweight title in Germany. Nunn lost by a twelve-round split decision.
On January 23, 2002, Nunn defeated Vinson Durhan by a ten-round unanimous decision at Caesar's Indiana in Bridgeport, Indiana. It would be his last fight. He finished with a record of 58-4 with 37 knockouts.[7]
On August 6, 2002, at a hotel in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa, Nunn was arrested after paying an undercover agent $200 for one kilogram of cocaine, which had a street value of $24,000. In May 2003, He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The following January, Nunn was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge William Gritzer, who agreed to a higher sentencing guideline after considering Nunn's long history in drug trafficking and the likelihood he used a firearm during drug deals.
During the three-day sentencing hearing, prosecutors called witnesses who testified about Nunn's drug activity dating back to 1993. Nunn, who accepted responsibility for buying drugs in August 2002, denied his involvement in drug trafficking. He pointed out that several of the witnesses were in prison and could have their sentences reduced for providing testimony.
Nunn, who was defiant throughout the hearing, accused government lawyers of lying and scheming against him. "You guys haven't shown me nothing," Nunn said in his statement to the judge. "Where are your facts, Mr. Prosecutor?"[8]
Nunn is now inmate number 11772-030 at the United States Penitentiary (USP) in Leavenworth, Kansas. His scheduled release date is June 16, 2024.[9]
| Preceded by Frank Tate |
IBF Middleweight Champion 28 Jul 1988 – 10 May 1991 |
Succeeded by James Toney |
| Preceded by Sumbu Kalambay |
Lineal Middleweight Champion 25 Mar 1989 – 10 May 1991 |
|
| Preceded by Victor Cordoba |
WBA Super Middleweight Champion 12 Sep 1992 – 26 Feb 1994 |
Succeeded by Steve Little |