Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: WBA Heavyweight Champion December 12, 1986 – March 3, 1987. Boxed professionally from 1981-1999. Final ring record was 44-17-1 with 32 KOs.
DOB: April 3, 1955 In: Magnolia, NC
Residence: Lillington, NC
Childhood Hero: “Muhammad Ali.”
Nickname: Bonecrusher.
Hobbies/Interests: “I play golf, and I speak to young kids at the high schools.”
Favorite Movie: “I like Shawshank Redemption.”
Musical Tastes: “I like classical.”
Early Boxing Memory: “I guess losing my first pro fight. Right here in Atlantic City. Fought James Broad in my first fight on ESPN. I was 28 years old. Got stopped (TKO in 4th in ’81). That was a very memorable experience. I started boxing after college, when I was in the military as an amateur. Then I turned pro at 28.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “One of my fights I split my shorts [laughs]. I just fought through it, early in my career.”
Favorite Meal: “Chili [laughs].”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “Well, you have nervous energy. You want to go in and try to avoid getting hurt. But you want to win the fight – as quick as possible.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Taking the (WBA) heavyweight title fight on seven days notice. Flying up and knocking Tim Witherspoon out in the first round to become heavyweight champion of the world (’86). I was up for the fight. I had fought Tim before and I knew if the fight went a long time that he’d be tough later on in the fight. And so I just jumped right on him. The very first punch I hit him with (right hand), he was in trouble. I guess you could say he went back and I knocked him down three times in the first round. And I’m the champ [smiles].”
Most Painful Moment: “12 rounds with Tyson (’87). It was a brutal fight. I got cut early – in the first round. I hit him with a very sharp right hand in the 12th round, staggered him. I think I fought too defensive of a fight that fight. And looking back, I probably could have beat Tyson in that fight.”
Hardest Punchers: “You know, the hardest punches…I’d say a guy like Mike Weaver. And Frank Bruno. These guys got knocked out but they could punch very hard.”
Toughest Opponents: “I would say Tyson was the toughest fight that I had. Because the media had built him up so great. And he was very difficult for me to hit. When I was throwing my right hand, he would duck underneath it. Guys like Larry Holmes were tough. But I could hit Larry Holmes. If I could hit a guy, I could get him in trouble. When I fought Holmes, he was already champion for three years, I was in my third year as a pro. It was a good close fight. People really took me seriously after that fight.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “I like to see Bernard Hopkins. To me, he’s a great fighter. His punch is very good, he puts his punches together very good. He’s a student of the game, he comes from Philadelphia where they know how to fight. He’s just a hard-nosed tough guy. He don’t run around or anything like that but he puts his punches together. I like Roy Jones. I think he’s an exciting fighter. He showed he can fight in different weight classes.”
When Were You At Your Best?: “I’d say the Witherspoon fight, winning the title. I was in tremendous shape. I was preparing for a fight in Fayetteville against Mitch “Blood” Green. Don called me up and I said yes to the fight. I pulled out of the fight in Fayetteville to take that fight. And I took care of business.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I think people should be nice. Just nice people. Be respectful. Especially the boxers, the athletes. If they fight as long as 18 years the way I did, they still have a short career. And they want to be a nice person before and after the fights.”
Family: Wife, Reba; sons, Jamie, Raymond; daughter, Rachel.
Interesting Fact: James is the only Heavyweight champion to graduate from college – BA in Business Adm. from Shaw University in Raleigh, NC.
