Tavoris Cloud facts for kids

Tavoris Karod Cloud, born on January 10, 1982, is an American professional boxer. He was a champion in the light heavyweight division, holding the IBF title from 2009 to 2013. His nickname is "Thunder."

Growing Up

Tavoris Cloud had a difficult childhood. He grew up in a tough neighborhood. His home was small, sometimes with 10 to 15 people living there. His family was very poor. They even used a foot tub with ice as a refrigerator.

When Tavoris was about 14 or 15, he decided he wanted to change things. His boxing coach, Alonzo Johnson, helped him. Johnson trained Tavoris during his high school years. He also let Tavoris live with him. Johnson continued to be in Tavoris's corner during his professional fights.

Amateur Boxing Career

Before turning professional, Tavoris Cloud was an amateur boxer. In 2002, he competed in the U.S. national amateur championships. He reached the final round in the light heavyweight division. He lost that final match to another boxer named Curtis Stevens.

Professional Boxing Journey

Tavoris Cloud started his professional boxing career. He quickly showed his strength and skill.

Becoming a Champion

On August 8, 2008, Tavoris fought Julio César González. This fight was important because the winner would get a chance to fight for the IBF Light Heavyweight title. Cloud won the fight by a technical knockout (TKO) in the tenth round. He was very strong from the start. He landed many powerful punches, like uppercuts and left hooks. The referee stopped the fight because González was taking too many hits.

Tavoris Cloud then won the IBF Light Heavyweight title. He fought Clinton Woods on August 28, 2009. The previous champion had given up the belt, so Tavoris and Woods fought for the vacant title. Cloud threw over 1000 punches in the fight. This is a very high number for a boxer in his weight class. He won the fight by a unanimous decision after 12 rounds. This means all the judges agreed he was the winner.

Defending His Title

Tavoris Cloud successfully defended his IBF title several times.

• On August 7, 2010, he defeated Glen Johnson by unanimous decision.
• He then faced Fulgencio Zuniga, a boxer known for his knockouts. Cloud won this fight by unanimous decision as well.
• After that, Cloud won another fight by TKO against Yusaf Mack.

His fight against Gabriel Campillo on February 18, 2012, was a close one. Cloud won by a split decision. This means some judges thought he won, and others thought Campillo won. There was some debate among fans about the result. Cloud later explained that the referee did not allow standing eight counts. This rule meant the fight continued even after he knocked Campillo down early.

Tavoris Cloud was supposed to fight Jean Pascal on August 11, 2012. However, Pascal pulled out of the fight. He said he had a hand injury. Cloud believed the injury was not real.

Later Fights

Tavoris Cloud faced Bernard Hopkins on March 9, 2013. This was a big fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Cloud lost his IBF Championship in this match. Hopkins won by a unanimous decision after 12 rounds.

In September 2013, Cloud fought Adonis Stevenson for the WBC light-heavyweight title. Cloud took a lot of hits in this fight. His corner decided to stop the fight, meaning he quit.

On September 27, 2014, Cloud fought Artur Beterbiev. Cloud was outmatched in this fight. He was knocked down three times in the first round. He was knocked down again early in the second round. The referee stopped the fight, and Cloud lost by knockout. This was his third loss in a row.

After this, Tavoris Cloud took a long break from boxing. He returned to the ring on November 20, 2020. He successfully defeated Ryan Soft by TKO in Daytona Beach, Florida. This showed his determination to make a comeback.

Professional Boxing Record