Rico Hoye
Encyclopedia
Rico Hoye is an American professional boxer who competes in the light heavyweight
and cruiserweight divisions. He comes from Monroe, MI, is a former World title challenger
and was a contestant in the fourth season of the Contender
.
. He made good progress over the next two years scoring a further eleven wins over a series of opponents. In June 2003 two years since turning pro Hoye had amassed an unbeaten record of 12-0. He celebrated his 13th win in the same month and also claimed his first title, the IBA continental light heavyweight title, beating Prince Badi Ajamu
on points over 12 rounds.
(Sept 2004) went the distance and only saw him score a split decision over 12. The fight with Griffin was notable in that it also doubled as an eliminator for the IBF World belt. Hoye had worked his way up the rankings after winning a previous eliminating match against Richard Hall just four months previously.
In March 2005 and with a record of 18-0 Hoye travelled to England to challenge the experienced Clinton Woods
(36-3-1). The fight was to be for the vacant title after previous holder Glen Johnson
vacated. The fight, in the English town of Rotherham
ended in disappointment for Hoye after Woods scored a technical knockout after 5 rounds. It was the first defeat of the American's professional career.
Hoye returned to the ring in December with a victory over journeyman
Derrick Whitley. He followed up with a 10th round stoppage of Sam Hill in California
over a year later in November 2006. In May 2007 he challenged unbeaten Romanian boxer Adrian Diaconu
for the WBC International light heavyweight title, the fight also doubled as an eliminator
for the full WBC
title. Hoye travelled to Quebec
for the fight and suffered his second professional defeat after the fight was stopped in the 3rd round.
, whose featured weight division that year was cruiserweight. He become a member of the gold team and challenged fellow American Mike Alexander from the blue team to his first fight of the tournament. The fight took place on 21 January 2009 with Hoye winning via unanimous decision to move into the next round. Safely through to the quarter final of the competition Hoye was due to fight fellow first round winner Ryan Coyne until injury forced Coyne out of the match. As a replacement Hoye took on his former gold team team-mate Joell Godfrey who had been eliminated in the 1st round, winning via unanimous decision to book a semi-final slot. In the semi-final Hoye met Nigerian born Ehinomen Ehikhamenor
and lost via unanimous decision over 5 rounds. Hoye's tournament ended on a positive note on 25 February 2009 when he defeated Akinyemi Laleye
for third place via unanimous decision.
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
and cruiserweight divisions. He comes from Monroe, MI, is a former World title challenger
IBF
IBF may refer to:*International Boxing Federation is one of several boxing organisations* International Bandy Federation former name of Federation of International Bandy , an international governing body for bandy...
and was a contestant in the fourth season of the Contender
The Contender 4
The Contender 4 is a reality television show based on the sport of boxing, but with an added element of insight into the competitor's lives and relationships with each other within the show's living quarters. The fourth season of the show was recorded in Singapore , and premiered on Versus on...
.
Early professional career
Hoye made his professional debut in June 2001 with a 3rd round win over Omar Pucci in MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He made good progress over the next two years scoring a further eleven wins over a series of opponents. In June 2003 two years since turning pro Hoye had amassed an unbeaten record of 12-0. He celebrated his 13th win in the same month and also claimed his first title, the IBA continental light heavyweight title, beating Prince Badi Ajamu
Prince Badi Ajamu
Prince Badi Ajamu — nicknamed the Boxing Prince — is best known for taking a fight against former champion Roy Jones Jr.-Pro career:...
on points over 12 rounds.
Defences and challenges
Hoye made three defences of his title defeating Etienne Whitaker(Oct 2003) and Donnell Wiggins (March 2004) with stoppages in the 2nd and 1st rounds respectively. The third defence against Montell GriffinMontell Griffin
Montell Julian Griffin is an American boxer. He is best known for his two bouts at Light Heavyweight with Roy Jones Jr.- Professional career :...
(Sept 2004) went the distance and only saw him score a split decision over 12. The fight with Griffin was notable in that it also doubled as an eliminator for the IBF World belt. Hoye had worked his way up the rankings after winning a previous eliminating match against Richard Hall just four months previously.
In March 2005 and with a record of 18-0 Hoye travelled to England to challenge the experienced Clinton Woods
Clinton Woods
Clinton Woods , is a retired professional boxer from Sheffield, England. He is the former IBF, European, British, & Commonwealth light heavyweight champion....
(36-3-1). The fight was to be for the vacant title after previous holder Glen Johnson
Glen Johnson (boxer)
Glengoffe Donovan Johnson is a professional boxer. Nicknamed Gentleman and The Road Warrior, Johnson is the former IBF and Ring magazine light heavyweight champion.-Amateur career:...
vacated. The fight, in the English town of Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
ended in disappointment for Hoye after Woods scored a technical knockout after 5 rounds. It was the first defeat of the American's professional career.
Hoye returned to the ring in December with a victory over journeyman
Journeyman (boxing)
A journeyman boxer is defined as a fighter who has adequate boxing skill, but does not have the caliber of a contender or gatekeeper. Outside of boxing, a "journeyman" is a trader or crafter who has completed an apprenticeship, but is not at the level of a master craftsman...
Derrick Whitley. He followed up with a 10th round stoppage of Sam Hill in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
over a year later in November 2006. In May 2007 he challenged unbeaten Romanian boxer Adrian Diaconu
Adrian Diaconu
Adrian Diaconu is a Romanian professional boxer, living and fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
for the WBC International light heavyweight title, the fight also doubled as an eliminator
Eliminator
Eliminator is the eighth studio album by American rock band ZZ Top. It was released on March 23, 1983 by Warner Bros. Records. Recorded in Tennessee during 1982, the album was produced by the band's manager Bill Ham and peaked at the top of the charts worldwide. "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Got Me...
for the full 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...
title. Hoye travelled to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
for the fight and suffered his second professional defeat after the fight was stopped in the 3rd round.
Contender
In late 2008 Hoye moved up to cruiserweight in order to compete in the 4th season of the boxing reality show, The ContenderThe Contender 4
The Contender 4 is a reality television show based on the sport of boxing, but with an added element of insight into the competitor's lives and relationships with each other within the show's living quarters. The fourth season of the show was recorded in Singapore , and premiered on Versus on...
, whose featured weight division that year was cruiserweight. He become a member of the gold team and challenged fellow American Mike Alexander from the blue team to his first fight of the tournament. The fight took place on 21 January 2009 with Hoye winning via unanimous decision to move into the next round. Safely through to the quarter final of the competition Hoye was due to fight fellow first round winner Ryan Coyne until injury forced Coyne out of the match. As a replacement Hoye took on his former gold team team-mate Joell Godfrey who had been eliminated in the 1st round, winning via unanimous decision to book a semi-final slot. In the semi-final Hoye met Nigerian born Ehinomen Ehikhamenor
Ehinomen Ehikhamenor
Ehinomen Ehikhamenor, is a professional boxer from Nigeria who fights in the cruiserweight division.-Professional career:...
and lost via unanimous decision over 5 rounds. Hoye's tournament ended on a positive note on 25 February 2009 when he defeated Akinyemi Laleye
Akinyemi Laleye
Akinyemi Laleye is a Nigerian professional boxer. He competes in the cruiserweight division and boxes out of the United States. He is currently a contestant on the 4th season of the boxing reality show The Contender.-Professional Boxing Career:...
for third place via unanimous decision.