Felix Cora, Jr.

Felix Cora Jr. is an American professional boxer who competes in the cruiserweight division. He is the former holder of the USBA and the NABF cruiserweight titles and is a former contestant on the 4th series of the reality TV show The Contender.

Professional Boxing Career

Early boxing career

Cora made his professional boxing debut in September 2000 with a 2nd round stoppage win over Mitchell Seigrist in Houston, Texas. Over the next three years he boxed a further 14 times, winning 12 with two draws including one draw with the then unbeaten Michael Simms. By January 2004, Cora could boast an unbeaten professional record of 13-0-2.^[1]

Title fights

In June 2004, Cora once again challenged old foe Michael Simms, this time for the vacant USBA cruiserweight title in Rosemont, Illinois. Cora won the bout via a majority decision to claim the title and to go one better than the last time he faced Simms. Throughout the rest of 2004, Cora defended his belt twice more scoring wins over Jermell Barnes (UD12) and James Elizalde (TKO 6).^[1]

In October 2005, Cora challenged for, and won, the NABF version of the cruiserweight title beating champion Arthur Williams after Williams corner retired him in the 8th round. He would defend the belt only once against Darnell Wilson in March 2006 before losing it in his first career defeat to Russian Vadim Tokarev in May of the same year.

Cora suffered his second career defeat to unbeaten former Olympian team-mate Matt Godfrey in his very next fight. The fight which took place in April 2007 in Connecticut was also for Cora's former NABF belt which had been vacated by Tokarev. Godfrey won the fight via a 2nd round TKO.^[2]

The Contender Series

In 2008 Cora joined the cast of the 4th series of the boxing reality show, The Contender and became a member of the blue team.^[3] On 3 December 2008 he boxed his first round contest against the gold team's Joell Godfrey and won a unanimous decision over 5 rounds.^[4] He was knocked out of the competition at the quarter final stage after meeting Canadian Troy Ross who stopped him in the 1st round. In the season finale he knocked out Tim Flamos in the 3rd round ^[5]

Comeback

After a 15 month layoff Cora Jr. returned to the ring on 4 June 2010 to face Billy Willis in a fight made at heavyweight winning in the sixth round. He fought twice more in 2010 beating Rubin Williams on 19 August and traveling to Manchester in England on 13 November to lose an eliminator contest for the IBF cruiserweight title to Enad Licina.^[1] In his first fight of 2011 on 5 March Cora Jr fought abroad once more traveling to Poland to fight Pawel Kolodziej for the WBA International cruiserweight title only to lose on points over 12 rounds.^[1]

Professional boxing record

23 Wins (12 knockouts, 11 decisions), 6 Losses (3 knockouts, 3 decisions), 2 Draws
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	25-7-2	Murat Gassiev	TKO	9	17/04/2015	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut	For IBF Inter-Continental cruiserweight title
Win	25-6-2	Andrae Carthron	KO	2 (8)	28/03/2014	San Luis Convention Center, Galveston, Texas
Win	24-6-2	Laudelino Barros	KO	11 (12)	26/10/2013	Ginásio Esportivo Profesor José Liberatti, Osasco, Sao Paulo	Win WBO Latino Cruiserweight title
Win	23-6-2	"Cajun" Andrew Greeley	UD	6	25/08/2012	Charles T. Doyle Convention Center, Texas City, Texas	60-54, 60-54, 59-55.
Loss	22-6-2	Lateef Kayode	UD	10	09/09/2011	Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota	WBA NABA Cruiserweight Title. 92-97, 93-96, 92-98.
Loss	22-5-2	Pawel Kolodziej	UD	12	05/03/2011	Krynica-Zdroj	WBA International Cruiserweight Title. 112-116, 110-118, 110-118.
Loss	22-4-2	Enad Licina	UD	12	13/11/2010	MEN Arena, Manchester	IBF World Cruiserweight Title Eliminator. 113-116, 112-117, 112-116.
Win	22-3-2	Rubin Williams	RTD	5	19/08/2010	Charles T. Doyle Convention Center, Texas City, Texas	Williams did not come out for round five.
Win	21-3-2	Billy Willis	RTD	6	04/06/2010	Charles T. Doyle Convention Center, Texas City, Texas	Willis did not come out for round six.
Win	20-3-2	Tim Flamos	TKO	3	25/02/2009	Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut	Referee stopped the bout at 1:57 of the third round.
Loss	19-3-2	Troy Ross	TKO	1	28/01/2009	Singapore	Referee stopped the bout at 2:38 of the first round.
Win	19-2-2	Joell Godfrey	UD	5	03/12/2008	Singapore	50-45, 50-45, 49-46.
Loss	18-2-2	Matt Godfrey	TKO	2	06/04/2007	Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut	WBC NABF/WBA NABA Cruiserweight Titles. Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the second round.
Loss	18-1-2	Vadim Tokarev	TKO	4	18/05/2006	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida	WBC NABF Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:52 of the fourth round.
Win	18-0-2	Darnell Wilson	UD	10	24/03/2006	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida	WBC NABF Cruiserweight Title. 99-91, 99-91, 99-91.
Win	17-0-2	"King" Arthur Williams	TKO	8	27/10/2005	Coeur d'Alene Casino, Worley, Idaho	WBC NABF Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at the end of the eighth round.
Win	16-0-2	James Elizalde	TKO	6	02/12/2004	Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Airway Heights, Washington	IBF USBA Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at the end of the sixth round.
Win	15-0-2	Jermell Barnes	UD	12	07/08/2004	Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut	IBF USBA Cruiserweight Title. 118-110, 119-109, 119-109.
Win	14-0-2	Michael Simms	MD	12	25/06/2004	Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois	IBF USBA Cruiserweight Title. 116-112, 116-112, 114-114.
Win	13-0-2	Jason Waller	TKO	3	15/01/2004	Arena Theater, Houston, Texas	Referee stopped the bout at 2:38 of the third round.
Win	12-0-2	Jesus Valadez	TKO	3	05/12/2003	International Ballroom, Houston, Texas	Referee stopped the bout at 2:49 of the third round.
Win	11-0-2	Alonzo "Big Country" Wright	UD	8	09/08/2003	Miami Arena, Miami, Florida
Draw	10-0-2	Derrick James	PTS	6	27/06/2003	Centennial Building, Dallas, Texas	58-56, 56-58, 57-57.
Draw	10-0-1	Michael Simms	PTS	10	15/03/2003	UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois	96-94, 95-96, 95-95.
Win	10-0	Rodney McSwain	UD	8	03/08/2002	Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona	80-72, 80-72, 79-73.
Win	9-0	Gary Gomez	UD	8	27/06/2002	Santa Ana Star Casino, Bernalillo, New Mexico
Win	8-0	Kenny Snow	UD	4	09/04/2002	Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois
Win	7-0	Chris "Cold Steel" Thomas	UD	6	25/01/2002	Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois	59-54, 59-54, 58-55.
Win	6-0	Harold Lee Lowe, Jr.	TKO	1	21/12/2001	Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California	Referee stopped the bout at 0:43 of the first round.
Win	5-0	Shawn Townsend	KO	1	26/10/2001	Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California	Townsend knocked out at 2:05 of the first round.
Win	4-0	Kwan Manassah	UD	4	25/05/2001	Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, Minnesota
Win	3-0	Ernest Parfait	TKO	1	25/01/2001	Radisson Hotel, Houston, Texas	Referee stopped the bout at 1:35 of the first round.
Win	2-0	James "Black" Smith	TKO	1	26/10/2000	Radisson Hotel, Houston, Texas	Referee stopped the bout at 0:34 of the first round.
Win	1-0	Mitchell Seigrist	TKO	2	21/09/2000	Houston, Texas

References