Otis Grant

For the football player, see Otis Grant (American football).

Otis Grant

Personal information
Full name	Otis Grant
Nickname(s)	"Magic"
Nationality	Canadian
Born	(1967-12-23) December 23, 1967 Saint Ann, Jamaica
Height
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
Sport
Sport	Boxing
Rated at	Middleweight
Medal record Men’s Boxing Representing Canada Pan American Games 1987 Indianapolis Middleweight

Otis Grant (born December 23, 1967) is a Canadian retired boxer. As an amateur he won a silver medal for Canada at the 1987 Pan American Games, losing to Cuba's Angel Espinosa in the final. He is a two-time North American Boxing Federation (NABF) middleweight title holder, as well as recognized for being the first black Quebecer to win a WBO championship.

Early life

Born in Saint Ann, Jamaica, Otis and his family moved to Montreal in 1977, when he was 9 years old. A multi sport athlete, he began boxing at age 11 alongside his older brother Howard, and earned the nickname “Magic” from family members who related his basketball ability to hall of famer Magic Johnson. At 17 years old, Grant had won the Canadian Senior Amateur Boxing Championships (CSABC) in his weight division of 71 kilos (156.5 pounds). This would propel him to compete at the World Youth Championship for the Canadian national team, despite his junior status. Later on, Otis competed at the 1987 Pan American Games, earning a silver medal by being defeated in the finals against Cuba’s Angel Espinosa, before turning pro.

Professional career

Known as "Magic", Grant turned pro in 1988 and captured the vacant WBO middleweight title in 1997 with a decision over Ryan Rhodes in England. He vacated the belt following a defense against Ernesto Rafael Sena in 1998.

Fight vs Roy Jones Jr.

After a successful career thus far as the middleweight title holder, Grant vacated his belt to challenge prevailing champ Roy Jones Jr in 1998 for the WBC and WBA light heavyweight titles, moving up two weight classes to make his debut in the light heavyweight division. The fighters decided on a catch-weight match, with Grant and Jones Jr. coming into the ring at 172 lbs (78 kg)and 171 lbs (77.56 kg), respectively. Grant had been a large underdog coming into the fight. Jones Jr had the upper hand throughout the match up, earning knock downs in the 6th and 10th rounds. After his second knock down in the 10th round, Grant’s trainer Russ Anber threw in the towel, giving Jones Jr. the TKO victory.

Comeback

Following Grant’s near-fatal car crash in 1999, doctors stated that although his superb condition saved his life, he would be unable to continue boxing. Nevertheless, Grant was determined to make a return to the ring in search of another title shot as a super middleweight. After a 4 year hiatus, he had his first fight back against Dongaan Thobela(40-10-2), defeating him convincingly in 8 rounds. Grant continued his winning streak for another straight 6 fights, until he faced off against Librado Andrade (23-0) in 2006 for the WBC Super Middleweight number 1 contender position. After being beat throughout the fight, Grant’s team elected to sit out at the 8th round, giving Andrade the victory and the title shot. Grant chose this opportunity to retire, stating that it was now his time to “bow out, and bow out gracefully”.

Personal life

Education

Grant took up post-secondary studies at Vanier College, eventually becoming one of their most well-known alumni. Following his cegep graduation, he enrolled in Concordia University and earned a BA in recreation and leisure studies, becoming a member of their class of ‘93.

Accident

In June 1999, Grant was involved in a dangerous collision during a road trip back to Montreal. Grant, who was the driver of the car, noticed an oncoming vehicle travelling north on a southbound lane and swerved towards the right to avoid contact for the passengers, but took the car’s full impact on the driver’s side. Passengers included former pro boxer Hercules Kyvelos and his then 6-year-old daughter. All were rushed to the emergency room in separate ambulances, although the passengers were virtually unscathed. Once recognizing that his daughter was safe at the hospital, Grant slipped into a coma for seven days. Other injuries sustained during the crash included five broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a shattered shoulder blade, all on his left hand side. This accident came only six months after vacating his WBO (World Boxing Organization) title belt. Once reviewed by doctors, Grant was essentially told he would never be able to return to the ring. Despite this, he made his official comeback in 2003, earning a unanimous decision victory over former world champion Dingaan Thobela.

Community work

After being approached by an organization to loan his name for charity, Grant became convinced to use his name to aid the needy. Thus, the Otis Grant & Friends foundation was created. The Otis Grant & Friends is a non profit charity, established in 1999, initially formed to aid hunger, poverty and sicknesses within the community. The organization has grown generously, now donating food, clothes and medicine to communities all across Canada. In addition to this, the organization sends children to summer camps whose families can’t afford it, gives aid to special needs students at the high school level, as well as providing scholarships to graduating high school students who plan on post-secondary studies.

Grant also spends time working as a teacher’s assistant and counsellor for special needs students at Lindsay Place, a local high school in Montreal, helping them adjust to school life. He is currently the coordinator at the community learning centre at Riverdale high school.

For all of his actions and benevolence towards the community, Otis Grant had been named the 2007 Concordia Alumnus of the year.

Future outside the ring

Otis Grant, along with his brother Howard Grant, own a boxing gym in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Montreal, where he coaches and manages amateur boxing events and works at Lindsay Place High School. He is married to Betty Mullins and has 2 children. He lives with his family in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Professional boxing record

38 Wins (17 knockouts, 21 decisions), 3 Losses (3 knockouts), 1 Draw [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	38-3-1	Librado Andrade	RTD	7 (12)	08/04/2006	Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec	Lost WBC World Super Middleweight Title Eliminator.
Win	38-2-1	Donnell Wiggins	UD	10	29/10/2005	Lac Leamy Casino, Gatineau, Quebec
Win	37-2-1	Charles Adamu	UD	12	18/06/2005	Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec	Retained WBC International Super Middleweight Title.
Win	36-2-1	Nader Hamdan	UD	12	12/03/2005	Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec	Retained WBC International Super Middleweight Title.
Win	35-2-1	Henry Porras	UD	12	11/12/2004	Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec	Won WBC International Super Middleweight Title.
Win	34-2-1	Mark Woolnough	UD	10	11/09/2004	Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec	Won Canada Super Middleweight Title.
Win	33-2-1	Prince Badi Ajamu	MD	10	24/04/2004	Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec
Win	32-2-1	Dingaan Thobela	UD	8	22/11/2003	Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Loss	31-2-1	Roy Jones, Jr.	TKO	10 (12)	14/11/1998	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut	Lost WBC and WBA World Light Heavyweight Titles.
Win	31-1-1	Ernesto Rafael Sena	TD	9	12/05/1998	Corel Centre, Kanata, Ontario	Retained WBO World Middleweight Title.
Win	30-1-1	Ryan Rhodes	UD	9 (12)	13/12/1997	Ponds Forge, Sheffield, Yorkshire	Won vacant WBO World Middleweight Title.
Win	29-1-1	Danny Garcia	TKO	7 (12)	27/07/1997	Belle Casino, Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Retained NABF Middleweight Title.
Draw	28-1-1	Lonnie Bradley	PTS	12	04/03/1997	The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada	WBO World Middleweight Title.
Win	28-1	Rodney Toney	MD	12	18/06/1996	Convention Center, Edison, New Jersey	Retained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	27-1	James Green	TKO	12	15/01/1996	Landmark Inn, Woodbridge, New Jersey	Retained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	26-1	Derrick James	DQ	11 (12)	10/10/1995	Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York	Won NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	25-1	Undra White	UD	10	24/02/1995	Palais des Sports, Jonquière, Quebec
Win	24-1	William Bo James	PTS	10	15/12/1994	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Win	23-1	Jerry Lee Williams	UD	10	15/11/1994	Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Loss	22-1	Quincy Taylor	KO	12 (12)	15/03/1994	The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts	Lost NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	22-0	Willie Monroe	UD	12	05/10/1993	The Riviera, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	21-0	Brett Lally	TKO	4 (12)	03/08/1993	The Riviera, Las Vegas, Nevada	Retained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	20-0	Tyrone Moore	KO	2 (10)	18/06/1993	Hotel Le Roussillon, Jonquière, Quebec
Win	19-0	Ron Collins	UD	12	08/12/1992	Forum, Montreal, Quebec	Retained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	18-0	Gilbert Baptist	UD	12	28/09/1992	Verdun, Quebec	Won vacant NABF Middleweight Title.
Win	17-0	Todd Nadon	TKO	3 (12)	17/03/1992	Forum, Montreal, Quebec	Retained Canada Middleweight Title.
Win	16-0	Darryl Anthony	UD	10	10/12/1991	Montreal, Quebec
Win	15-0	Dan Sherry	RTD	7 (12)	27/09/1991	Memorial Arena, Niagara Falls, Ontario	Won Canada Middleweight Title.
Win	14-0	Eddie Tyler	TKO	2 (8)	31/05/1991	St. Joseph Arena, Shediac, New Brunswick
Win	13-0	Jaime Ollenberger	TKO	3 (12)	18/03/1991	Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia	Won WBC Intercontinental Super Middleweight Title.
Win	12-0	Darrell Flint	KO	1 (8)	25/10/1990	Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win	11-0	Knox Brown	TKO	6 (10)	02/10/1990	The Palace, Laval, Quebec
Win	10-0	Danny Mitchell	UD	8	01/08/1990	Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario
Win	9-0	Dwayne North	KO	1	11/04/1990	Albany, New York
Win	8-0	Art McCloud	TKO	1	03/10/1989	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	7-0	John Wilkinson	TKO	3 (6)	27/06/1989	Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win	6-0	Fred Johnson	KO	1	16/06/1989	Hartford, Connecticut
Win	5-0	Don Carroll	PTS	4	23/05/1989	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	4-0	Stokely Crichlow	TKO	1 (6)	05/05/1989	Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Win	3-0	Alan Cormier	TKO	3 (4)	28/04/1989	Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, Massachusetts
Win	2-0	Bernard Rompre	TKO	1 (4)	20/03/1989	Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win	1-0	John Gross	UD	4	29/11/1988	Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec	Grant pro debut.

Preceded by Lonnie Bradley Vacated

WBO Middleweight boxing champion 13 Dec 1997–14 Nov 1998 Vacated

Succeeded by Bert Schenk

External links

• Professional boxing record for Otis Grant from BoxRec