Virgil Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Virgil Hill
Hill in 2015
Statistics
Real name	Virgil Eugene Hill
Nickname(s)	Quicksilver
Rated at	Light heavyweight Cruiserweight
Height	6 ft 0+1/2 in
Reach	77 in
Born	(1964-01-18) January 18, 1964 (age 61) Clinton, Missouri, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	58
Wins	51
Wins by KO	24
Losses	7
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  United States Olympic Games Silver 1984 Los Angeles Middleweight World Cup Bronze 1983 Rome Middleweight

Virgil Eugene Hill (born January 18, 1964) is a famous American former professional boxer. He competed in boxing from 1984 to 2007, and then again in 2015. Virgil Hill was a world champion in two different weight classes. He held the WBA light heavyweight title two times. He also held the IBF and lineal light heavyweight titles. Later, he won the WBA cruiserweight title twice. Before turning professional, Virgil Hill was an amazing amateur boxer. He won a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. In 2013, he was honored by being added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Virgil Hill's Early Boxing Days

As an amateur boxer, Virgil Hill showed great talent. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he represented the United States. He competed in the middleweight division, which is for boxers weighing around 165 pounds. Virgil Hill performed very well and won a silver medal at these Olympic Games.

Here are his results from the 1984 Olympics:

• He defeated Edward Neblett from Barbados.
• He won against Brian Schumacher from Great Britain.
• He beat Damir Škaro from Yugoslavia.
• He also defeated Mohamed Zaoui from Algeria.
• In the final match, he lost a very close decision to Shin Joon-Sup from South Korea.

Virgil Hill was also the National Golden Gloves champion in 1984. This is a big achievement for amateur boxers in the United States. He finished his amateur career with an impressive record. He had 288 wins and only 11 losses.

Becoming a Professional Boxer

Virgil Hill started his professional boxing career in 1984. He quickly became known as 'Quicksilver' because of his speed. He won his first eighteen fights without a single loss. This showed everyone he was a rising star.

Winning the Light Heavyweight Title

In September 1987, Virgil Hill got his first chance to fight for a world title. He challenged Leslie Stewart from Trinidad for the WBA light heavyweight title. The fight took place in Atlantic City. The match was close at the start. But in the fourth round, Hill knocked Stewart down twice. He won the title by Knockout.

After winning the title, Virgil Hill defended it ten times successfully. Many of these fights happened in Bismarck, North Dakota. He chose to fight in his home state to be close to his fans. Some of the boxers he defeated during this time included Bobby Czyz and James Kinchen.

Losing and Regaining the Title

In June 1991, a famous boxer named Thomas Hearns fought Virgil Hill. Hearns defeated Hill by decision in Las Vegas. This ended Hill's first time as champion.

But Virgil Hill didn't give up. In September 1992, he fought his 1984 Olympic teammate, Frank Tate. They fought for the vacant WBA light heavyweight title. It was a tough match, but Hill won the title back in Bismarck. He then defended this title ten more times. This included another win against Frank Tate and a close fight with Lou Del Valle.

Unifying World Titles

In November 1996, Virgil Hill faced Henry Maske, an undefeated champion from Germany. Hill won this fight in Munich. This victory meant he now held both the WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles. He also won the vacant Lineal championship.

In June 1997, another champion, Dariusz Michalczewski, defeated Hill. Michalczewski won by a unanimous decision in Germany. This fight unified the WBA, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles. The next year, Hill fought Roy Jones Jr.. He lost this fight in the fourth round from a body shot.

Moving to Cruiserweight

As he got older, Virgil Hill moved up to the cruiserweight division. This division is for heavier boxers. At age 36, he won the WBA cruiserweight title. He defeated Fabrice Tiozzo in France by TKO in the first round.

He defended his new title once, also in France. But he lost the match and the title to Jean-Marc Mormeck after nine rounds due to cuts. In July 2003, he won a decision against Donny Lalonde. He later lost a close rematch to Mormeck in South Africa in May 2004.

Winning Another World Title

On January 27, 2006, Virgil Hill won another world title. He defeated Valery Brudov, an undefeated Russian cruiserweight. Hill won by a unanimous decision. Even though he was cut in the sixth round, Hill, at 42 years old, outworked his younger opponent. This made him a world champion for the fifth time!

He had his next-to-last fight in Germany in March 2007. He faced Henry Maske again, whom he had beaten in 1996. Maske had retired after their first fight but decided to come back for a rematch. Hill lost this non-title rematch by decision. He then lost his WBA cruiserweight title to Firat Arslan by decision.

Virgil Hill officially retired with a great record. He had 50 wins, with 23 of them by knockout, and only 7 losses.

Hall of Fame Recognition

On November 12, 2012, Virgil Hill received a huge honor. He was officially inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. This means he is recognized as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Images for kids

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  Virgil Hill in 2015

See also

• List of light heavyweight boxing champions
• List of WBA world champions
• List of IBF world champions