Michael Nunn

Michael John Nunn, born on April 14, 1963, in Davenport, Iowa, is a former American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2002. Standing at 6'2" (186cm) with an impressive reach of 77 inches (196cm), Nunn was a force to be reckoned with in both the middleweight and super middleweight divisions.

As an amateur, Nunn showcased his talent by winning three Iowa Golden Gloves titles and amassing a record of 168-8. Despite a controversial loss to Virgil Hill at the 1984 Olympic trials, Nunn turned professional later that year, determined to make his mark in the boxing world.

Nunn's professional career started with a bang, winning his first 30 fights before challenging IBF middleweight champion Frank Tate in 1988. Nunn emerged victorious with a ninth-round knockout, capturing his first world title. He went on to defend his title five times, including notable wins over Juan Roldan, Sumbu Kalambay, Iran Barkley, Marlon Starling, and Donald Curry.

However, Nunn's reign as middleweight champion came to a shocking end on May 10, 1991, when he suffered a stunning upset loss to James Toney in his hometown of Davenport. Despite being ahead on the scorecards, Nunn was knocked out in the eleventh round.

Undeterred, Nunn moved to the super middleweight division and captured the WBA and lineal titles by defeating Victor Cordoba in a controversial split decision in 1992. He defended his title four times before losing to Steve Little in another surprising upset in 1994.

Nunn attempted to regain the super middleweight title against Frankie Liles in 1994 but fell short in a close unanimous decision. He later moved up to light heavyweight, challenging for the WBC title against Graciano Rocchigiani in 1998, but again found himself on the losing end of a split decision.

Nunn's boxing career ended in 2002 with a record of 58 wins, four losses, and 37 knockouts. However, his life outside the ring took a dark turn when he was arrested for drug trafficking in August 2002. Nunn was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison in 2004 but was released in February 2019 after serving nearly 16 years.

Michael Nunn's accomplishments in the ring cannot be overlooked despite his legal troubles. As a two-weight world champion with a nearly two-decade career, Nunn left an indelible mark on the sport of boxing, even if his personal life ultimately overshadowed his athletic achievements.