Otis Grant


Otis Grant is a Canadian retired boxer. As an amateur he won a silver medal for Canada at the 1987 Pan American Games, losing to Cuba's Angel Espinosa in the final. He is a two-time North American Boxing Federation middleweight title holder, as well as recognized for being the first black Quebecer to win a WBO championship.

Early life

Born in Saint Ann, Jamaica, Otis and his family moved to Montreal in 1977, when he was 9 years old. A multi sport athlete, he began boxing at age 11 alongside his older brother Howard, and earned the nickname “Magic” from family members who related his basketball ability to hall of famer Magic Johnson. At 17 years old, Grant had won the Canadian Senior Amateur Boxing Championships in his weight division of 71 kilos. This would propel him to compete at the World Youth Championship for the Canadian national team, despite his junior status. Later on, Otis competed at the 1987 Pan American Games, earning a silver medal by being defeated in the finals against Cuba's Angel Espinosa, before turning pro.

Professional career

Known as "Magic", Grant turned pro in 1988 and captured the vacant WBO middleweight title in 1997 with a decision over Ryan Rhodes in England. He vacated the belt following a defense against Ernesto Rafael Sena in 1998.

Fight vs Roy Jones Jr.

After a successful career thus far as the middleweight title holder, Grant vacated his belt to challenge prevailing champ Roy Jones Jr in 1998 for the WBC and WBA light heavyweight titles, moving up two weight classes to make his debut in the light heavyweight division. The fighters decided on a catch-weight match, with Grant and Jones Jr. coming into the ring at 172 lbs and 171 lbs, respectively. Grant had been a large underdog coming into the fight. Jones Jr had the upper hand throughout the match up, earning knock downs in the 6th and 10th rounds. After his second knock down in the 10th round, Grant's trainer Russ Anber threw in the towel, giving Jones Jr. the TKO victory.

Comeback

Following Grant's near-fatal car crash in 1999, doctors stated that although his superb condition saved his life, he would be unable to continue boxing. Nevertheless, Grant was determined to make a return to the ring in search of another title shot as a super middleweight. After a 4-year hiatus, he had his first fight back against Dingaan Thobela, defeating him convincingly in 8 rounds. Grant continued his winning streak for another straight 6 fights, until he faced off against Librado Andrade in 2006 for the WBC Super Middleweight number 1 contender position. After being beat throughout the fight, Grant's team elected to sit out at the 8th round, giving Andrade the victory and the title shot. Grant chose this opportunity to retire, stating that it was now his time to “bow out, and bow out gracefully”.

Personal life

Education

Grant took up post-secondary studies at Vanier College, eventually becoming one of their most well-known alumni. Following his cegep graduation, he enrolled in Concordia University and earned a BA in recreation and leisure studies, becoming a member of their class of ‘93.

Accident

In June 1999, Grant was involved in a dangerous collision during a road trip back to Montreal. Grant, who was the driver of the car, noticed an oncoming vehicle travelling north on a southbound lane and swerved towards the right to avoid contact for the passengers, but took the car's full impact on the driver's side. Passengers included former pro boxer Hercules Kyvelos and his then 6-year-old daughter. All were rushed to the emergency room in separate ambulances, although the passengers were virtually unscathed. Once recognizing that his daughter was safe at the hospital, Grant slipped into a coma for seven days. Other injuries sustained during the crash included five broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a shattered shoulder blade, all on his left hand side. This accident came only six months after vacating his WBO title belt. Once reviewed by doctors, Grant was essentially told he would never be able to return to the ring. Despite this, he made his official comeback in 2003, earning a unanimous decision victory over former world champion Dingaan Thobela.

Community work

After being approached by an organization to loan his name for charity, Grant became convinced to use his name to aid the needy. Thus, the Otis Grant & Friends foundation was created. The Otis Grant & Friends is a non profit charity, established in 1999, initially formed to aid hunger, poverty and sicknesses within the community. The organization has grown generously, now donating food, clothes and medicine to communities all across Canada. In addition to this, the organization sends children to summer camps whose families can't afford it, gives aid to special needs students at the high school level, as well as providing scholarships to graduating high school students who plan on post-secondary studies.
Grant also spends time working as a teacher's assistant and counsellor for special needs students at Lindsay Place, a local high school in Montreal, helping them adjust to school life. He is currently the coordinator at the community learning centre at Riverdale high school.
For all of his actions and benevolence towards the community, Otis Grant had been named the 2007 Concordia Alumnus of the year.

Future outside the ring

Otis Grant, along with his brother Howard Grant, own a boxing gym in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Montreal, named Grant Brothers Boxing
where he coaches and manages amateur boxing events and also professional events in association with Rixa Promotions and Groupe Yvon Michel. he is also involved in two boxing brands: Grant Boxing and GBB. He is married to Betty Mullins and has 2 children Alexandria and Andrew. He lives with his family in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Recently the professional boxing gloves he helped developed ranked as the best gloves in term of protection with an average of 0.0005% ratio of injuries while according to the John Hopkin's Medical School is 3.6%.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
Loss38-3-1 Librado AndradeRTD7 08/04/2006 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecLost WBC World Super Middleweight Title Eliminator.
Win38-2-1 Donnell WigginsUD1029/10/2005 Lac Leamy Casino, Gatineau, Quebec
Win37-2-1 Charles AdamuUD1218/06/2005 Bell Centre, Montreal, QuebecRetained WBC International Super Middleweight Title.
Win36-2-1 Nader HamdanUD1212/03/2005 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecRetained WBC International Super Middleweight Title.
Win35-2-1 Henry PorrasUD1211/12/2004 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecWon WBC International Super Middleweight Title.
Win34-2-1 Mark WoolnoughUD1011/09/2004 Montreal Casino, Montreal, QuebecWon Canada Super Middleweight Title.
Win33-2-1 Prince Badi AjamuMD1024/04/2004 Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec
Win32-2-1 Dingaan ThobelaUD822/11/2003 Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Loss31-2-1 Roy Jones, Jr.TKO10 14/11/1998 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, ConnecticutFor WBC and WBA World Light Heavyweight Titles.
Win31-1-1 Ernesto Rafael SenaTD912/05/1998 Corel Centre, Ottawa, OntarioRetained WBO World Middleweight Title.
Win30-1-1 Ryan RhodesUD1213/12/1997 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, YorkshireWon vacant WBO World Middleweight Title.
Win29-1-1 Danny GarciaTKO7 27/07/1997 Belle Casino, Baton Rouge, LouisianaRetained NABF Middleweight Title.
Draw28-1-1 Lonnie BradleyPTS1204/03/1997 The Aladdin, Las Vegas, NevadaWBO World Middleweight Title.
Win28-1 Rodney ToneyMD1218/06/1996 Convention Center, Edison, New JerseyRetained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win27-1 James GreenTKO1215/01/1996 Landmark Inn, Woodbridge, New JerseyRetained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win26-1 Derrick JamesDQ11 10/10/1995 Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New YorkWon NABF Middleweight Title.
Win25-1 Undra WhiteUD1024/02/1995 Palais des Sports, Jonquière, Quebec
Win24-1 William Bo JamesPTS1015/12/1994 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Win23-1 Jerry Lee WilliamsUD1015/11/1994 Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Loss22-1 Quincy TaylorKO12 15/03/1994 The Roxy, Boston, MassachusettsLost NABF Middleweight Title.
Win22-0 Willie MonroeUD1205/10/1993 The Riviera, Las Vegas, NevadaRetained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win21-0 Brett LallyTKO4 03/08/1993 The Riviera, Las Vegas, NevadaRetained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win20-0 Tyrone MooreKO2 18/06/1993 Hotel Le Roussillon, Jonquière, Quebec
Win19-0 Ron CollinsUD1208/12/1992 Forum, Montreal, QuebecRetained NABF Middleweight Title.
Win18-0 Gilbert BaptistUD1228/09/1992 Verdun, QuebecWon vacant NABF Middleweight Title.
Win17-0 Todd NadonTKO3 17/03/1992 Forum, Montreal, QuebecRetained Canada Middleweight Title.
Win16-0 Darryl AnthonyUD1010/12/1991 Montreal, Quebec
Win15-0 Dan SherryRTD7 27/09/1991 Memorial Arena, Niagara Falls, OntarioWon Canada Middleweight Title.
Win14-0 Eddie TylerTKO2 31/05/1991 St. Joseph Arena, Shediac, New Brunswick
Win13-0 Jaime OllenbergerTKO3 18/03/1991 Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova ScotiaWon WBC Intercontinental Super Middleweight Title.
Win12-0 Darrell FlintKO1 25/10/1990 Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Win11-0 Knox BrownTKO6 02/10/1990 The Palace, Laval, Quebec
Win10-0 Danny MitchellUD801/08/1990 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario
Win9-0 Dwayne NorthKO111/04/1990 Albany, New York
Win8-0 Art McCloudTKO103/10/1989 The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win7-0 John WilkinsonTKO3 27/06/1989 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win6-0 Fred JohnsonKO116/06/1989 Hartford, Connecticut
Win5-0 Don CarrollPTS423/05/1989 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win4-0 Stokely CrichlowTKO1 05/05/1989 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Win3-0 Alan CormierTKO3 28/04/1989 Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, Massachusetts
Win2-0 Bernard RompreTKO1 20/03/1989 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec
Win1-0 John GrossUD429/11/1988 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QuebecGrant pro debut.