Otis Grant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Otis Grant |
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| Real name | Otis Grant | |||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Magic | |||||||||||||
| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 9+1/2 in | |||||||||||||
| Reach | 71 in | |||||||||||||
| Nationality | Canadian | |||||||||||||
| Born | December 23, 1967 Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica |
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| Stance | Southpaw | |||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 42 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 38 | |||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 17 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | |||||||||||||
| No contests | 0 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Otis Grant (born December 23, 1967) is a Canadian retired boxer. He was known as "Magic" in the ring. As an amateur, he won a silver medal for Canada at the 1987 Pan American Games. He also held the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) middleweight title twice. Otis Grant was the first Black Quebecer to win a WBO championship.
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Otis Grant's Early Life
Otis Grant was born in Saint Ann, Jamaica. When he was 9 years old, in 1977, his family moved to Montreal, Canada. He was good at many sports. He started boxing at age 11 with his older brother, Howard. His family called him "Magic" because he was so good at basketball, like the famous player Magic Johnson.
When he was 17, Grant won the Canadian Senior Amateur Boxing Championships. This win helped him join the Canadian national team. He competed at the World Youth Championship. Later, he won a silver medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. He then became a professional boxer.
Otis Grant's Boxing Career
Otis "Magic" Grant became a professional boxer in 1988. He won the vacant WBO middleweight title in 1997. He beat Ryan Rhodes in England to win the title. He held onto the belt after defending it in 1998.
Challenging Roy Jones Jr.
In 1998, Grant decided to give up his middleweight title. He wanted to challenge the champion, Roy Jones Jr.. This meant moving up two weight classes to the light heavyweight division. Grant was seen as the underdog in this big fight.
Roy Jones Jr. was stronger throughout the match. He knocked Grant down in the 6th and 10th rounds. After the second knockdown, Grant's trainer stopped the fight. This gave Roy Jones Jr. the win.
His Amazing Comeback
In 1999, Otis Grant was in a serious car accident. Doctors thought he might not be able to box again. But Grant was determined to return to the ring. He wanted to fight for another title as a super middleweight.
After four years away, he came back in 2003. He won his first fight against Dingaan Thobela. Grant then won six more fights in a row. In 2006, he fought Librado Andrade for a chance at a title. Grant's team stopped the fight in the 8th round. After this, Grant decided it was time to retire from boxing. He said he wanted to "bow out gracefully."
Otis Grant's Life Outside the Ring
His Education Journey
Otis Grant studied at Vanier College. He later became one of their most famous former students. After college, he went to Concordia University. He earned a degree in recreation and leisure studies in 1993.
Overcoming an Accident
In June 1999, Grant was in a serious car crash. He was driving and swerved to protect his passengers. He took the full impact of the crash on his side. His passengers were mostly unharmed. Grant went into a coma for seven days. He had serious injuries, but his strong physical condition helped save his life.
Doctors told him he would likely never box again. But Otis Grant proved them wrong! He made an amazing comeback in 2003. He won his first fight back against a former world champion.
Helping His Community
Otis Grant was asked to help a charity. He decided to use his name to help people in need. In 1999, he created the Otis Grant & Friends foundation. This charity helps fight hunger, poverty, and sickness.
The organization has grown a lot. It now gives food, clothes, and medicine to communities across Canada. They also send children to summer camps whose families can't afford it. The foundation helps students with special needs and gives scholarships for college.
Grant also works as a teacher's assistant and counselor. He helps students with special needs at Lindsay Place High School in Montreal. He is also a coordinator at Riverdale High School's community learning center. For all his good work, Otis Grant was named Concordia Alumnus of the Year in 2007.
Life After Boxing
Otis Grant and his brother, Howard Grant, own a boxing gym. It's called Grant Brothers Boxing in Montreal. There, Otis coaches and helps manage boxing events. He is also involved with two boxing brands, Grant Boxing and GBB.
He is married to Betty Mullins. They have two children, Alexandria and Andrew. Otis Grant lives with his family in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He even helped develop professional boxing gloves. These gloves are known for being very protective.
Otis Grant's Professional Boxing Record
| 42 fights | 38 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 17 | 3 |
| By decision | 21 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 38-3-1 |  Librado Andrade |
RTD | 7 (12) | 08/04/2006 |  Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec |
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| Win | 38-2-1 |  Donnell Wiggins |
UD | 10 | 29/10/2005 | Lac Leamy Casino, Gatineau, Quebec |
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| Win | 37-2-1 |  Charles Adamu |
UD | 12 | 18/06/2005 | Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec |
Retained WBC International super middleweight title |
| Win | 36-2-1 |  Nader Hamdan |
UD | 12 | 12/03/2005 | Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec |
Retained WBC International super middleweight title |
| Win | 35-2-1 |  Henry Porras |
UD | 12 | 11/12/2004 | Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec |
Won WBC International super middleweight title |
| Win | 34-2-1 | Mark Woolnough |
UD | 10 | 11/09/2004 | Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec |
Won Canada super middleweight title |
| Win | 33-2-1 | Prince Badi Ajamu |
MD | 10 | 24/04/2004 | Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec |
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| Win | 32-2-1 |  Dingaan Thobela |
UD | 8 | 22/11/2003 | Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec |
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| Loss | 31-2-1 | Roy Jones Jr. |
TKO | 10 (12) | 14/11/1998 | Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut |
For WBC and WBA light heavyweight titles |
| Win | 31-1-1 |  Ernesto Rafael Sena |
TD | 9 | 12/05/1998 | Corel Centre, Ottawa, Ontario |
Retained WBO middleweight title |
| Win | 30-1-1 |  Ryan Rhodes |
UD | 12 | 13/12/1997 | Ponds Forge, Sheffield, England |
Won vacant WBO middleweight title |
| Win | 29-1-1 |  Danny Garcia |
TKO | 7 (12) | 27/07/1997 | Belle Casino, Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
Retained NABF middleweight title |
| Draw | 28-1-1 | Lonnie Bradley |
PTS | 12 | 04/03/1997 | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada |
For WBO middleweight title |
| Win | 28-1 | Rodney Toney |
MD | 12 | 18/06/1996 | Convention Center, Edison, New Jersey |
Retained NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 27-1 | James Green |
TKO | 12 | 15/01/1996 | Landmark Inn, Woodbridge, New Jersey |
Retained NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 26-1 | Derrick James |
DQ | 11 (12) | 10/10/1995 | Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York |
Won NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 25-1 | Undra White |
UD | 10 | 24/02/1995 | Palais des Sports, Jonquière, Quebec |
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| Win | 24-1 | William Bo James |
PTS | 10 | 15/12/1994 | Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut |
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| Win | 23-1 | Jerry Lee Williams |
UD | 10 | 15/11/1994 | Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec |
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| Loss | 22-1 | Quincy Taylor |
KO | 12 (12) | 15/03/1994 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts |
Lost NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 22-0 | Willie Monroe |
UD | 12 | 05/10/1993 | The Riviera, Winchester, Nevada |
Retained NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 21-0 | Brett Lally |
TKO | 4 (12) | 03/08/1993 | The Riviera, Winchester, Nevada |
Retained NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 20-0 | Tyrone Moore |
KO | 2 (10) | 18/06/1993 | Hotel Le Roussillon, Jonquière, Quebec |
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| Win | 19-0 | Ron Collins |
UD | 12 | 08/12/1992 | Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec |
Retained NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 18-0 | Gilbert Baptist |
UD | 12 | 28/09/1992 | Verdun, Quebec |
Won vacant NABF middleweight title |
| Win | 17-0 | Todd Nadon |
TKO | 3 (12) | 17/03/1992 | Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec |
Retained Canada middleweight title |
| Win | 16-0 | Darryl Anthony |
UD | 10 | 10/12/1991 | Montreal, Quebec |
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| Win | 15-0 | Dan Sherry |
RTD | 7 (12) | 27/09/1991 | Memorial Arena, Niagara Falls, Ontario |
Won Canada middleweight title |
| Win | 14-0 | Eddie Tyler |
TKO | 2 (8) | 31/05/1991 | St. Joseph Arena, Shediac, New Brunswick |
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| Win | 13-0 | Jaime Ollenberger |
TKO | 3 (12) | 18/03/1991 | Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Won WBC Intercontinental super middleweight title |
| Win | 12-0 | Darrell Flint |
KO | 1 (8) | 25/10/1990 | Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec |
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| Win | 11-0 | Knox Brown |
TKO | 6 (10) | 02/10/1990 | The Palace, Laval, Quebec |
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| Win | 10-0 | Danny Mitchell |
UD | 8 | 01/08/1990 | Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario |
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| Win | 9-0 | Dwayne North |
KO | 1 | 11/04/1990 | Albany, New York |
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| Win | 8-0 | Art McCloud |
TKO | 1 | 03/10/1989 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Win | 7-0 | John Wilkinson |
TKO | 3 (6) | 27/06/1989 | Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec |
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| Win | 6-0 | Fred Johnson |
KO | 1 | 16/06/1989 | Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Win | 5-0 | Don Carroll |
PTS | 4 | 23/05/1989 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
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| Win | 4-0 | Stokely Crichlow |
TKO | 1 (6) | 05/05/1989 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Win | 3-0 | Alan Cormier |
TKO | 3 (4) | 28/04/1989 | Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, Massachusetts |
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| Win | 2-0 | Bernard Rompre |
TKO | 1 (4) | 20/03/1989 | Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec |
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| Win | 1-0 | John Gross |
UD | 4 | 29/11/1988 | Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec |
See also
- List of middleweight boxing champions
