Emanuel Augustus
Encyclopedia
Emanuel Augustus (born 1975 in Chicago
, Illinois
) is a professional boxer
. He fights out of Brownsville, Texas
and boxed out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. He currently resides in Brownsville, Texas
, and boxed at Grechy's Pound 4 Pound Gym located in Sydney, Australia for a brief period of time.
Augustus began his boxing career under his birth name Emanuel Burton. However, in 2001, when his parents married, Burton adopted his father's last name of Augustus. He retained the nickname "YA", short for his middle name Ya'Kov. Emanuel has frequently appeared on ESPN2's boxing programs Tuesday Night Fights and its counterpart Friday Night Fights. He achieved a measure of fame after his bout against Courtney Burton on July 6, 2004, which he lost by an extremely controversial decision. The state of Michigan investigated the verdict but did not overturn it. Augustus avenged that loss September 1, 2006, when he stopped Burton in the 8th round on ESPN.
Augustus' televised bouts have garnered him a cult following in part due to his unique style and flair in the ring and his willingness to take on all comers, sometimes taking fights on short notice as a last minute replacement, even in his opponents' hometowns. Augustus frequently clowns in the ring, engaging in his trademark "string-puppet dance." As a result, Augustus is also known for losing close or controversial decisions.
The best win of Augustus' career ratings wise was against Carlos Wilfredo Vilches on the 19th of July, 2002. Augustus took the fight on just 2 days notice after Vilches' original opponent, Vince Phillips, pulled out due to injury. Vilches was 37-1-2 at the time and was a ranked fighter. During the bout Vilches wanted to keep Augustus at bay with a stiff jab but Augustus continued to pressure Vilches and begun to land counter right hands over the top of Vilches' jab. A cut opened up near the left eye of Vilches, which eventually resulted in a stoppage in the 8th round. The win vaulted Augustus to #2 in the IBF Light-Welterweight division, however he followed it up with 4 decision losses and 1 controversial draw to tough opponents including Omar Gabriel Weis, whom Vilches already held a victory over.
champion between April 2, 2004, and June 18 of that year. Augustus lost his title when referee Laurence Cole disqualified him in his first title defense against Tomas Barrientes. At the time of disqualification Augustus was ahead on all three judges' scorecards.
On December 9, 2006, Augustus became the WBC
Continental Americas super lightweight champion by defeating Russell Stoner Jones.
On July 4, 2008, knocked out Jakkirt Suwunnalirt in Sydney, Australia, to win the WBO
Oriental welterweight title.
on July 13, 2001, was voted 2001 ESPN "Fight of the Year." as well as 2001 Ring magazine Fight of the Year
. In June 2008 ESPN announced that this fight had been nominated for ESPN "Fight of the Decade" award.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) is a professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He fights out of Brownsville, Texas
Personal
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Augustus grew up in LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and boxed out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. He currently resides in Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
, and boxed at Grechy's Pound 4 Pound Gym located in Sydney, Australia for a brief period of time.
Professional career
Augustus has a record of 38 wins, 33 losses and 6 draws.Augustus began his boxing career under his birth name Emanuel Burton. However, in 2001, when his parents married, Burton adopted his father's last name of Augustus. He retained the nickname "YA", short for his middle name Ya'Kov. Emanuel has frequently appeared on ESPN2's boxing programs Tuesday Night Fights and its counterpart Friday Night Fights. He achieved a measure of fame after his bout against Courtney Burton on July 6, 2004, which he lost by an extremely controversial decision. The state of Michigan investigated the verdict but did not overturn it. Augustus avenged that loss September 1, 2006, when he stopped Burton in the 8th round on ESPN.
Augustus' televised bouts have garnered him a cult following in part due to his unique style and flair in the ring and his willingness to take on all comers, sometimes taking fights on short notice as a last minute replacement, even in his opponents' hometowns. Augustus frequently clowns in the ring, engaging in his trademark "string-puppet dance." As a result, Augustus is also known for losing close or controversial decisions.
The best win of Augustus' career ratings wise was against Carlos Wilfredo Vilches on the 19th of July, 2002. Augustus took the fight on just 2 days notice after Vilches' original opponent, Vince Phillips, pulled out due to injury. Vilches was 37-1-2 at the time and was a ranked fighter. During the bout Vilches wanted to keep Augustus at bay with a stiff jab but Augustus continued to pressure Vilches and begun to land counter right hands over the top of Vilches' jab. A cut opened up near the left eye of Vilches, which eventually resulted in a stoppage in the 8th round. The win vaulted Augustus to #2 in the IBF Light-Welterweight division, however he followed it up with 4 decision losses and 1 controversial draw to tough opponents including Omar Gabriel Weis, whom Vilches already held a victory over.
Titles
Augustus was the International Boxing Association light welterweightLight welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
champion between April 2, 2004, and June 18 of that year. Augustus lost his title when referee Laurence Cole disqualified him in his first title defense against Tomas Barrientes. At the time of disqualification Augustus was ahead on all three judges' scorecards.
On December 9, 2006, Augustus became the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Continental Americas super lightweight champion by defeating Russell Stoner Jones.
On July 4, 2008, knocked out Jakkirt Suwunnalirt in Sydney, Australia, to win the WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
Oriental welterweight title.
Other achievements
His fight against "Irish" Micky WardMicky Ward
Micky Ward , nicknamed Irish, is a retired American junior welterweight professional boxer and a former WBU champion from Lowell, Massachusetts...
on July 13, 2001, was voted 2001 ESPN "Fight of the Year." as well as 2001 Ring magazine Fight of the Year
Ring Magazine fights of the year
The Ring was established in 1922 and since 1945, it has named a Fight of the Year.-1940s:*1945 - Rocky Graziano KO 10 Red Cochrane I*1946 - Tony Zale KO 6 Rocky Graziano I*1947 - Rocky Graziano KO 6 Tony Zale II...
. In June 2008 ESPN announced that this fight had been nominated for ESPN "Fight of the Decade" award.
Outside the Ring
Augustus is the subject of a documentary film entitled "The Journeyman" currently being filmed in Brownsville, Texas. Documentary filmmaker Sean Lynn will follow Augustus until he gets a shot at a world title or retires. Filming began in March 2006.External links
- Official Emanuel Augustus Myspace Page
- Official Emanuel Augustus You Tube Page
- Emanuel Augustus Watch, news service to alert public of Augustus' coming fights
- Augustus interviewed in 2005
- Augustus chat plus fight clips October 2006