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Badou Jack
Statistics
Nickname(s) The Ripper
Rated at
  • Super-middleweight
  • Light-heavyweight
  • Cruiserweight
Height 6 ft 1 in
Reach 73 in
Born (1983-10-31) 31 October 1983 (age 40)
Stockholm, Sweden
Boxing record
Total fights 34
Wins 28
Wins by KO 17
Losses 3
Draws 3

Badou Jack (born 31 October 1983) is a Gambian-Swedish professional boxer.

Amateur career

Jack began his amateur boxing career in 2001 at the age of 18. He held a record of 150 wins and 25 losses. He won Sweden's national championship five years in a row, 2004–2008, 4 times at middleweight and once at light heavyweight. Jack boxed for Djurgårdens IF. In 2007, Jack was named the boxer of the year by the Swedish Boxing Federation. In his last national championship in 2008 he defeated fellow rising star Erik Skoglund in the finals. He represented Sweden at light-heavyweight before changing to Gambia, where he qualified for the 2008 Games.

At the 2nd AIBA African 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament he breezed through the competition to win; the final was a shutout win over DR Congo's Herry Saliku Biembe. Jack qualified for the 2008 Olympics for Gambia in the middleweight division, and was the nation's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies. He lost in the first round to India's Vijender Singh.

Professional career

Jack started his professional career in his native Sweden where he won his debut fight by unanimous decision on 6 June 2009. His next four fights were contested in Sweden and Finland, with Jack winning each by KO/TKO, two in the first round.

Following his success, Jack was spotted by Floyd Mayweather in a sparring session in opposite Andre Dirrell. Mayweather was impressed and quickly signed Jack to Mayweather Promotions and to his team. On 2 February 2013 he defeated Jonel Tapia by knockout in the first round. Three weeks later he fought Don Mouton 23 February 2013 and won by unanimous decision (78–74 on all scorecards). On 4 May 2013 Jack took on Michael Gbenga and won by TKO from a body shot in round 3. Jack fought Farah Ennis on 19 July 2013. Jack won the fight by unanimous decision 100–90, 98–92, and 98–92.

In his first title fight, Jack challenged Marco Antonio Periban for the NABF super middleweight championship on 12 September 2013. After 10 rounds the fight was scored as a majority draw. In his next fight he took on Rogelio Medina on 6 December 2013. He won the fight by TKO after scoring 3 knockdowns in round 6.

On 17 February 2015 it was announced that Jack would be challenging undefeated Anthony Dirrell (27–0–1, 22 KOs) for his WBC super middleweight championship. As a voluntary defence, Jack was given little chance, most thinking that he would be knocked out. The fight took place on 24 April at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. Jack upset the boxing world by defeating Dirrell via majority decision 116–112, 115–113, and 114–114, taking more and more control of the fight as it went on and exposing the champions inability to fight on the inside. After the fight, Jack said, "I was in great shape and I believed in myself. All that talk don't matter. I knew they couldn't rob me. I thought I clearly won. It was a tough start to my career, but now, I'm a world champ."

On 17 June 2015 it was announced that Jack would make his first defence against mandatory challenger George Groves (21–2, 16 KOs) on 22 August in Las Vegas. This fight was Groves' third world title challenge, having lost back to back challenges against then world champion Carl Froch in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Jack was once again the underdog. Jack upset the odds again, defeating Groves. He dropped Groves in the first round and remained in control of the fight as it went on, making effective use of his body punches especially. He was victorious via split decision 115–112, 116–111, and 113–114. Groves felt as though he did enough to win and said, "Losing a world title fight is the worst feeling in the world."

Throughout his career Jack has held world titles in three weight classes, including the WBC cruiserweight title since February 2023, the WBC super-middleweight title from 2015 to 2017, and the WBA light-heavyweight title in 2017 (promoted from WBA (Regular) Champion).

Personal life

Jack was born to a Gambian father and a Swedish mother. He was raised in his father's religion of Islam and still adheres to it to this day. Jack now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jack is a close friend of the Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman. He has helped Kinnaman physically prepare for roles in Robocop and Suicide Squad.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
34 fights 28 wins 3 losses
By knockout 17 1
By decision 10 2
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
34 Win 28–3–3 Ilunga Makabu TKO 12 (12), 0:54 26 Feb 2023 Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia Won WBC cruiserweight title
33 Win 27–3–3 Richard Rivera SD 10 20 Aug 2022 King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
32 Win 26–3–3 Hany Atiyo KO 1 (10), 0:45 21 May 2022 Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
31 Win 25–3–3 Samuel Crossed KO 2 (10), 2:20 26 Nov 2021 Motospace Dubai Investment Park, Dubai, UAE
30 Win 24–3–3 Dervin Colina TKO 4 (10), 2:46 6 Jun 2021 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US
29 Win 23–3–3 Blake McKernan UD 8 28 Nov 2020 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, US
28 Loss 22–3–3 Jean Pascal SD 12 28 Dec 2019 State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, US For WBA (Regular) and WBC Silver light-heavyweight titles
27 Loss 22–2–3 Marcus Browne UD 12 19 Jan 2019 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US For vacant WBA interim and WBC Silver light-heavyweight titles
26 Draw 22–1–3 Adonis Stevenson MD 12 19 May 2018 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada For WBC light-heavyweight title
25 Win 22–1–2 Nathan Cleverly TKO 5 (12), 2:47 26 Aug 2017 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US Won WBA (Regular) light-heavyweight title
24 Draw 21–1–2 James DeGale MD 12 14 Jan 2017 Barclays Center, New York City, New York, US Retained WBC super-middleweight title;
For IBF, and vacant The Ring super-middleweight titles
23 Win 21–1–1 Lucian Bute DQ 12 30 Apr 2016 DC Armory, Washington, DC, US Retained WBC super-middleweight title;
Originally an MD, later ruled a DQ after Bute failed a drug test
22 Win 20–1–1 George Groves SD 12 12 Sep 2015 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US Retained WBC super-middleweight title
21 Win 19–1–1 Anthony Dirrell MD 12 24 Apr 2015 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US Won WBC super-middleweight title
20 Win 18–1–1 Francisco Sierra TKO 6 (10), 1:58 12 Dec 2014 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, US
19 Win 17–1–1 Jason Escalera UD 10 30 Aug 2014 Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, US
18 Loss 16–1–1 Derek Edwards TKO 1 (10), 1:01 28 Feb 2014 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, US
17 Win 16–0–1 Rogelio Medina TKO 6 (10), 2:30 6 Dec 2013 Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washington, US
16 Draw 15–0–1 Marco Antonio Peribán MD 10 12 Sep 2013 MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, Paradise, Nevada, US For WBC-NABF super-middleweight title
15 Win 15–0 Farah Ennis UD 10 19 Jul 2013 The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US
14 Win 14–0 Michael Gbenga KO 3 (8), 2:26 4 May 2013 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US
13 Win 13–0 Don Mouton UD 8 23 Feb 2013 Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan, US
12 Win 12–0 Jonel Tapia KO 1 (8), 1:47 2 Feb 2013 Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
11 Win 11–0 Alexander Brand SD 8 11 May 2012 Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, US
10 Win 10–0 Grover Young UD 6 7 Mar 2012 B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, New York City, New York, US
9 Win 9–0 Adam Collins TKO 1 (6), 2:28 25 Dec 2011 Mandalay Bay Islander Ballroom, Paradise, Nevada, US
8 Win 8–0 Eddie Caminero TKO 5 (6), 1:47 21 Oct 2011 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US
7 Win 7–0 Timothy Hall Jr. TKO 2 (4), 1:31 29 Jul 2011 Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
6 Win 6–0 Hajro Sujak TKO 5 (6) 4 Jun 2011 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
5 Win 5–0 Aliaksandr Paluyanau TKO 3 (4) 10 Sep 2010 Baltiska hallen, Malmö, Sweden
4 Win 4–0 Aleksandrs Taputs TKO 1 (4), 2:28 14 Nov 2009 Maapohjahalli, Vaasa, Finland
3 Win 3–0 Vadim Chromych TKO 3 (4) 4 Sep 2009 Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad, Sweden
2 Win 2–0 Dmitry Gavrilov KO 1 (4), 0:47 8 Aug 2009 Ulvila, Finland
1 Win 1–0 Maxim Nikonorov UD 4 6 Jun 2009 Sporthall, Tidaholm, Sweden

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Badou Jack para niños

  • List of world super-middleweight boxing champions
  • List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions
  • List of world cruiserweight boxing champions
  • List of boxing triple champions
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