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One of the most exciting middleweights in modern times, southpaw slugger James Kirkland is out to prove that he remains one of the world's best 160-pounders. Read Bio
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Videos
Fights
James Kirkland Fights
Loss vs Juan Macias Montiel 34-2-0
Dec 26, 2020 • Shrine Exposition Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
James Kirkland LOSES to Juan Macias Montiel by KO in Round 1 of 10
Win vs Jas Phipps 10-7-2
Nov 09, 2019 • Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Jas Phipps by KO in Round 2 of 8
Win vs Colby Courter 13-14-0
Aug 24, 2019 • Erwin Center, Austin, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Colby Courter by TKO in Round 1 of 6
LOSS vs Saul Alvarez 44-1-1
May 09, 2015 • Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas, USA
Saul Alvarez WINS against James Kirkland by KO in Round 3 of 12
Win vs Glen Tapia 20-0-0
Dec 07, 2013 • Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Glen Tapia by TKO in Round 6 of 10
Win vs Alexis Hloros 15-3-2
Jul 23, 2011 • Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Alexis Hloros by TKO in Round 2 of 8
Win vs Dennis Sharpe 17-7-3
Jun 24, 2011 • Dr Pepper Arena, Frisco, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Dennis Sharpe by KO in Round 1 of 8
Loss vs Nobuhiro Ishida 22-6-2
Apr 09, 2011 • MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
James Kirkland LOSES to Nobuhiro Ishida by TKO in Round 1 of 8
Win vs Jhon Berrio 15-8-0
Mar 18, 2011 • Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Jhon Berrio by TKO in Round 2 of 8
Win vs Ahsandi Gibbs 10-2-0
Mar 05, 2011 • Honda Center, Anaheim, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Ahsandi Gibbs by KO in Round 1 of 8
Win vs Joel Julio 34-2-0
Mar 07, 2009 • HP Pavilion, San Jose, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Joel Julio by TKO in Round 6 of 10
Win vs Brian Vera 16-1-0
Nov 22, 2008 • MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Brian Vera by TKO in Round 8 of 10
Win vs Ricardo Cortes 22-2-1
Sep 05, 2008 • Music Hall, Austin, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Ricardo Cortes by TKO in Round 2 of 10
Win vs Eromosele Albert 21-1-0
May 17, 2008 • Buffalo Bill's Star Arena, Primm, Nevada, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Eromosele Albert by TKO in Round 1 of 10
Win vs Allen Conyers 11-2-0
Nov 30, 2007 • Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Allen Conyers by TKO in Round 1 of 10
Win vs Mohamad Abdallah Said Salem 23-5-1
Sep 01, 2007 • Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Mohamad Abdallah Said Salem by KO in Round 2 of 10
Win vs Ossie Duran 24-5-1
Jun 01, 2007 • Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Ossie Duran by UD in Round 10 of 10
Win vs Billy Lyell 14-3-0
Feb 02, 2007 • Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Billy Lyell by TKO in Round 8 of 10
Win vs David Toribio 13-6-0
Dec 01, 2006 • Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against David Toribio by KO in Round 4 of 8
Win vs Sherwin Davis 18-3-0
Oct 06, 2006 • Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Sherwin Davis by RTD in Round 2 of 8
Win vs Alexis Divison 16-4-0
Jul 28, 2006 • PFTC Sports Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Alexis Divison by RTD in Round 3 of 8
Win vs Ray Cuningham 5-1-0
Jun 03, 2006 • Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Ray Cuningham by TKO in Round 1 of 6
Win vs David Estrada 9-5-0
May 05, 2006 • Lucky Star Casino, Concho, Oklahoma, USA
James Kirkland WINS against David Estrada by TKO in Round 3 of 6
Win vs Manny Castillo 13-11-2
Apr 21, 2006 • Omar Shrine Temple, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Manny Castillo by TKO in Round 3 of 6
Win vs Russell Jordan 6-1-0
Nov 06, 2003 • Washington Hilton & Towers, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Russell Jordan by TKO in Round 1 of 8
Win vs Martinus Clay 7-4-0
Aug 22, 2003 • Silverstar Casino, Choctaw, Mississippi, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Martinus Clay by KO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs Sergio Soto 11-8-1
May 23, 2003 • Lucky Star Casino, Concho, Oklahoma, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Sergio Soto by TKO in Round 3 of 4
Win vs Rodney Tappin 5-0-0
Mar 15, 2003 • Club Life, Dallas, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Rodney Tappin by UD in Round 4 of 4
Win vs Juan Carlos Aranday 8-34-5
Jan 31, 2003 • Randy's Ballroom, San Antonio, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Juan Carlos Aranday by TKO in Round 3 of 6
Win vs Edgar Pedraza 0-6-2
Oct 11, 2002 • Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Edgar Pedraza by UD in Round 4 of 4
Win vs Rashaan Abdul Blackburn 4-13-0
Sep 12, 2002 • Nation Nightclub, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Rashaan Abdul Blackburn by TKO in Round 3 of 4
Win vs Jose Luis Rodrigues 7-3-0
Jul 13, 2002 • The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Jose Luis Rodrigues by TKO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs Maurice Chalmers 1-2-0
Dec 09, 2001 • Crocket Center, Austin, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Maurice Chalmers by TKO in Round 3 of 4
Win vs Juan Jaime Rodriguez 0-1-0
Oct 26, 2001 • Erwin Center, Austin, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Juan Jaime Rodriguez by KO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs Maurice Chalmers 0-0-0
Aug 25, 2001 • Sunset Station, San Antonio, Texas, USA
James Kirkland WINS against Maurice Chalmers by TKO in Round 3 of 4
Stats
James Kirkland “Mandingo Warrior”
- WINS 34
- LOSSES 3
- DRAWS 0
- KOs 30
Weight 154 lbs (70 kg)
Height 5'9" (1.75 m)
Reach 70" (178 cm)
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Born
March 19, 1984 -
Age
39 -
Country
USA -
Born in
Austin, TX -
Trains in
San Antonio, TX
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Stance
Southpaw -
Rounds Boxed
117 -
KO Percentage
81.08% -
Boxing Hero
Fighter data provided by BoxRec Ltd. View disclaimer
James Kirkland Bio
Nicknamed "The Mandingo Warrior," James Kirkland has been likened to a 160-pound version of "Iron" Mike Tyson. The long-time middleweight contender is still on a rampage as he aims to capture a world title at middleweight.
From Poverty To Pugilism
James Kirkland grew up fatherless in impoverished East Austin, Texas. Kirkland got by on food stamps, once lived in an abandoned house and “was always fighting.”
“There were lots of drug dealers,” said Kirkland. “Going to the boxing gym and being around civilized people.”
Kirkland rocketed through the amateurs, amassing a 134–12 record, and winning Silver Gloves titles four years in a row before losing a controversial decision to James Patterson in the National Golden Gloves in May 2001. Three months later, he made his professional debut at the age of 17.
Nicknamed “The Mandingo Warrior” for his massive arms, ripped abs and a generally sculpted physique that drew comparisons to Mike Tyson, Kirkland reeled off three straight knockouts of Maurice Chalmers (August), Juan Jaime Rodriguez (October) and Chalmers (December) once more in the third.
A southpaw whose first six bouts ranged in weights from 138 to 147 ¼ pounds, Kirkland whipped his next three opponents in 2002 comprising first- and third-round TKOs of Jose Luis Rodriguez (July) and Rashaan Abdul Blackburn (September) and a four-round unanimous decision over Edgar Peraza (October).
Kirkland went 5-0 with four knockouts in 2003, a shutout four-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Rodney Tappin (March) being among knockouts of Juan Carlos Aranday (January), Sergio Soto (May), Martinus Clay (August) and Russell Jordan (November).
Kirkland exploded from a 17-month ring absence with a career-high six knockouts in as many fights in 2006. In April, he stopped Manny Castillo in three. Then in June, he ran through Ray Cunningham in one round.
That was followed by a third round stoppage of Alexis Divison in July. Kirkland capped off the year with two more stoppage wins, needing only two rounds to dispatch Sherwin Davis in October and then notching a fourth-round KO over David Toribio in December.
“I’ve learned some things about the boxing game that I never knew,” said Kirlkland at the time. “I took time away from boxing and got to learn and get the knowledge...I didn’t take away from my ability.”
Kirkland went the 10-round distance for the first time for a unanimous decision over Ossie Duran (June) in 2007, a year that included an eighth-round TKO of Billy Lyell (February) and stoppages in the second and first rounds over Mohamed Abdallah Said Salem (September) and Allen Conyers (November), respectively.
The Big Move
Kirkland took a major step up in class beginning in 2008. It began in May 2008, when he bulldozed Eromosele Albert in 66 seconds. “The Mandingo Warrior” followed up that performance with an impress second-round TKO over Ricardo Torres in September.
The win set up a November showdown versus then-undefeated Brian Vera at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Vera was game but simply outgunned against the merciless Kirkland. Vera was dropped twice in the second and again in the eighth round where, Kirkland induced the stoppage.
Kirkland continued to step it up. In March 2009, he faced the most difficult rival to date in former world title challenger Joel Julio. Again, the action was tense but Kirkland had too much power, putting Julio away in six exciting rounds.
Defeat, Surgery, Redemption
Kirkland returned from a two-year ring absence on March 5, 2011, stopping Ashandi Gibbs in 34 seconds. On March 18, he delivered a second-round TKO over Jhon Berrio. But in April, he was stopped by Nobuhiro Ishida in shocking fashion.
Kirkland bounced back with searing stoppages of Dennis Sharpe (June), Alexis Hloros (July) and hammer-fisted former title challenger Alfredo Angulo (November).
The Angulo bout was a war. Kirkland rose from a first-round knockdown, floored Angulo that same round and then finished the fight in the sixth to hand Angulo only the second loss of his pro career.
Kirkland fought once in 2012, a 10th-round disqualification victory over future champion Carlos Molina (March. He then had surgery a month later to repair two tears in his right shoulder.
He returned in December 2013 looking as powerful as ever, stopping the unbeaten Glen Tapia in six rounds. In May 2015, Kirkland was stopped by Saul “Canelo Alvarez in three rounds.
The 36-year-old Kirkland ended a four-year layoff with a first-round TKO of Colby Courter in August 2019 followed by a second-round KO of Jas Phipps in November. But in December 2020, he suffered a first-round KO loss to Juan Macias Montiel.