Darrin Van Horn
Born (1968-09-07) September 7, 1968
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesSchoolboy
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach73 in (185 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights57
Wins54
Wins by KO30
Losses3

Darrin Van Horn (born September 7, 1968) is an American former professional boxer. He held the IBF Super Middleweight title from 1991 until 1992, as well as the IBF Junior Middleweight title in 1989.

Professional boxing career

Van Horn boxed as an amateur for four years, winning Golden Gloves and Junior Olympic titles. With his father as his manager and trainer, he made his professional debut in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 2, 1984. Van Horn was just five days short of his 16th birthday.

Since Van Horn was still a high school student when he turned professional, he was given the nickname "Schoolboy." In 1986, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky, to attend the University of Kentucky where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Boxing with the letters "UK" on his trunks, the "Schoolboy" angle was played up heavily.[1]

He compiled a record of 38-0 before challenging for a world title. Van Horn, a 2-1 underdog, defeated Robert Hines by a 12-round unanimous decision to win the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship on February 5, 1989, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[2] On July 15, 1989, Van Horn returned to Atlantic City to make his first title defense against Gianfranco Rosi, the former WBC Super Welterweight Champion. Rosi, a decided underdog, took the title by winning by a 12-round unanimous decision.[3]

After five consecutive wins, Van Horn had a rematch with Rosi in Italy on July 21, 1990. Although Van Horn fought better than he did in the first fight against Rosi, he was unable to regain the title. Rosi once again won by a 12-round unanimous decision.[4]

Van Horn moved up in weight and won the IBF Super Middleweight Championship with an 11th-round knockout of Lindell Holmes in Italy on May 18, 1991. In his first title defense, he scored a third-round knockout of mandatory challenger John Jarvis in Irvine, California, on August 17, 1991.

On January 10, 1992, Van Horn lost the title to Iran Barkley, the former WBC Middleweight Champion, by a second-round technical knockout in New York City. Barkley, a 2-1 underdog, wobbled Van Horn with a left hook early in the first round and floored him three times in the second.

In May 1992, Van Horn graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.<[5]

Van Horn was scheduled to face James Toney for the IBF Super Middleweight Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 29, 1993, but he pulled out of the fight after claiming a shoulder injury. The Boston Globe reported: "Sadly, word around boxing says his real problem has been near-constant headaches that recently forced him to stay in a darkened room for days at a time." The Van Horn camp denied that was true, but one fight figure was quoted as saying: "It would be child abuse for his father to put him back in the ring. When I was with him, he knew me and why I was there, but every 15 or 20 minutes he'd ask, 'Why are you guys here?' It's pretty sad."

Van Horn was scheduled to face Nigel Benn for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship in England on September 10, 1994, but the fight was called off. According to Boxing news, it was cancelled after Van Horn failed a brain scan. However, during an interview with Boxing news online in 2015, Van Horn said: "I never failed any scan, not ever. I have no idea where that came from. I fought a few times after the Barkley fight. Rumors and things come up, it's just ridiculous. I just became disenchanted with the sport. I said to myself I was going to step back for a while and get a few things done; like going back to college, and my intention was to come back to boxing. But I never did."[6]

Retirement

Van Horn won his final six fights. His last bout took place in Harlingen, Texas, on August 3, 1994. He defeated journeyman Willie Bell by a second-round technical knockout.

After retiring from boxing, Van Horn became a state trooper.

Professional boxing record

57 fights 54 wins 3 losses
By knockout 30 1
By decision 24 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
57 Win 54–3 Willie Ball TKO 2 (10) 03/08/1994 Harlingen Garden, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
56 Win 53–3 Ricky Thomas UD 10 (10) 15/12/1992 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
55 Win 52–3 Rollin Williams UD 10 (10) 16/10/1992 Boise Centre, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
54 Win 51–3 Bill Bradley RTD 2 (10) 29/09/1992 Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
53 Win 50–3 Martín Amarillas UD 10 (10) 04/09/1992 Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
52 Win 49–3 Nicky Walker UD 10 (10) 30/06/1992 Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
51 Loss 48–3 Iran Barkley TKO 2 (12) 10/01/1992 Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S. Lost IBF Super Middleweight Title
50 Win 48–2 John Jarvis KO 3 (12) 17/08/1991 Bren Events Center, Irvine, California, U.S. Retained IBF Super Middleweight Title
49 Win 47–2 Lindell Holmes KO 11 (12) 18/05/1991 Palazzo Dello Sport, Verbania, Italy Won IBF Super middleweight Title
48 Win 46–2 Randy Williams UD 10 (10) 28/12/1990 Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
47 Loss 45–2 Gianfranco Rosi UD 12 (12) 21/07/1990 Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Marino, Italy For IBF Junior middleweight Title
46 Win 45–1 Jake Torrance PTS 8 (8) 14/04/1990 Loew's Hotel, Monte Carlo, Monaco
45 Win 44–1 Ruben Cortina KO 1 (?) 02/03/1990 Community Center, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
44 Win 43–1 Salim Muhammad UD 10 (10) 09/10/1989 Clarion Hotel Ballroom, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
43 Win 42–1 Mike Sacchetti PTS 10 (10) 25/09/1989 Nogent-le-Phaye, France
42 Win 41–1 Steve Langley UD 10 (10) 13/09/1989 Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
41 Loss 40–1 Gianfranco Rosi UD 12 (12) 15/07/1989 Trump Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Lost IBF Junior middleweight Title
40 Win 40–0 Robert Hines UD 12 (12) 05/02/1989 Trump Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won IBF Junior middleweight Title
39 Win 39–0 Miguel Angel Hernandez TKO 5 (10) 03/11/1988 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
38 Win 38–0 Jake Torrance UD 10 (10) 20/09/1988 Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
37 Win 37–0 Juan Elizondo KO 3 (10) 05/05/1988 Fairgrounds, Louisville, U.S.
36 Win 36–0 John Munduga TKO 7 (10) 21/02/1988 Hilton Hotel, Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.
35 Win 35–0 Joe Summers UD 10 (10) 05/12/1987 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34 Win 34–0 Juan Alonso Villa UD 10 (10) 17/10/1987 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
33 Win 33–0 Norberto Bueno KO 3 (10) 17/09/1987 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
32 Win 32–0 Greg Taylor UD 8 (8) 25/08/1987 Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
31 Win 31–0 Luis Santana UD 10 (10) 21/06/1987 Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
30 Win 30–0 Elio Díaz UD 10 (10) 20/04/1987 Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
29 Win 29–0 John Moore TKO 6 (8) 24/02/1987 Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
28 Win 28–0 Danny Thomas UD 10 (10) 13/01/1987 Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
27 Win 27–0 Sammy Floyd UD 10 (10) 09/09/1986 Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
26 Win 26–0 Keheven Johnson KO 8 (8) 01/07/1986 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
25 Win 25–0 Donald Gwinn TKO 5 (8) 24/06/1986 Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
24 Win 24–0 David Ramsey KO 4 (?) 15/04/1986 Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
23 Win 23–0 Norberto Sabater TKO 2 (10) 06/03/1986 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Ed Modicue UD 8 (8) 21/01/1986 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Reggie Dixon PTS 6 (6) 15/10/1985 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Javier Muniz KO 5 (?) 02/10/1985 Houma, Louisiana, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Pablo Valdez TKO 4 (8) 17/09/1985 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Earl White KO 5 (?) 06/09/1985 VFW Hall, Terrytown, Louisiana, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Robert Manous KO 3 (?) 11/07/1985 Sports Palace, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Reggie Dixon UD 6 (6) 26/06/1985 Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Alonzo Stringfellow TKO 1 (6) 10/06/1985 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 John Wesley Morton SD 6 (6) 07/05/1985 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Ronald Paige KO 1 (?) 18/04/1985 Civic Center, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 James Sanders KO 4 (6) 20/03/1985 Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Derrick Earvin SD 4 (4) 07/03/1985 Convention Hall, Gadsden, Alabama, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Jessie Hopkins KO 1 (4) 04/03/1985 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Jimmy Mitchell TKO 5 (?) 21/02/1985 Municipal Auditorium, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 David Seville KO 2 (?) 08/02/1985 Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Mike French TKO 1 (?) 16/01/1985 Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Jamie Hobbs KO 1 (?) 18/12/1984 Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Rodney Jones TKO 2 (?) 04/12/1984 St. Bernard Civic Center, Chalmette, Louisiana, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Pete Lee KO 1 (6) 29/11/1984 Municipal Auditorium, Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Willie Rimmer UD 6 (6) 20/11/1984 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Richard Morris TKO 2 (?) 13/11/1984 Municipal Auditorium, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Leon Kerlinger KO 2 (?) 02/09/1984 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kentucky New Era, April 16, 1987
  2. ↑ Pittsburgh Press, February 6, 1989
  3. ↑ Gainesville Sun July 16, 1989
  4. ↑ Gadsden Times, July 22, 1990
  5. ↑ "Commentary Van Horns: boxing's 'pros and cons'". United Press International. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  6. ↑ "Darrin Van Horn reflects on the highs and lows of his two world title reigns". Boxing News. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.