Jesse Ferguson facts for kids

Jesse Ferguson (born March 20, 1957), also known as "The Boogieman," is a retired American boxer. He was a top heavyweight fighter who competed against many of the biggest names in boxing during the 1980s and 1990s.

Ferguson is famous for his victories over world champions like Buster Douglas and Ray Mercer. His career was full of exciting matches against the stars of his time.

Early Life and Military Service

Jesse Ferguson grew up in Knightdale, North Carolina. He was one of 13 children in a family of tobacco farm workers.

He did not start boxing until he was 22 years old. At the time, he was serving in the U.S. Marines. This is where he first learned the sport that would shape his life.

Professional Boxing Career

A Strong Start

Ferguson became a professional boxer in 1983 when he was 25. He started his career with an amazing streak of 10 straight wins, all by knockout. To make ends meet, he also worked as a construction worker and a security guard.

His success earned him a spot in a tournament for young heavyweights on ESPN in 1985. He won the tournament, and his most important victory was against James "Buster" Douglas. This win became even more famous years later when Douglas defeated Mike Tyson to become the world champion.

After winning the tournament, Ferguson's success hit a roadblock. He lost a tough fight to Carl "The Truth" Williams.

Fighting Mike Tyson

In 1986, Ferguson faced a young, undefeated boxer named Mike Tyson. It was Tyson's first fight on national television. Tyson was very powerful and broke Ferguson's nose during the fight. The referee stopped the match in the sixth round, giving Tyson the win.

For a while, Ferguson worked as a sparring partner. This means he helped other top boxers like Lennox Lewis and Michael Moorer train for their fights.

A Tough Journey

For the next few years, Ferguson found it hard to get big fights. He was known as a "journeyman," a skilled boxer who often fought against rising stars. He lost fights to future world champions like Oliver McCall and Bruce Seldon.

Even in these losses, Ferguson showed great talent. Many people thought he deserved to win some of the fights that were given to his opponents. He also had decision losses to former champions Michael Dokes and Tony Tubbs. But in 1993, his luck began to change.

A Shot at the Title

The Big Upset

On February 6, 1993, Ferguson was scheduled to fight Ray Mercer, a former world champion. Most people thought it would be an easy win for Mercer. However, Ferguson surprised everyone by out-boxing his opponent and winning the fight.

This victory was a huge upset and earned Ferguson a chance to fight for the world championship. The win was a bit controversial, as there were questions about whether the match had been completely fair.

Fighting for the Championship

On May 22, 1993, Ferguson fought Riddick Bowe for the WBA heavyweight title. The fight took place at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Ferguson was in the best shape of his career.

Despite his confidence, Bowe proved to be too strong. Ferguson was knocked down late in the first round. He was knocked down again at the start of the second round, and Bowe won the fight by knockout.

Later Career and Retirement

Even after the loss to Bowe, Ferguson continued to fight. He had a rematch with Ray Mercer, which he lost in a close decision. He also fought other famous boxers like Frank Bruno and the legendary Larry Holmes.

In 1995, Ferguson seemed to lose some of his passion for boxing. He lost several fights where he did not appear to be trying his best.

Return to Form

In 1996, Ferguson's career got a second wind. He was hired to be a sparring partner for Mike Tyson. This experience helped him regain his confidence.

At age 39, he returned to the ring and started winning again. He had a big win on HBO against Samson Po'uha in 1997. In 1998, at age 40, he fought a young, powerful contender named Hasim Rahman. Ferguson lost the fight, but Rahman would later become a world champion.

Ferguson's last major fight was in 1999 against Andrew Golota. He took the fight on short notice and lost by decision. After this, he found it difficult to get more fights and his career came to an end.

Jesse Ferguson retired with a final record of 26 wins, 18 losses, and 16 knockouts. He is remembered as a tough and skilled boxer who was a true test for any opponent.