Marvin Camel facts for kids

Marvin Camel (born December 24, 1951) is a Native American former professional boxer. He competed from 1974 to 1990. Marvin Camel made history as the first ever cruiserweight world champion. He held the WBC title in 1980 and the IBF title from 1983 to 1984. He was also the first Native American boxer to become a major world champion.

Early Life and Boxing Start

Marvin Camel was born on December 24, 1951, in Ronan, Montana, U.S. This area is part of the Flathead Indian Reservation. His mother, Alice Nenemay, was from the Pend d'Oreilles tribe. Through her, Marvin is a registered member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. His father was Henry Camel Sr., an African-American veteran.

Marvin grew up in a big family with 13 brothers and sisters. Life was tough, and they faced challenges, including bullying. Marvin and his siblings often had to defend themselves. This early experience helped him become strong and determined.

High School Sports Star

In high school, Marvin was a fantastic athlete. He set a school record in track and was a top player in football and basketball. He even played baseball for a while.

At 15, Marvin started boxing. He quickly became a local champion in amateur boxing events like the AAU and Golden Gloves. He reached the national finals in these competitions 15 times. This showed he had a special talent for boxing.

Marvin Camel's Professional Boxing Career

Marvin Camel became a professional boxer in 1974. He is most famous for his role in creating the cruiserweight boxing division. This weight class is for boxers who are heavier than light heavyweights but lighter than heavyweights.

Becoming the First Cruiserweight Champion

On June 5, 1979, Marvin Camel fought Bill Sharkey for the first-ever North American Boxing Federation (NABF) cruiserweight title. Marvin won this important match.

This win led to the World Boxing Council (WBC) creating a world cruiserweight title. Marvin Camel then fought Mate Parlov on December 8, 1979, in Yugoslavia. Their first fight ended in a draw.

In the rematch, held in Las Vegas, Marvin Camel defeated Mate Parlov. This victory made him the very first WBC world Cruiserweight champion in 1980. He later lost this title to Carlos De León.

Winning a Second World Title

After losing to De Leon again, Marvin Camel made another comeback. In 1983, he became the first world champion for the IBF. He won this title by beating Roddy McDonald. This made Marvin a two-time world cruiserweight champion! He later lost this IBF title to Lee Roy Murphy.

Marvin Camel's boxing career took him all over the world. He fought in 13 different states in the U.S. and in seven other countries across three continents. His final fight was in June 1990. He ended his career with an impressive record of 45 wins, 13 losses, and 4 draws.

In 2015, Marvin shared his thoughts on his career: "I’ve had a good life, as far as boxing is concerned, winning two world titles, losing world titles, seeing the world. Some things people only dream about having, I did it. I’ve been there. I’ve been to the top of the mountain."

Book About Marvin Camel

A book about Marvin Camel's life, called 'Warrior in the Ring', was released in December 2014. It was written by Brian D'Ambrosio. The book was nominated for several awards, including the High Plains Book Award.

Honors and Recognition

Marvin Camel's achievements in boxing have been recognized. In 2006, at the World Boxing Council's 44th annual convention, WBC President José Sulaimán gave him an honorary champion status. This means he was honored for his great contributions to boxing.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

Marvin Camel had a long and successful professional boxing career. Here is a quick look at his overall record:

Images for kids

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  Brian D'Ambrosio, the author, with Marvin Camel.

See also

• List of cruiserweight boxing champions