James Shuler

James Shuler

Personal information
Born	May 29, 1959
Died	March 17, 1986
Medal record Men's Boxing Competitor for the  United States Pan American Games 1979 San Juan Light-Middleweight

James Shuler (May 29, 1959 – March 17, 1986) was a U.S. Olympic and professional boxer from Philadelphia known as "Black Gold."

Amateur career

Shuler was the 1979 and 1980 National Golden Gloves Light Middleweight Champion. He qualified at 156 pounds and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team that perished in an air crash in Warsaw, Poland, on March 14, 1980 . Shuler was not with the team, however, as he had stayed in America due to injury . The team was en route to Warsaw, Poland for the USA vs. Poland Box-off as part of "USA vs. the World." event. Among the USA Boxing teammates who were killed in the plane crash were Lemuel Steeples from St. Louis; Calvin Anderson from Connecticut; Paul Palomino - the brother of Carlos Palomino ; George Pimentel, and Olympic Coach, Sarge Johnson. Members of the team who were also not aboard included Bobby Czyz and Alex Ramos .

Shuler's hopes were dashed when President Jimmy Carter imposed an Olympic boycott that forbid the U.S. Olympians from competing in the 1980 Summer Olympics.^[1]

Professional career

Shuler began his professional boxing career as a middleweight on September 12, 1980 with a second-round knockout of Chris Rogers in Philadelphia. During his five years as a pro, he had 22-1 record with sixteen knockouts. His first loss came on March 10, 1986 to Thomas Hearns when he was knocked out in the first round.

Death

Shuler died in a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia on 17 March 1986, just a week after his last fight.^[2][3]

Memory and tribute

Bob Arum, the promoter of Shuler's last fight, said that the boxer came to Arum's room a day after the Hearns fight and thanked him for promoting it. Arum, who had promoted many bouts, said that Shuler was the only fighter who had ever done that, adding, "He was a decent, decent young man."^[4]

In 1995, close friend Percy Custus opened the 'James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym' in boxer's native Philadelphia in honor of the fallen fighter. Custus met Shuler in the 1970s at the Joe Frazier Gym where they trained together and remained close friends for the rest of James’ life.^[5][6]

Professional boxing record

22 Wins (16 knockouts, 6 decisions), 1 Loss (1 knockout)
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	40-2	Thomas Hearns	KO	1	10/03/1986	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBC NABF Middleweight Title. Shuler knocked out at 1:13 of the first round.
Win	16-13	Jerry Holly	UD	10	04/07/1985	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey	8-2, 9-0, 10-0.
Win	34-0-2	James Kinchen	SD	12	16/02/1985	The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey	WBC NABF Middleweight Title. 115-114, 116-113, 114-115.
Win	15-4	Kenny Bristol	UD	10	25/02/1984	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	23-3	Clint Jackson	PTS	12	17/01/1984	Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	WBC NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	15-5	Leroy Green, Jr.	KO	1	25/11/1983	Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
Win	12-5-2	Wilbur Henderson	KO	3	28/09/1983	Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win	21-4	Norberto Sabater	KO	2	17/09/1983	The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	--	Wilfredo Acosta	KO	1	14/06/1983	Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	30-23-5	Inocencio De la Rosa	KO	4	18/03/1983	Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	56-7-3	Ray Seales	UD	12	23/10/1982	Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey	WBC NABF Middleweight Title. 118-111, 119-110, 117-112.
Win	9-9	Dario De Asa	KO	2	18/09/1982	The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	4-5	Collin Keller	KO	2	12/06/1982	Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	6-4	Ricky Sheppard	KO	4	11/04/1982	Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	17-8	Jesus Castro	KO	4	13/02/1982	Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Castro knocked out at 0:42 of the fourth round.
Win	1-6	Wyatt Simpkins	KO	4	07/11/1981	Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	5-2-2	Kenny Hodges	KO	3	18/07/1981	Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	2-3	Willard Nance	KO	4	17/06/1981	Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	0-2	Vincent Evans	TKO	1	11/04/1981	Concord Resort Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, New York	Referee stopped the bout at 1:33 of the first round.
Win	0-7	Robert Gregory Dean Thomas	TKO	5	28/03/1981	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	2-2	Charlie Hecker	TKO	3	28/11/1980	Felt Forum, New York City	Referee stopped the bout at 1:09 of the third round.
Win	3-1	Jamal Arbubakar	UD	4	10/10/1980	Felt Forum, New York City
Win	0-2	Chris Rogers	TKO	2	12/09/1980	Felt Forum, New York City

References

1. ↑ http://www.yelp.com/biz/james-shuler-memorial-boxing-gym-philadelphia
2. ↑ http://articles.philly.com/1986-03-28/sports/26085097_1_james-shuler-bumper-sanctuary|"Boxer's Requiem: Shuler's Corner Is Empty Now", by Sarajane Freligh, Inquirer Staff Writer, posted on 28 March 1986.
3. ↑ http://articles.philly.com/1986-04-01/news/26079096_1_streets-james-shuler-bike|"Requiem For A Middleweight On A North Phila Street", by George Azar, April 1986.
4. ↑ http://articles.philly.com/1986-03-25/news/26084136_1_untimely-death-professional-defeat-hearns-fight|"James Shuler, Champion", 1986.
5. ↑ http://www.yelp.com/biz/james-shuler-memorial-boxing-gym-philadelphia
6. ↑ http://www.maxboxing.com/news/max-boxing-news/remembering-a-true-champion-james-black-gold-shuler

External links

• Professional boxing record for James Shuler from BoxRec