Otis Grant

Otis Grant (born December 23, 1967) is a Canadian retired boxer. As an amateur he won a silver medal for Canada at the 1987 Pan American Games, losing to Cuba's Angel Espinosa in the final. He is a two-time North American Boxing Federation (NABF) middleweight title holder, as well as recognized for being the first black Quebecer to win a WBO championship.

Early life Born in Saint Ann, Jamaica, Otis and his family moved to Montreal in 1977, when he was 9 years old. A multi sport athlete, he began boxing at age 11 alongside his older brother Howard, and earned the nickname "Magic" from family members who related his basketball ability to hall of famer Magic Johnson. This would propel him to compete at the World Youth Championship for the Canadian national team, despite his junior status.

Professional career Known as "Magic", Grant turned pro in 1988 and captured the vacant WBO middleweight title in 1997 with a decision over Ryan Rhodes in England. He vacated the belt following a defense against Ernesto Rafael Sena in 1998.

Fight vs Roy Jones Jr.

After a successful career thus far as the middleweight title holder, Grant vacated his belt to challenge prevailing champ Roy Jones Jr. in 1998 for the WBC and WBA light heavyweight titles, moving up two weight classes to make his debut in the light heavyweight division. The fighters decided on a catch-weight match, with Grant and Jones Jr. coming into the ring at 172 lbs (78 kg)and 171 lbs (77.56 kg), respectively. Grant had been a large underdog coming into the fight. Jones Jr. had the upper hand throughout the match up, earning knock downs in the 6th and 10th rounds. After his second knock down in the 10th round, Grant's trainer Russ Anber threw in the towel, giving Jones Jr. the TKO victory.

Comeback Following Grant's near-fatal car crash in 1999, doctors stated that although his superb condition saved his life, In addition to this, the organization sends children to summer camps whose families can't afford it, gives aid to students in special education at the high school level, as well as providing scholarships to graduating high school students who plan on post-secondary studies.

Grant also spends time working as a teacher's assistant and counsellor for students in special education at Lindsay Place, a local high school in Montreal, helping them adjust to school life. He is currently the coordinator at the community learning centre at Riverdale high school.

For all of his actions and benevolence towards the community, Otis Grant had been named the 2007 Concordia Alumnus of the year.

Future outside the ring Otis Grant, along with his brother Howard Grant, own a boxing gym in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Montreal, named Grant Brothers Boxing where he coaches and manages amateur boxing events and also professional events in association with Rixa Promotions and Groupe Yvon Michel. he is also involved in two boxing brands: Grant Boxing and GBB. He is married to Betty Mullins and has two children Alexandria and Andrew. He lives with his family in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The professional boxing gloves he helped develop ranked as the best gloves in term of protection with an average of 0.0005% ratio of injuries while according to the John Hopkin's Medical School is 3.6%.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotesLoss Librado AndradeRTD08/04/2006 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecWin Donnell WigginsUD1029/10/2005 Lac Leamy Casino, Gatineau, QuebecWin Charles AdamuUD1218/06/2005 Bell Centre, Montreal, QuebecWin Nader HamdanUD1212/03/2005 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecWin Henry PorrasUD1211/12/2004 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecWin Mark WoolnoughUD1011/09/2004 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecWin Prince Badi AjamuMD1024/04/2004 Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, QuebecWin Dingaan ThobelaUD822/11/2003 Bell Centre, Montreal, QuebecLoss Roy Jones Jr.TKO14/11/1998 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, ConnecticutWin Ernesto Rafael SenaTD912/05/1998 Corel Centre, Ottawa, OntarioWin Ryan RhodesUD1213/12/1997 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, EnglandWin Danny GarciaTKO27/07/1997 Belle Casino, Baton Rouge, LouisianaDraw Lonnie BradleyPTS1204/03/1997 The Aladdin, Paradise, NevadaWin Rodney ToneyMD1218/06/1996 Convention Center, Edison, New JerseyWin James GreenTKO1215/01/1996 Landmark Inn, Woodbridge, New JerseyWin Derrick JamesDQ10/10/1995 Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New YorkWin Undra WhiteUD1024/02/1995 Palais des Sports, Jonquière, QuebecWin William Bo JamesPTS1015/12/1994 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, ConnecticutWin Jerry Lee WilliamsUD1015/11/1994 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QuebecLoss Quincy TaylorKO15/03/1994 The Roxy, Boston, MassachusettsWin Willie MonroeUD1205/10/1993 The Riviera, Winchester, NevadaWin Brett LallyTKO03/08/1993 The Riviera, Winchester, NevadaWin Tyrone MooreKO18/06/1993 Hotel Le Roussillon, Jonquière, QuebecWin Ron CollinsUD1208/12/1992 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QuebecWin Gilbert BaptistUD1228/09/1992 Verdun, QuebecWin Todd NadonTKO17/03/1992 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QuebecWin Darryl AnthonyUD1010/12/1991 Montreal, QuebecWin Dan SherryRTD27/09/1991 Memorial Arena, Niagara Falls, OntarioWin Eddie TylerTKO31/05/1991 St. Joseph Arena, Shediac, New BrunswickWin Jaime OllenbergerTKO18/03/1991 Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova ScotiaWin Darrell FlintKO25/10/1990 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QuebecWin Knox BrownTKO02/10/1990 The Palace, Laval, QuebecWin Danny MitchellUD801/08/1990 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, OntarioWin Dwayne NorthKO111/04/1990 Albany, New YorkWin Art McCloudTKO03/10/1989 The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWin John WilkinsonTKO27/06/1989 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, QuebecWin Fred JohnsonKO16/06/1989 Hartford, ConnecticutWin Don CarrollPTS423/05/1989 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New JerseyWin Stokely CrichlowTKO05/05/1989 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, ConnecticutWin Alan CormierTKO28/04/1989 Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, MassachusettsWin Bernard RompreTKO20/03/1989 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, QuebecWin John GrossUD429/11/1988 Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec