Michael Gibbons (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Michael "The Godfather" Gibbons (The Fighting Pride of Birmingham, Al) (born September 23, 1978 in Midfield
, Alabama
) is a left-handed lightweight prizefighter
known for his uncanny ability to make people miss him with punches. He is the reigning Southern Championship Boxing Council Junior Welterweight
Champion and as an amateur won the 2004 Alabama State Golden Gloves
title, 2005 Alabama State Golden Gloves title, 2006 Alabama State Golden Gloves 132-pound open division championship. He also won the 2005 Southeastern Association Championship.
Gibbons was turned onto the sport in high school at the age of 16 when he saw Pernell Whitaker fight Buddy McGirt on HBO
on October 1, 1994. He began collecting fight tapes emulating what he saw. He graduated from Midfield High School in 1996 and trained locally until his coaches' houses were destroyed by the 1998 F-5
Oak Grove tornado.
He continued fighting in "Tough Man" competitions while a student at UAB and for a semester of law school. He worked in local advertising firms and soon joined up with boxing coaches Curt McCune
and Jake Guercio of Champions Boxing and Fitness in Pelham and began boxing on the amateur circuit compiling a 21-3 amateur record.
In August 2006 Gibbons relocated to Brooklyn, New York to train at the legendary Gleason's Gym. He trained there with Guyanese Olympian Darius Forde and sparred with fighters from Lennox Blackmoore's stable. Working to begin his professional career and be the only active professional from the city of Birmingham. Gibbons landed a slot against Kevin Huddleston in an undercard fight in Tunica, Mississippi on April 28, 2007. He returned to Alabama to prepare for the bout, only to have Huddleston withdraw.
Gibbons ended up making his debut on September 14 against Corey Frizzell at the National Guard Armory in Columbia, Tennessee. Gibbons dominated the four-round fight and began preparing for a December 4 card in Memphis. That fight was canceled. He next defeated Josh Welch on January 26, 2008 in a bout at the Birmingham Race Course.
Gibbons followed that with a 4-round decision over 8-2 Anthony Middlebrooks of Tuscaloosa, also at the Birmingham Race Course. After 3 wins and no losses, Gibbons became the Southern Championship Boxing Council Junior Welterweight Champion.
Gibbons next bout took place June 28 in Bay St. Louis, MS. as part of Tony Dane's World Wide Boxing card. Gibbons defeated hometown boxer Leo Perez by unanimous decision 40-36 on all three cards. Gibbons used a strong jab and effective combinations along with slick head movement to dominate his undermaned opponent.
Gibbons re-entered the ring on November 1, 2008 in West Memphis, Arkansas. His opponent was Michael Williams. Williams was coming off an upset of a highly ranked fighter. Gibbons used his elusive defense and precise counter-punching to escape with the decision in what was clearly his biggest test to date.
On February 27, 2009 Gibbons re-entered the ring vs. Williams in Fight for Autism at the Birmingham Race Course.Early in the 2nd round Gibbons would suffer a headbut that split his eye open. He would fight on and lose a hard fought decision.
June 26, 2009 Gibbons and Williams were to settle it all in "Revenge at the Race Course" in Birmingham. 2 weeks before the bout Williams pulled out. In stepped Andrew Costa of Columbia, Tn. Gibbons put on one of his best performances, battering Costa over 4 rounds in front of a pro-gibbons crowd.
August 7, 2009 Gibbons stepped in the ring in Columbia, Tn. and dominated his opponent with very slick head movement and precise counter punching.
October 9th, 2009 Gibbons took on Tony Marks of Tampa, Fl. Gibbons came out strong. He stunned Marks with a right hook to start the bout and continued his assault. He scored 2 8 counts in round 2. Round 3 saw Marks wilt behind body shots from Gibbons. Round 4 Marks looked ready to go but he was able to hang on and survive the round despite another 8 count and numerous body shots that stunned Marks. Gibbons won the fight on 40-32 on all 3 cards.
November 21, 2009 Crossville, Tn. Gibbbons vs. Ricky Delorier of Atlanta, Ga. Gibbons was elusive in rd 1 and scored hard combinations. Round 2 saw Gibbons stun delorier with a body shot which resulted in an eight count. Gibbons followed up with a hard right hook to the head and Referee Anthony Bryant waived the bout off as Delorier slumped over. Gibbons received the tko victory in round 2.
May 1,2010 Atlanta, GA Gibbons took on highly touted prospect Jose Martinez of Mexico at The Big Rockout Show at Atlanta's turner field. It was a very heated contest between two highly skilled fighters. The crowd rose to their feet many times throughout the bout. The bout scored 38-37 for Gibbons, 38-37 Martinez and 38-36 Martinez. Gibbons lost a very unpopular split decision with the crowd.
Midfield, Alabama
Midfield is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama. It is south of Fairfield and part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. At time of the 2000 U.S. Census, it had a population of about 5,625 people.-Geography:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
) is a left-handed lightweight prizefighter
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...
known for his uncanny ability to make people miss him with punches. He is the reigning Southern Championship Boxing Council Junior Welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
Champion and as an amateur won the 2004 Alabama State Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
title, 2005 Alabama State Golden Gloves title, 2006 Alabama State Golden Gloves 132-pound open division championship. He also won the 2005 Southeastern Association Championship.
Gibbons was turned onto the sport in high school at the age of 16 when he saw Pernell Whitaker fight Buddy McGirt on HBO
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
on October 1, 1994. He began collecting fight tapes emulating what he saw. He graduated from Midfield High School in 1996 and trained locally until his coaches' houses were destroyed by the 1998 F-5
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
Oak Grove tornado.
He continued fighting in "Tough Man" competitions while a student at UAB and for a semester of law school. He worked in local advertising firms and soon joined up with boxing coaches Curt McCune
Curt McCune
Curt McCune , from Homewood , Alabama, is a former 4-time State of Alabama amateur boxing champion, the 1994 International Law Enforcement Games Boxing Champion , and a current coach and trainer of amateur and professional boxers.McCune was named the most outstanding boxer at the 1986 Alabama...
and Jake Guercio of Champions Boxing and Fitness in Pelham and began boxing on the amateur circuit compiling a 21-3 amateur record.
In August 2006 Gibbons relocated to Brooklyn, New York to train at the legendary Gleason's Gym. He trained there with Guyanese Olympian Darius Forde and sparred with fighters from Lennox Blackmoore's stable. Working to begin his professional career and be the only active professional from the city of Birmingham. Gibbons landed a slot against Kevin Huddleston in an undercard fight in Tunica, Mississippi on April 28, 2007. He returned to Alabama to prepare for the bout, only to have Huddleston withdraw.
Gibbons ended up making his debut on September 14 against Corey Frizzell at the National Guard Armory in Columbia, Tennessee. Gibbons dominated the four-round fight and began preparing for a December 4 card in Memphis. That fight was canceled. He next defeated Josh Welch on January 26, 2008 in a bout at the Birmingham Race Course.
Gibbons followed that with a 4-round decision over 8-2 Anthony Middlebrooks of Tuscaloosa, also at the Birmingham Race Course. After 3 wins and no losses, Gibbons became the Southern Championship Boxing Council Junior Welterweight Champion.
Gibbons next bout took place June 28 in Bay St. Louis, MS. as part of Tony Dane's World Wide Boxing card. Gibbons defeated hometown boxer Leo Perez by unanimous decision 40-36 on all three cards. Gibbons used a strong jab and effective combinations along with slick head movement to dominate his undermaned opponent.
Gibbons re-entered the ring on November 1, 2008 in West Memphis, Arkansas. His opponent was Michael Williams. Williams was coming off an upset of a highly ranked fighter. Gibbons used his elusive defense and precise counter-punching to escape with the decision in what was clearly his biggest test to date.
On February 27, 2009 Gibbons re-entered the ring vs. Williams in Fight for Autism at the Birmingham Race Course.Early in the 2nd round Gibbons would suffer a headbut that split his eye open. He would fight on and lose a hard fought decision.
June 26, 2009 Gibbons and Williams were to settle it all in "Revenge at the Race Course" in Birmingham. 2 weeks before the bout Williams pulled out. In stepped Andrew Costa of Columbia, Tn. Gibbons put on one of his best performances, battering Costa over 4 rounds in front of a pro-gibbons crowd.
August 7, 2009 Gibbons stepped in the ring in Columbia, Tn. and dominated his opponent with very slick head movement and precise counter punching.
October 9th, 2009 Gibbons took on Tony Marks of Tampa, Fl. Gibbons came out strong. He stunned Marks with a right hook to start the bout and continued his assault. He scored 2 8 counts in round 2. Round 3 saw Marks wilt behind body shots from Gibbons. Round 4 Marks looked ready to go but he was able to hang on and survive the round despite another 8 count and numerous body shots that stunned Marks. Gibbons won the fight on 40-32 on all 3 cards.
November 21, 2009 Crossville, Tn. Gibbbons vs. Ricky Delorier of Atlanta, Ga. Gibbons was elusive in rd 1 and scored hard combinations. Round 2 saw Gibbons stun delorier with a body shot which resulted in an eight count. Gibbons followed up with a hard right hook to the head and Referee Anthony Bryant waived the bout off as Delorier slumped over. Gibbons received the tko victory in round 2.
May 1,2010 Atlanta, GA Gibbons took on highly touted prospect Jose Martinez of Mexico at The Big Rockout Show at Atlanta's turner field. It was a very heated contest between two highly skilled fighters. The crowd rose to their feet many times throughout the bout. The bout scored 38-37 for Gibbons, 38-37 Martinez and 38-36 Martinez. Gibbons lost a very unpopular split decision with the crowd.
Sources
- Urquhart, Marietta. "The Prizefighter", Birmingham Magazine, Vol. 47, No. 4 (April 2007), pp. 135-7
- Thompson, Chris. "Lightweight Hopeful Michael Gibbons & Trainer Curt McCune Speak to RSR." Ringside Report, December 10, 2007
- bhamwiki entry on Gibbons
- Champions Boxing Gym