Tyrone Brunson (boxer)

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Tyrone Brunson is also the name of an American R&B musician who scored several hits in the early to mid-1980's.

Tyrone Brunson (b. January 29, 1985 ) is a US-American boxer, a middleweight prospect from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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[edit] Amateur

Tyrone Brunson (The One) comes from a long line of outstanding Philadelphia Middleweights. He had an extensive amateur career with over 90 fights. While he never won one of the coveted amateur accolades such as the National Golden Gloves and PAL Championships, or make it to the Olympics, Brunson did win several youth tournaments as well as the Silver Gloves and the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves. The boxing websites "Fightnews" and "Sportsfreak" claim his amateur record was 82-12. Brunson claims that his failure to win a senior national tournament was due to two things: (1) impatience to get to the into pro ranks, and (2) what Brunson describes as a "pro style" of fighting that emphasizes power and knockouts rather than earning points.

[edit] Pro

Brunson (18-0, 18 KO’s) quickly started a buzz with his string of knockouts all in the first round. He quietly made boxing history on June 08, 2007 with his incredible feat of securing eighteen first round knockouts in as many outings. Some may see him as being a savouir to the sport, however most boxing pundits and hardcore fans see him as flaky; fighting the worst competition he could find (having to go to Australia to get fights that wouldn't be sanctionted in America) just to beat a record that means nothing considering out of his first 18 opponents their combined record was 60-94-8 compared to Edwin Valero's 112-102-17.

Brunson first burst into the national boxing scene by punching his way into the American record books without much fanfare on March 09, 2007 by knocking David Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio in 52 seconds at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. On that date and with his fifteenth fight, Brunson secured the United States of America and North American record for consecutive first round knockouts by eclipsing the record of fourteen consecutive first round knockouts set by Young Otto (119-30) more than a hundred years earlier on October 6, 1905.

Brunson almost did not secure the record due to a freak accident. Early in the bout, Johnson got tangled with referee Dale Grable, fell, and seemed to have injured his ankle. A game Johnson, despite a seeming limp, decided to fight on and indicated to the referee that he would like to fight on. Unfortunately for him, Johnson was knocked down with a barrage of punches from Brunson a few seconds after deciding to continue after the entanglement. This time, Johnson, writhing in pain, had no choice but to elect not to continue and was ruled out by TKO.

Had Johnson decided his accidental injury from tangling with referee Grable was too severe to continue when it happened, the bout would have been ruled a No Contest and Brunson’s run for the record would have ended at fourteen.

With the Johnson win, Brunson secured the US and North American record for consecutive first round knockouts. The difference between Otto and Brunson’s record is that Otto started his streak on his twentieth fight against Jack Doyle (Debut) when Otto was already 19-1 as professional. Brunson’s streak started with his professional debut. Consequently, Brunson is the first North American in history to pull off eighteen consecutive first-round knockouts to open a career.

After bagging the American record, Brunson continued his pursuit of the world record with a tour of duty in New Zealand. Three months and three wins later, Brunson quietly made boxing history again with the amazing feat of securing eighteen first round knockouts in as many outings. With 18 consecutive first round knockouts, Brunson tied the world record for consecutive first round knockouts, a world record that set by current WBA Super Featherweight Champion Edwin Valero of Venezuela on February 25, 2006. Brunson’s eighteenth win and eighteenth first-round knockout, the win that gave him a share of the world record, came on June 08, 2007 at the Sky City Casino in Auckland, New Zealand, when Brunson stopping veteran Jamie Waru with four seconds remaining in the opening stanza.

On March 29, 2008, Brunson recorded his record breaking nineteenth consecutive first-round knockout, defeating Francis McKechnai in just 72 seconds.

Brunson recently got into a bit of a controversy when an unscupulous booking agent talked him into signing a promotional with legendary promoter Don King on July 9 2007 while still under contract with Lion Heart Boxing Productions, a small and upstart US promotional company started by New Orleans, Louisiana Tax Attorney Edward B. Mendy. After thinking about it further, Brunson reversed course and decided that he would be better off sticking with his original agreement Lion Heart Boxing Productions. In August 2007, Brunson affirmed his contract with Lion Heart Boxing Production and is currently campaigning under the Lion Heart Boxing Productions banner. The Don King contract issue currently is being sorted by the parties. In the meantime, Brunson singularly focuses his energies on boxing and his desire to Knock out (break) his own record.

[edit] Criticism

Most boxing pundits and hardcore fans see him as flaky; fighting the worst competition he could find (having to go to Australia to get fights that wouldn't be sanctionted in America) just to beat a record that means nothing considering out of his first 18 opponents their combined record was 60-94-8 compared to Edwin Valero's 112-102-17. Mark Vester of BoxingScene.com wrote the following.

“ Valero stopped his first 18 opponents in the first round, and as bad as some of them were, they don't even compare to the stiffs that grace the resume of Brunson. Unless some of the records are off, and I don't think they are, Brunson has only fought a single fighter with a winning record.

The real sham of the padded record was Brunson trip to New Zealand in 2007, where he fought two stiffs only "four days apart." On June 4, Brunson, then 16-0 with 16KOs, stopped Lee Hunter, who was making his "pro debut." Talk about a mismatch that would never get approved by a single athletic commission within the United States. A few days later, on June 8, he tied Valero's record by stopping Jamie Waru, who was 18-21.

Valero won the WBA super featherweight title by his 20th fight. There should be an asterisk near Brunson's name in the boxing record book.

 ”
 
— Mark Vester, BoxingScene.com

[edit] Links

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[edit] Personal

Tyrone Brunson is no longer signed with Edward B Mendy. He is now signed with Ronald Remus of Remus Productions and Promotor Clip Boxing Carlos Llinas. Edward Mendy continues to try to manipulate his way into telling people he's signed with Tyrone and he is not. Tyrone filed bankrupt in December 2007 and this voided the contracts including Mendy's.

Tyrone is also expecting his first child, a girl, with R&B/Neo Soul Singer Patrice Austin, according to his Myspace.