Badou Jack
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Badou Jack | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 October 1983 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Other names | The Ripper |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Super-middleweight |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Reach | 185 cm (73 in) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 22 |
| Wins | 20 |
| Wins by KO | 12 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
Badou Jack (born 31 October 1983) is a Swedish professional boxer. Born to a Gambian father and a Swedish mother, he has represented both nations in the Olympics. He is the current WBC super-middleweight champion.
Amateur career
Jack began his amateur boxing career in 2001 at the age of 18. He held a record of 150 wins and 25 losses. In 2007, Jack was named the boxer of the year by the Swedish Boxing Federation. He represented Sweden at light-heavyweight before changing to Gambia, where he qualified for the 2008 Games.
At the 2nd AIBA African 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament he breezed through the competition to win; the final was a shutout win over DR Congo's Herry Saliku Biembe. At the Olympics he lost in the first round to India's Vijender Singh.
Jack qualified for the 2008 Olympics for Gambia in the middleweight division, and was the nation's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.
Professional career
As a professional, Jack was on the rise for many years, he started his career in his native Sweden and also in Finland before relocating to the United States, where he signed with Mayweather Promotions.
Jack was on his way to a world title shot when he was stopped in a round by lightly regarded Derek Edwards. However he bounced back and just a year later he faced Anthony Dirrell for his WBC Super Middleweight championship, Jack was seen as an easy touch for the champion Dirrell and was given little chance, most thinking that he would be knocked out. However, Jack upset the boxing world by defeating Dirrell via Majority Decision, taking more and more control of the fight as it went on and exposing the champions inability to fight on the inside.
Jack was once again the underdog in his first title defense against mandatory challenger George Groves, and he once again upset the odds. Defeating the Briton after dropping him once in the first round and taking more and more control of the fight as it went on, making effective use of his body punches especially. He was victorious via Split Decision.
Professional boxing record
Personal life
Jack was raised in his father's religion of Islam and still adheres to it to this day. Jack now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1][2][3]