Marvin Camel
Born (1951-12-24) December 24, 1951 (age 72)
Ronan, Montana, U.S.
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach79 in (201 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights62
Wins45
Wins by KO21
Losses13
Draws4

Marvin Camel (born December 24, 1951) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1990. He was the first cruiserweight world champion, having held the WBC title in 1980 and the IBF title from 1983 to 1984.[1]

Professional boxing career

Camel fought Mate Parlov in Yugoslavia to a draw in the first ever cruiserweight world title bout. In the rematch, in Las Vegas, Camel beat Mate Parlov for the vacant WBC world Cruiserweight title in 1980, losing the title in his first defense, to Carlos De León who replaced David Pearce. After losing in a rematch to De Leon, he became, in 1983, the IBF's first world champion, by beating Roddy McDonald who also replaced David Pearce after the BBBoC would not sanction the Cruiserweight division in the UK and thus becoming world Cruiserweight champion for the second time when he claimed that organization's title. He later lost the title to Lee Roy Murphy.

He lost his final bout in June 1990 against Eddie “Young Joe Louis” Taylor in Minneapolis. The 10-round decision left his lifetime mark at 45-13-5.

Camel's pro career took him from Ronan to 13 states and seven foreign nations on three continents.

“I’ve had a good life, as far as boxing is concerned, winning two world titles, losing world titles, seeing the world,” Camel said in 2015. “Some things people only dream about having, I did it. I’ve been there. I’ve been to the top of the mountain. But I feel there’s still something out there that I’ve got to have, and I don’t know what it is.” [2]

He is the subject of a biography released in December 2014, titled 'Warrior in the Ring' by Brian D'Ambrosio.[3][4] The book was nominated for the High Plains Book Award and several other awards.

In December 2014, D'Ambrosio and Camel attended the 52nd Annual World Boxing Convention.[5]

Brian D'Ambrosio, with Marvin Camel, "Warrior in the Ring"

Honors

In 2006 at the World Boxing Council's 44th annual convention WBC President José Sulaimán awarded Camel honorary champion status.

Professional boxing record

62 fights 45 wins 13 losses
By knockout 21 8
By decision 24 5
Draws 4
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
62 Loss 45–13–4 Eddie Taylor MD 10 11 Jun 1990 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
61 Loss 45–12–4 Joe Hipp TKO 6 (10) 2 Dec 1989 Saint Martin's Pavilion, Lacey, Washington, U.S.
60 Win 45–11–4 Jerome Hill UD 8 6 Nov 1989 Civic Center, Butte, Montana, U.S.
59 Win 44–11–4 J.J. Cottrell UD 10 25 Sep 1989 Civic Center, Billings, Montana, U.S.
58 Draw 43–11–4 Trent Surratt TD 1 (?), 1:13 10 Aug 1989 Four Seasons Arena, Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
57 Loss 43–11–3 James Salerno TKO 6 31 May 1988 Milan, Italy
56 Loss 43–10–3 Ralf Rocchigiani PTS 10 26 Apr 1988 Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
55 Loss 43–9–3 Taoufik Belbouli TKO 4 10 Oct 1987 Zenith Palais, Paris, France
54 Loss 43–8–3 Virgil Hill KO 1 (10), 2:52 1 May 1987 City Arena, Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.
53 Loss 43–7–3 José María Flores Burlón UD 10 8 Aug 1986 Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
52 Draw 43–6–3 Jimmy Bills PTS 10 22 May 1986 Boise, Idaho, U.S.
51 Loss 43–6–2 Lee Roy Murphy RTD 14 (15), 3:00 6 Oct 1984 MetraPark, Billings, Montana, U.S. Lost IBF cruiserweight title
50 Win 43–5–2 Roddy MacDonald TKO 5 (15), 2:49 13 Dec 1983 Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Won inaugural IBF cruiserweight title
49 Win 42–5–2 Rocky Sekorski RTD 8 (12) 21 May 1983 MetraPark,Billings, Montana, U.S. Retained USBA cruiserweight title
48 Loss 41–5–2 John Odhiambho TKO 2 (8) 11 Feb 1983 K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
47 Win 41–4–2 Leonardo Rodgers RTD 4 (12) 30 Jun 1982 City Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. Retained USBA cruiserweight title
46 Loss 40–4–2 Carlos de León TKO 8 (15) 24 Feb 1982 Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. For WBC cruiserweight title
45 Win 40–3–2 Bash Ali UD 12 2 Oct 1981 Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S. Won USBA cruiserweight title
44 Win 39–3–2 Willie Shannon TKO 3 (12), 0:27 11 Aug 1981 Showboat Casino and Hotel, Sport Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained Nevada cruiserweight title
43 Win 38–3–2 Rahim Muhammad UD 12 5 May 1981 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Won vacant Nevada cruiserweight title
42 Win 37–3–2 Ron Draper TKO 6 (10), 1:42 24 Apr 1981 MetraPark, Billings, Montana, U.S.
41 Loss 36–3–2 Carlos de León MD 15 25 Noc 1980 Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Lost WBC cruiserweight title
40 Win 36–2–2 Mate Parlov UD 15 31 Mar 1980 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Won inaugural WBC cruiserweight title
39 Draw 35–2–2 Mate Parlov MD 15 8 Dec 1979 Sportski Centar Gripe, Split, Yugoslavia For inaugural WBC cruiserweight title
38 Win 35–2–1 David Cabrera KO 3 (10), 1:24 30 Aug 1979 McAllen, Texas, U.S.
37 Win 34–2–1 Macka Foley TKO 2 (10), 1:52 1 Aug 1979 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
36 Win 33–2–1 Bill Sharkey UD 12 5 Jun 1979 Adams Field House, Missoula, Montana, U.S. Won vacant NABF cruiserweight title
35 Win 32–2–1 David Smith TKO 9 (10) 24 Apr 1979 University of Montana Fieldhouse, Missoula, Montana, U.S.
34 Win 31–2–1 Jim Ingram UD 10 28 Feb 1979 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
33 Win 30–2–1 Bob Heflin KO 2 (10), 2:01 3 Jan 1979 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
32 Win 29–2–1 Tom Bethea KO 2 (12), 2:30 11 Nov 1978 Missoula, Montana, U.S.
31 Win 28–2–1 Dale Grant UD 12 13 Sep 1978 Civic Center, Butte, Montana, U.S.
30 Win 27–2–1 Ibar Arrington UD 10 22 Aug 1978 North Idaho JC Gym, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.
29 Win 26–2–1 Chuck Warfield KO 5 (10) 27 May 1978 Saint Ignatius Highschool Gym, Missoula, Montana, U.S.
28 Win 25–2–1 Pete McIntyre UD 10 7 Apr 1978 Civic Center, Butte, Montana, U.S.
27 Win 24–2–1 Bobby Lloyd UD 10 9 Mar 1978 Century II Convention Center, Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
26 Win 23–2–1 David Smith UD 10 8 Feb 1978 Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
25 Win 22–2–1 Karl Zurheide RTD 7 (10), 3:00 8 Dec 1977 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
24 Win 21–2–1 Ron Wilson UD 10 29 Aug 1977 Pony Palace Arena, Pablo, Montana, U.S.
23 Loss 20–2–1 Danny Brewer TKO 6 (10) 28 Jun 1977 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
22 Win 20–1–1 Gary Summerhays UD 12 6 May 1977 Adams Field House, Missoula, Montana, U.S.
21 Draw 19–1–1 Dale Grant PTS 10 15 Feb 1977 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
20 Win 19–1 Lionel Ford UD 10 26 Jan 1977 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
19 Win 18–1 Larry Castaneda UD 10 20 Nov 1976 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
18 Win 17–1 Matthew Saad Muhammad MD 10 23 Oct 1976 Adams Field House, Missoula, Montana, U.S.
17 Win 16–1 Johnny Townsend UD 10 25 Sep 1976 Coliseum, Spokane, Washington, U.S.
16 Win 15–1 Johnny Townsend UD 10 28 Aug 1976 Eagles Aerie, Missoula, Montana, U.S.
15 Loss 14–1 Matthew Saad Muhammad SD 10 17 Jul 1976 Stockton, California, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Angel Oquendo UD 10 8 May 1976 Adams Field House, Missoula, Montana, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Rafael Gutierrez UD 10 7 Apr 1976 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Don Meloncon TKO 3 (10), 2:24 18 Feb 1976 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Pedro Vega KO 1 (10), 3:10 14 Jan 1976 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Danny Brewer UD 10 19 Nov 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Terry Lee TKO 8 (10), 2:46 24 Sep 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Ron Wilson UD 10 20 Aug 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Fernando Lee Jones RTD 6 (10) 28 May 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Amado Vasquez KO 3 (10), 1:14 30 Apr 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Jack Johnson UD 8 2 Apr 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Chico Valdez KO 2 (6), 1:56 19 Feb 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 George Clark TKO 4 (6), 1:31 22 Jan 1975 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 James T. Jackson TKO 4 (6), 2:29 25 Feb 1974 Fairgrounds Arena, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Joe Williamson TKO 1 (4), 2:14 25 Jun 1973 Civic Center, Butte, Montana, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Marvin Camel - Lineal Cruiserweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ "New biography helps Marvin Camel fight time, obscurity". February 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "Montana Magazine". Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  4. ^ LaTray, Chris (March 5, 2015). "Lost Champ (Book review)". Missoula Independent. ProQuest 1661596025.
  5. ^ "Resurrecting the Legend of Marvin Camel". January 2, 2015.

External links

Achievements Inaugural Champion WBC cruiserweight champion March 31, 1980 – November 25, 1980 Succeeded byCarlos de León IBF cruiserweight champion December 13, 1983 – October 6, 1984 Succeeded byLee Roy Murphy
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