Derrick Jefferson

Derrick Lavon Jefferson (born March 10, 1968) is an American former professional boxer. He challenged once for the WBO title in 2001, and is perhaps best remembered for his brutal left hook-knockout of Maurice Harris in 1999.

Early life Jefferson grew up in Detroit, Michigan, having attended Martin Luther King High School. In high school, Jefferson played basketball and football, and was a Division I basketball player during his college years. Jefferson dropped from college after being shot in the leg during an argument at a party store in November 1993, ending his basketball career. His brother Kenyatta, a football player, was shot in the head and ended up partially paralyzed.

Amateur career Jefferson took up boxing in 1994, after a coach of the local boxing gym, Claude Strickland, spotted him shooting hoops at YMCA. Within three years Jefferson had won 16 fights, winning all but two of them by knockout inside three rounds. Jefferson won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the bout 79–73 and one judge having a score 77–75.

Having been described as a brawler and a fan friendly attraction, Jefferson became a frequently featured fighter on HBO. Jefferson then stepped up in competition, knocking out former world heavyweight title challenger Bert Cooper in the second round. This was the first twelve-round fight in Jefferson's professional career.

Six months later, Jefferson was scheduled to face Maurice Harris. Despite having 16–9–2 record, Harris was considered a formidable fighter, with Jim Lampley describing him as "the best 16–9 fighter out there". Harris' record included wins over then-undefeated David Izon and popular gatekeeper Jimmy Thunder and a split decision loss against faded Larry Holmes. Coming into the bout, Harris was on a seven-fight winning streak, which included a wide UD win over Jeremy Williams. The first round started with both fighters standing toe-to-toe and landing hard shots. In the second round, Jefferson dropped Harris twice. After relatively less action-packed fourth and fifth rounds, Jefferson dropped Harris again in the sixth with a series of body shots.

This win lined up a shot against David Izon. Throughout the fight, Jefferson was soundly outboxing Izon, confidently winning rounds. By the seventh round, HBO commentators suggested the fight to be stopped due to Izon absorbing too much punishment. In the eighth round, however, Jefferson appeared to have punched himself out. With 42 seconds left, Izon dropped Jefferson with a right hook. It appeared as if Jefferson have fallen down mostly due to exhaustion rather than Izon's punch.

Four months later, Jefferson was scheduled to fight highly ranked contender Oleg Maskaev. In the first round, Maskaev dropped Jefferson with the right hand. During the fall, Jefferson broke his ankle and was limping for the rest of the fight, struggling to put weight on his left leg. Jefferson was dropped again in the second. Jefferson, with 4–2 record in the last six fights, was given a shot at the WBO world heavyweight title against Wladimir Klitschko. For the bout, Jefferson weighed in at 260.25 lbs, the heaviest in his professional career and 20 pounds heavier than in his previous bout. The fight lasted only two rounds. In the first round, Klitschko knocked Jefferson down with a short left hook. After the first round Jefferson's left eye was swollen. Jefferson was knocked down twice more in round two, once with a straight right hand and again with another left hook, with the fight being stopped after the last knockdown, declaring Klitschko the winner by TKO in the second round. Jefferson earned $400,000 for the fight. and Sedreck Fields, Jefferson was allowed to participate in Thunderbox Heavyweight Tournament on November 30, 2002, promoted by Cedric Kushner. The tournament consisted of eight participants, which included two-time world heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon, former and future world heavyweight title challengers Tony Thompson, Ray Austin and Jeremy Williams, experienced journeyman Maurice Harris, who had entered the tournament after knocking out future world champion Siarhei Liakhovich, Each boxer, including Jefferson, was guaranteed $5,000 and the purse for the tournament winner was $100,000. All bouts took place at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey and were scheduled for three rounds. The bouts were aired in the UK on Eurosport. In the first round, Jefferson defeated Ray Austin by second-round stoppage, but was beaten by Tony Thompson on points in semifinals. Jefferson made one last world heavyweight title run, facing DaVarryl Williamson in an IBF eliminator. Williamson made quick work of Jefferson, winning by TKO in the 2nd, effectively ending Jefferson's career.

Professional boxing record

Loss

TKO 2 30/04/2005

Win

TKO 3 27/11/2004

Win

TD 8 27/02/2004

Win

SD 10 21/09/2002

Win

UD 10 16/02/2002

Win

KO 1 23/11/2001

Loss

TKO 2 24/03/2001

Win

TKO 1 04/11/2000

Loss

TKO 4 20/05/2000

Loss

TKO 9 15/01/2000

Win

KO 6 06/11/1999

Win

TKO 4 10/09/1999

Win

SD 12 20/05/1999

Win

TKO 2 04/03/1999

Draw

TD 2 07/01/1999

Win

UD 8 02/10/1998

Win

TKO 2 22/08/1998

Win

UD 10 24/05/1998

Win

KO 1 21/04/1998

Win

TKO 1 27/02/1998

Win

TKO 1 22/11/1997

Win

TKO 1 07/10/1997

Win

UD 6 21/08/1997

Win

KO 1 08/07/1997

Win

KO 1 26/04/1997

Win

KO 1 18/03/1997

Win

KO 1 21/12/1996

Win

KO 2 04/12/1996

Win

TKO 1 15/11/1996

Win

KO 1 08/10/1996

Win

TKO 3 23/10/1995

Win

KO 2 25/09/1995

Win

KO 1 19/06/1995