Don Fullmer

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Don Fullmer
Fullmer (left) with Nino Benvenuti in 1968
Born
Don Rulon Fullmer

(1939-02-21)February 21, 1939
West Jordan, Utah, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 2012(2012-01-28) (aged 72)
West Jordan, Utah, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Reach70 in (178 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights79
Wins54
Wins by KO14
Losses20
Draws5

Don Fullmer (February 21, 1939 – January 28, 2012) was an American professional boxer and a brother of the former world middleweight champion Gene Fullmer.[1] Eight years younger than his more famous brother, Don followed Gene into the gym in West Jordan, Utah, to learn how to box. He fought as an amateur for four years and did not lose in sixty-five fights. Another brother, Jay, was also active in boxing. [citation needed]

Boxing career[edit]

Don turned professional in 1957 as a middleweight and beat some top contenders during his early career, such as Rocky Fumerelle, Rocky Rivero, and Joe DeNucci. However, he also lost to some good fighters, such as former champions Terry Downes, Dick Tiger, José Torres and Emile Griffith, as well as Joey Archer. [citation needed]

In 1964 he beat Jimmy Ellis, who later went on to win the World Boxing Association version of the heavyweight championship. The win against Ellis began a winning streak for Fullmer and he went on to defeat Griffith and Archer in rematches. This streak ended when he lost to Nino Benvenuti in Rome in 1966. Benvenuti went on to win the middleweight title, and after Fullmer beat Carl "Bobo" Olson he fought a rematch with Benvenuti for the title in 1968. He knocked the Italian down but lost a fifteen-round unanimous decision. While never a recognized world champion, Fullmer did win a bout billed as for the "World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship" when he defeated Joe Hopkins in 1967. This title was the precursor to the current super middleweight championship. Few in the boxing world recognized the legitimacy of that title.[2]

Fullmer retired from the ring in 1972. After his retirement, he worked for the Salt Lake County Fire Department. Along with his brothers, and he ran the Fullmer Brothers boxing gym in West Jordan. The gym provided for kids to work out for free.[3]

Death[edit]

Don Fullmer died of leukemia on January 28, 2012, aged 72. He was survived by his wife, Nedra and his five sons.[1]

Filmography[edit]

Professional boxing record[edit]

79 fights 54 wins 20 losses
By knockout 14 2
By decision 40 18
Draws 5
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
79 Loss 54–20–5 Richie Kates UD 10 Sep 24, 1972 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
78 Win 54–19–5 Andy Kendall SD 10 Apr 21, 1972 Capital Plaza, Frankfort, Kentucky, US
77 Win 53–19–5 Billy Freeman MD 10 Jan 13, 1972 Williamsport, Pennsylvania, US
76 Win 52–19–5 Lino Rendon UD 10 Oct 14, 1972 Cedar City, Utah, US
75 Win 51–19–5 Amado Vasquez KO 1 (10), 1:27 May 22, 1972 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
74 Loss 50–19–5 Pierre Fourie UD 10 Feb 19, 1972 Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
73 Win 50–18–5 Billy Wagner UD 10 Oct 19, 1971 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
72 Win 49–18–5 Dave Thach SD 10 Sep 16, 1971 Read Fieldhouse, Kalamazoo, Michigan, US
71 Loss 48–18–5 Eugene Hart UD 10 Jun 22, 1971 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
70 Loss 48–17–5 Bobby Cassidy SD 10 Apr 26, 1971 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
69 Loss 48–16–5 Tom Bogs PTS 10 Feb 11, 1971 K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
68 Draw 48–15–5 Billy Douglas PTS 10 Jul 11, 1970 Lausche Building, Columbus, Ohio, US
67 Draw 48–15–4 Tom Bogs PTS 10 Feb 12, 1970 Skojtehal, Gladsaxe, Denmark
66 Loss 48–15–3 Doyle Baird SD 10 Oct 29, 1969 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
65 Win 48–14–3 Juarez de Lima SD 10 May 26, 1969 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
64 Loss 47–14–3 Nino Benvenuti UD 15 Dec 14, 1968 Teatro Ariston, San Remo, Italy For WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
63 Win 47–13–3 Polo Corona UD 10 Sep 18, 1968 Star Theater, Phoenix, Arizona, US
62 Win 46–13–3 Gene Bryant UD 10 May 29, 1968 Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
61 Win 45–13–3 Billy Marsh UD 10 Apr 25, 1968 Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, US
60 Win 44–13–3 Carl Moore SD 10 Feb 20, 1968 Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, US
59 Win 43–13–3 Ted Wright UD 10 Sep 22, 1967 Weber State College Gymnasium, Ogden, Utah, US
58 Win 42–13–3 Luis Garduno TKO 2 (10) Jun 22, 1967 Adams Field House, Missoula, Montana, US
57 Win 41–13–3 Joe Hopkins TKO 6 (12), 1:19 Apr 3, 1967 Valley Music Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
56 Win 40–13–3 Bobo Olson MD 10 Nov 28, 1966 Oakland Arena, Oakland, California, US
55 Win 39–13–3 Tony Montano UD 10 Oct 17, 1966 Sportatorium, Phoenix, Arizona, US
54 Win 38–13–3 Stan Harrington UD 10 Apr 25, 1966 Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, US
53 Loss 37–13–3 Jose Gonzalez UD 12 Mar 18, 1966 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US Lost WBA American middleweight title
52 Loss 37–12–3 Nino Benvenuti UD 12 Feb 4, 1966 Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma, Italy
51 Win 37–11–3 Joey Archer SD 12 Dec 13, 1965 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US Retained WBA American middleweight title
50 Win 36–11–3 Emile Griffith UD 12 Aug 19, 1965 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, US Won vacant WBA American middleweight title
49 Win 35–11–3 Gene Bryant UD 10 Jun 21, 1965 West Jordan Park, West Jordan, Utah, US
48 Draw 34–11–3 Andy Kendall SD 10 Apr 27, 1965 Hacienda Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
47 Win 34–11–2 Ferd Hernandez UD 10 Feb 23, 1965 Hacienda Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
46 Win 33–11–2 Jimmy Ellis SD 10 Oct 21, 1964 Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky, US
45 Loss 32–11–2 Dick Tiger UD 10 Sep 11, 1964 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
44 Win 32–10–2 Ron Thompson TKO 1 (10), 2:13 Aug 15, 1964 Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene, Oregon, US
43 Draw 31–10–2 Fred Roots TD 5 (10) Apr 14, 1964 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, US Stopped on cuts after an accidental headbutt
42 Loss 31–10–1 Souleymane Diallo PTS 10 Dec 23, 1963 Palais des Sports, Paris, France
41 Loss 31–9–1 José Torres PTS 10 Oct 9, 1963 Armory, Teaneck, New Jersey, US
40 Win 31–8–1 Bobby Horn UD 10 Jul 3, 1963 Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene, Oregon, US
39 Loss 30–8–1 Sandro Mazzinghi TKO 8 (10), 2:59 May 5, 1963 Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan, Italy
38 Win 30–7–1 Eddie Andrews UD 10 Apr 18, 1963 Mathisen's Hall, Reno, Nevada, US
37 Win 29–7–1 Eddie Andrews UD 10 Feb 14, 1963 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
36 Loss 28–7–1 Emile Griffith UD 10 Oct 6, 1962 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
35 Win 28–6–1 Juan Carlos Rivero SD 10 Jul 21, 1962 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
34 Loss 27–6–1 Terry Downes PTS 10 May 22, 1962 Empire Pool, London, England, UK
33 Win 27–5–1 Joe DeNucci UD 10 Mar 16, 1962 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
32 Loss 26–5–1 Ted Wright TKO 7 (10) Aug 12, 1961 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
31 Win 26–4–1 Rocky Fumerelle UD 10 Jul 15, 1961 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
30 Loss 25–4–1 Joey Archer MD 10 Feb 4, 1961 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
29 Win 25–3–1 Buck Bellamy UD 10 Nov 11, 1960 George Nelson Field House, Logan, Utah, US
28 Draw 24–3–1 Gustav Scholz PTS 10 Sep 14, 1960 Festhalle, Frankfurt, West Germany
27 Win 24–3 Stefan Redl UD 10 May 11, 1960 Jenson's Gym, West Jordan, Utah, US
26 Win 23–3 JC Johnson UD 8 Mar 28, 1960 West Jordan, Utah, US
25 Win 22–3 Billy Blair UD 8 Mar 5, 1960 Athletic Club, West Jordan, Utah, US
24 Win 21–3 James Shorty TKO 5 (8), 1:15 Feb 20, 1960 Jenson's Gym, West Jordan, Utah, US
23 Win 20–3 Virgil Akins UD 10 Jan 28, 1960 Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, US
22 Win 19–3 Doug Garrett PTS 6 Dec 4, 1959 George Nelson Field House, Logan, Utah, US
21 Loss 18–3 Phil Moyer UD 10 Aug 18, 1959 Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, US
20 Loss 18–2 Eddie Andrews MD 10 Jul 6, 1959 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
19 Loss 18–1 Orlando DePietro PTS 10 Apr 4, 1959 Polo Grounds, Palm Springs, California, US
18 Win 18–0 Cornell Olds KO 3 (6) Feb 9, 1959 Eldred Recreation Center, Provo, Utah, US
17 Win 17–0 Cornell Olds KO 4 (6) Jan 16, 1959 Uintah High School Gym, Vernal, Utah, US
16 Win 16–0 Roscoe Shamblin UD 6 Dec 15, 1958 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US
15 Win 15–0 Willie Fuller KO 1 (8) Nov 29, 1958 Kanab, Utah, US
14 Win 14–0 Dick Bankhead KO 1 (6) Nov 10, 1958 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
13 Win 13–0 Curtis Barker KO 2 (4) Oct 13, 1958 West Jordan Elementary School, West Jordan, Utah, US
12 Win 12–0 Andy Maes PTS 6 Sep 11, 1958 Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
11 Win 11–0 Chico Cirini UD 6 Jul 26, 1958 Arena, West Jordan, Utah, US
10 Win 10–0 Elmer Carter PTS 5 Jul 7, 1958 Arena, West Jordan, Utah, US
9 Win 9–0 Cornell Olds KO 2 (5) Jun 4, 1958 West Jordan Park, West Jordan, Utah, US
8 Win 8–0 Frank Fellsen PTS 6 Apr 19, 1958 Springville, Utah, US
7 Win 7–0 Cornell Olds PTS 6 Apr 5, 1958 Cedar City, Utah, US
6 Win 6–0 Elmer Carter PTS 5 Mar 3, 1958 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
5 Win 5–0 Billy O'Neill UD 6 Feb 10, 1958 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
4 Win 4–0 Amond Cadoll UD 6 Feb 1, 1958 Southern Utah University Fieldhouse, Cedar City, Utah, US
3 Win 3–0 Cornell Olds TKO 2 (6) Jan 28, 1958 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah, US
2 Win 2–0 Johnny Hudson KO 1 (4) Sep 4, 1957 Arena, West Jordan, Utah, US
1 Win 1–0 Joe Mortenson TKO 3 (6), 2:40 Aug 2, 1957 West Jordan, Utah, US

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Boxing legend Don Fullmer dies at age 72". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. January 28, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  2. ^ Goldman, Herbert (February 2000). "Answerman". Boxing Digest. 42 (2): 62.
  3. ^ "Rescue mission begins for Fullmers". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. January 4, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Don Fullmer.
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