Howard Grant (boxer) facts for kids

Howard Grant was born on June 22, 1966, in Saint Ann, Jamaica. He is a retired Canadian boxer who competed in the light-welterweight division. This weight class is for boxers weighing up to 63.5 kilograms. Howard lived in Montréal, Quebec, and proudly represented Canada in many big competitions.

He won a gold medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. He also competed for Canada at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Today, Howard is famous for training top fighters. He and his brother, Otis Grant, own a gym called Grant Brothers Boxing in Montreal. They train both professional and amateur athletes there. Howard also helps develop boxing products with brands like Grant Boxing and GBB. He has even trained former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre in boxing.

Howard Grant's Amateur Boxing Career

Howard Grant began his boxing journey in Montreal in 1979. He slowly improved his skills. A coach named Pierre Gauthier from the Saint Laurent Boxing Club noticed Howard's talent. Later, Russ Anber coached Howard as he started competing in amateur boxing tournaments.

Early Success as a Junior Boxer

When Howard was 15, he won his first big award. He captured a gold medal in the Bantamweight division. This was at a tournament in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1981. One year later, in 1982, he won another gold medal. This time it was in the Featherweight division at a tournament in Montreal.

Winning Gold at the Canada Games

In 1983, Howard Grant represented Quebec at the Canada Games. He fought against James Hope from Ontario. Howard won the gold medal in the Lightweight division. This big win took place in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean.

Bronze at the World Juniors

Later in 1983, Howard competed in the World Juniors in the Dominican Republic. He earned a bronze medal in the Lightweight Division. He lost to Angel Espinosa in the semi-finals. Howard Grant remembers Angel Espinosa as one of his toughest opponents.

Canadian National Champion

In 1984, Howard won the gold medal at the Canadian Nationals. This tournament was held in Nova Scotia. He was the champion in the Lightweight Division.

International Tournaments in Europe

From 1984 to 1986, Howard Grant traveled to Europe. He represented Canada in many tournaments. He won silver medals at the Stockholm Boxing Open in Sweden. He also took silver at the Tammer Tournament in Finland.

Silver at World Amateur Championships

In 1986, Howard Grant won a silver medal. This was at the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Reno, Nevada. He was defeated by Vasily Shisov in the final match.

Gold at the Commonwealth Games

Howard achieved his biggest victory in 1986. He won a gold medal for Canada at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. He defeated David Clencie by points in the Light-Welterweight Division. Another famous boxer, Lennox Lewis, also won gold in his division at these games.

More International Gold Medals

In 1987, Howard continued his winning streak. He captured a gold medal at the International Tournament in Albena, Bulgaria. He also won the President's Cup in Indonesia that same year. Both wins were in the Light-welterweight division.

Competing at the Summer Olympics

Howard Grant competed at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. He won his first fight against Andreas Otto from East Germany. The referee stopped the contest in the first round. In the next round, he faced Lars Myrberg of Sweden. Howard lost by a split decision. Lars Myrberg later won a bronze medal at the Olympics.

• Round of 64: He had a bye (did not have to fight).
• Round of 32: He beat Andreas Otto (East Germany).
• Round of 16: He lost to Lars Myberg (Sweden).

Howard Grant's Professional Boxing Career

After the 1988 Olympics, Howard Grant became a professional boxer. He started his pro career very well. He won his first six professional fights. He was undefeated in his first 17 matches. Overall, Howard had a professional record of 16 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. He fought against well-known champions like Stevie Johnston, Jake Rodriguez, and Billy Schwer.

Howard Grant's Life After Boxing

Howard Grant never stopped loving boxing. After his fighting career ended, he became a coach. He now trains new boxers and mixed martial artists.

In 2003, Howard and his brother, Otis Grant, opened the Grant Brothers Boxing Gym. Otis is a former WBO Middleweight Champion. Howard has used his experience to train many famous fighters. Some of the boxers he coached include his brother Otis, Tony Pep, Lucien Bute, and Joachim Alcine.

Howard has also trained many successful mixed martial artists (MMA) fighters. These include future UFC Hall of Famer Georges St. Pierre. He also trained current Bellator Welterweight World Champion Rory MacDonald. Other notable MMA fighters he coached are Patrick Côté, David L’Oiseau, and Valerie Letourneau.