William Douglas Guthrie (born January 17, 1967 in Philadelphia, PA

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

) 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...

 (185 cm height) in the cruiserweight (180lb

Pound (mass)

The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...

) division.

Early life

Prior to fighting, Guthrie was an admitted former player in the St Louis drugs scene, and he had been kicked off the 1988 US Olympic team after failing a drug test. He also later spent time in prison for drug possession http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/02082006/4/guthrie-s-road-redemption.html.

Pro career

Guthrie turned pro in 1989 and captured the Vacant IBF Light Heavyweight Title in 1997 with a win over Darrin Allen. He was seen as a looming threat to Roy Jones Jr at light heavyweight due to his punching power, but instead of a unification bout, he lost the title in his next fight to Reggie Johnson by a knockout in the 5th. The knockout was a brutal one, and Guthrie left the ring on a stretcher http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/1998/980206johnson_guthrie.html. Instead of retiring, he instead moved up to cruiserweight and continued to fight, but has not fought for a belt since.