Darnell Boone: More Than Just a Fight Record

Exclusive Interview by Travis Fleming

“I’ll remain fighting until I get my just due, and that’s winning a world title.”–—Darnell Boone

Records in boxing can be deceiving. Without an established promoter, good fighters can be matched poorly, or be subject to robberies on the B side of a bout against a fighter with more money behind him. He can be forced to take difficult style match ups on short notice, without being properly conditioned, against talented fighters who are promoted correctly, and who are in peak physical shape. Some of these unfortunate fighters have to work menial jobs while training in order to pay the bills, and they put themselves at risk for short money by taking fights they aren’t prepared for in order to earn enough money to keep going.

They may be required to cut too much weight in a short period of time to meet the limits of a particular weight class, which puts them in a dangerously weakened state. They may be asked to move up to a higher weight division where they are clearly undersized. Once a fighter has lost enough fights, it doesn’t matter if they were robbed by biased judges or not, they are relegated to opponent status and fall into a vicious cycle of fights against prospects, or elite fighters coming off losses, in showcase fights that are meant to build confidence in the star, or A side, fighter. If the man meant to be an opponent fights a guy who has a more powerful promoter and manages to deserve the decision, he is usually not given fair judgment on the scorecards in order to protect the career of the the A side fighter.

An opponent on the B side can sometimes be a very talented fighter who never caught a break and was matched against very difficult opposition before he developed. When fighters aren’t given the correct pathway to rise in the rankings, it can lead to losses. He can be a guy who was robbed so many times in biased decisions, against fighters with better financial backing, that his record leads to him never getting a chance to be on the A side as a result of too many losses.

The perfect example of this type of warrior would be Darnell Boone. With a record of 20 wins and 21 losses, Boone has never been given a fair shake in the pro ranks. He has regularly fought above his best weight, on short notice, against top tier opposition. He has never been afforded the luxury of training full time, and he has been put in with guys with so much backing that he could only win by KO. Boone is clearly a good fighter, and if he was able to train full time with powerful promoters behind him, he very well might have become a top ten ranked fighter by now. Unfortunately due to his record, which poorly reflects too many losses, he hasn’t been given a proper pathway to success.

Boone is 35 years old and has been a pro for 11 years. He has been a stern test for elite fighters; he has beaten one, and deserved to beat another. He knocked down one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world in Andre Ward and knocked out light heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson. He deserved to beat one of boxings best, and most heavy handed, fighters in Sergey Kovalev but lost a split decision. He went the distance with Jean Pascal, and beat Gennady Golovkin’s upcoming opponent Willie Monroe, JR. Other top tier fighters he’s faced include; going the distance with Erislandy Lara, a draw with Walid Smichet, a close loss to Enrique Ornelas, a draw with Lajuan Simon, and a split decision loss to Fernando Zuniga. Boone has also gone the distance with huge punching Curtis Stevens, had a close fight with Bryan Vera, went the distance with Brandon Gonzalez, and he knocked out Dionisio Miranda. He also heard the final bell against Edwin Rodriguez, and he deserved to beat Craig McEwen but lost a split decision. In all of these fights, Boone was at every disadvantage conceivable. Many of these men are naturally much bigger and Boone fought them without an adequate amount of time to train properly. Boone should be given a medal; instead he’s labeled a journeyman opponent when he’s way too good to be a journeyman. Boxing needs guys like Boone and he deserves all the respect in the world.

In the twilight of Boone’s career, at 35 years old, he may have finally caught a break. Rumors have it that he’s finally got a good promoter, under whom he is able to train train, full time. He is also rumored to be moving down to middleweight where he will be a force to be reckoned with after facing bigger men his entire career. Hopefully he will be matched properly and not given insane tasks like fighting Adonis Stevenson after Sergey Kovalev in a heavier weight class that he is not best suited for. There might be light at the end of the tunnel for Boone, and I hope he gets the opportunity that he has always earned and emerges as a contender, engaging in fights that provide the bigger paydays that he has always deserved. In other words, I hope he gets the justice that Emanuel Augustus was never afforded.

I caught up with the man himself to get the 411 on his career and his future aspirations….

TF: I have heard rumors that you have a new promoter and that you’re excited to make a title run. What changes have been made regarding your career?

Yes, I’m signed with Cornerstone Promotions out of Florida. What’s been changed is the workout regimen, and the closeness of my trainers and promoter. They’re all about their fighters in all cases and they’re pushing me along the right trail. Before, I’ve been just thrown into fights, now we’re picking fights carefully.

TF: You have a fight coming up, who are you facing and how do you see it going?

Yes, I’m fighting on April 18th at Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. I’m fighting in the main event against Phillip Jackson Benson. He’s 15-1 with 14 KO’s. It’s nothing strenuous for me; I’ve fought the best guys in the game, so it’s the same bull, different rodeo. I see it as me doing my best, as I always do.

TF: What is your best weight class?

My best weight class is middleweight, which I will be moving back to after this fight.

TF: What do you feel is your best asset as a fighter?

My best assets are to be able to adapt against any opposition, and being patient.

TF: In your opinion, who was the best fighter you have faced?

The best fighter I fought, to this day, is Anthony Thompson out of Philadelphia.

TF: Did you have an amateur career? If so, what was your experience in the amateur ranks?

I only had ten amateur fights. Now they have a choice to go open, or stay novice. When I was an amateur, because of my age (I was 22 turning 23), I had to go open so I fought the guys with 50 to 100 amateur fights, which was kind of challenging, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I made it to the Cleveland Golden Gloves in my third amateur fight and lost a decision.

TF: Who was the hardest hitter you have faced?

The hardest hitter I have been in the ring with, either sparring or fighting, is Danny Green from Australia.

TF: How long do you feel you’ll remain fighting?

I’ll remain fighting until I get my just due, and that’s winning a world title.

TF: When you retire, what would you like people to say when they reflect on your career?

When I retire, people will say he was tough, humble, and a great guy. He loved the fans, loved to fight, and he didn’t give up.

TF: Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

I just want to say to all my fans, writers, friends, and my family that I thank you for the support, love, and continuing on this road with me. Win, lose, or draw, y’all always felt I was the best and that keeps me going. Even when I wanted to quit, your kind words push me to go further. Thanks a lot.

Darnell Boone
Professional Record: 20-21-4, 9 KO’s
Weight-class: Light Heavyweight
W-L-D Location Result

2014-12-11 Dionisio Miranda 22-9-2 Saint Petersburg, US W KO 3

2013-11-30 Morgan Fitch 11-0-0 Chester, US D SD 6
2013-03-22 Adonis Stevenson 19-1-0 Montreal, CA L KO 6
2013-01-19 Derrick Webster 13-0-0 Newark, US L SD 6

2012-06-01 Sergey Kovalev 17-0-1 Bethlehem, US L TKO 2

2011-10-21 Dyah Davis 19-2-1 Mashantucket, US L UD 6
2011-08-26 Marcus Don Hall 11-6-0 Atlanta, US W TKO 1
2011-03-29 Willie Monroe Jr 10-0-0 New York, US W SD 8

2010-12-03 Marco Antonio Periban 9-0-0 Guadalajara, MX L TKO 1
2010-10-09 Sergey Kovalev 9-0-0 Atlanta, US L SD 8
2010-08-07 Lennox Allen 12-0-0 Brooklyn, US D MD 8
2010-04-16 Adonis Stevenson 13-0-0 Salisbury, US W TKO 2
2010-03-19 Brandon Gonzales 10-0-0 Reno, US L UD 8
2010-01-15 Jose Angel Rodriguez 14-1-1 Yonkers, US L UD 8

2009-10-03 Edwin Rodriguez 11-0-0 Lincoln, US L UD 8
2009-07-17 Erislandy Lara 6-0-0 Las Vegas, US L UD 6
2009-06-27 Craig McEwan 15-0-0 Los Angeles, US L SD 8
2009-05-29 Calvin Green 20-3-1 Baton Rouge, US W TKO 7
2009-04-04 Louis Turner 12-2-0 Vicksburg, US W MD 10

2007-06-15 Brian Vera 13-0-0 Youngstown, US L UD 10
International Boxing Association Intercontinental Super Middleweight Title
2007-03-22 Curtis Stevens 16-1-0 New York, US L UD 10
2007-02-03 James Johnson 7-0-0 Kissimmee, US W UD 4

2006-12-15 Jesus Gonzales 19-1-0 Houston, US L UD 8
2006-12-01 Norman Johnson 4-22-1 Doraville, US W TKO 2
2006-11-02 William Johnson 7-8-1 Youngstown, US W UD 4
2006-10-06 Marcus Brooks 6-2-0 Atlanta, US W UD 4
2006-09-15 Fernando Zuniga 23-8-0 Corona, US L MD 8
2006-06-23 Jean Pascal 12-0-0 Montreal, CA L UD 10
vacant TAB (Trans America Boxing) Super Middleweight Title
2006-04-28 Lajuan Simon 13-0-1 Uncasville, US D PTS 6
2006-03-31 Anthony Thompson 20-1-0 Maywood, US L UD 10
2006-03-03 Enrique Ornelas 22-2-0 Temecula, US L UD 8
2006-02-18 Rasheem Brown 17-2-0 Uncasville, US W UD 10
2006-02-03 James Countryman 8-0-0 Las Vegas, US W UD 6
2006-01-13 Willie Lee 14-3-0 Tampa, US W UD 6

2005-12-16 Ronald Johnson 6-0-0 Cleveland, US W MD 6
2005-11-19 Andre Ward 6-0-0 Portland, US L UD 6
2005-11-11 Chris Archer 4-0-0 Pittsburgh, US W TKO 4
2005-08-31 Walid Smichet 12-1-2 Montreal, CA L TKO 6
2005-08-12 James North 7-6-0 Boardman, US W KO 3
2005-05-24 Walter Wright 5-1-0 Airway Heights, US L UD 8
2005-02-26 Walid Smichet 8-1-1 Hull, CA D PTS 4

2004-11-24 Alex Black 2-3-0 Youngstown, US W TKO 2
2004-09-29 Michael Rush 1-4-1 Merrionette Park, US W TKO 1
2004-07-02 Shawn Williams 1-1-0 Struthers, US W PTS 4
2004-05-21 Jay Holland 0-2-0 Youngstown, US W UD 4