Alfonso Ratliff (born February 18, 1956) is an American former
professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...
who competed from 1980 to 1989, holding the
WBC and ''
The Ring The Ring may refer to:
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*The Ring (franchise), ''The Ring'' (franchise), a Japanese horror media franchise
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* ''The Ring'', a 1967 novel by Richard Chopping
* ''The Ring'', a 1988 book by Daniel Keys Moran
* ''The R ...
'' cruiserweight titles in 1985. He was later coaching at the Harvey Boxing Club in Harvey IL.
Amateur boxing career
As an
amateur
An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, autodidacticism, self-taught, user-generated, do it yourself, DI ...
, Ratliff won the Chicago Golden Gloves title in 1980, and won a decision against
Mitch Green
Mitch Green (born January 13, 1957) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005. He is best known for having gone the distance with Mike Tyson in 1986, who was undefeated at the time. Two years later, in 1988, Green ...
in intercity competition.
Professional boxing career
Ratliff turned
professional
A professional is a member of a profession or any person who work (human activity), works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the partic ...
in 1980 and won the WBC and lineal cruiserweight titles with a decision win over
Carlos De León in 1985. He lost the belt in his first defense to
Bernard Benton via decision the same year.
In September 1986, Ratliff was stopped in the second round by
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1985 and 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "the Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson i ...
, who went on to become the youngest ever world heavyweight champion in his next fight. Ratliff retired in 1989 after a
TKO A technical knockout (TKO) is a professional fighting term.
TKO may also refer to:
Sports
* TKO, the name of a professional wrestling move referring to either the cutter or stunner variant
* TKO Group Holdings, a combat sports company
Music Ar ...
loss to
Lee Roy Murphy
Lee Roy Murphy (born July 16, 1958) is a retired American professional boxer. He held the IBF cruiserweight title from 1984 to 1986.
Amateur career
Murphy represented Chicago at three consecutive Intercity Golden Gloves dispatching his rivals ...
.
Professional boxing record
, -
, 34
, Loss
, 25–9
, align=left,
Lee Roy Murphy
Lee Roy Murphy (born July 16, 1958) is a retired American professional boxer. He held the IBF cruiserweight title from 1984 to 1986.
Amateur career
Murphy represented Chicago at three consecutive Intercity Golden Gloves dispatching his rivals ...
, KO
, 4
, ?
, 26 Jun 1989
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 33
, Loss
, 25–8
, align=left,
Jeff Lampkin
Jeff Lampkin (born September 21, 1961) is an American former professional boxer. During his 11-year professional career, Lampkin won the USBA cruiserweight title and IBF cruiserweight belt.
Amateur career
Lampkin had a stellar amateur care ...
, TKO
, 5
, 2:14
, 17 Nov 1988
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 32
, Win
, 25–7
, align=left,
Rickey Parkey
Ricky Parkey (November 7, 1956 – April 7, 2024) was an American professional boxer who held the IBF cruiserweight title from 1986 to 1987.
Professional career
Parkey turned professional in 1981 and won the IBF cruiserweight title with a TKO ...
, KO
, 7
, ?
, 12 Aug 1988
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 31
, Win
, 24–7
, align=left, Craig Bodzianowski
, MD
, 10
, N/a
, 12 May 1988
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 30
, Loss
, 23–7
, align=left,
Gary Mason
, TKO
, 6
, 1:17
, 3 Feb 1988
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 29
, Loss
, 23–6
, align=left,
Magne Havnå
Magne Havnå (16 September 1963 – 29 May 2004) was a Norwegian professional boxer who once held the WBO world title in cruiserweight, beating American boxer Boone Pultz in 5 rounds in May 1990. His son Kai Robin Havnaa is also a former boxer i ...
, PTS
, 8
, N/a
, 15 Jan 1988
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 28
, Loss
, 23–5
, align=left, Patrick Lumumba
, UD
, 10
, N/a
,
16 Oct 1987
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 27
, Win
, 23–4
, align=left, Henry Sims
, TKO
, 9
, 2:26
, 11 Aug 1987
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 26
, Win
, 22–4
, align=left, Craig Bodzianowski
, MD
, 10
, N/a
, 12 Apr 1987
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 25
, Loss
, 21–4
, align=left,
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1985 and 2024. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "the Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson i ...
, TKO
, 2
, 1:41
,
6 Sep 1986
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 24
, Win
, 21–3
, align=left, Stanley Ross
, RTD
, 5
, 3:00
,
19 Jul 1986
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 23
, Loss
, 20–3
, align=left,
Bernard Benton
, UD
, 12
, N/a
,
21 Sep 1985
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 22
, Win
, 20–2
, align=left,
Carlos De León
, SD
, 12
, N/a
, 6 Jun 1985
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 21
, Win
, 19–2
, align=left, James Dixon
, RTD
, 5
, 3:00
, 20 Dec 1984
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 20
, Win
, 18–2
, align=left, Billy Joe Thomas
, KO
, 2
, 2:30
, 25 May 1984
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 19
, Win
, 17–2
, align=left, Bashir Wadud
, TKO
, 7
, ?
, 02 Nov 1983
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 18
, Loss
, 16–2
, align=left,
Pinklon Thomas
Pinklon Thomas (born February 10, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1993. He was boxing's first 'Centennial Champion' (1886-1986) and held the WBC heavyweight title from 1984 to 1986. He is considered one ...
, TKO
, 10
, 2:36
, 26 Mar 1983
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 17
, Win
, 16–1
, align=left, Henry Porter
, TKO
, 6
, 1:51
, 05 Oct 1982
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 16
, Win
, 15–1
, align=left, Clayman Parker
, KO
, 6
, 0:32
, 19 Jul 1982
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 15
, Win
, 14–1
, align=left,
Elijah Tillery
, UD
, 10
, N/a
, 13 Mar 1982
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 14
, Loss
, 13–1
, align=left,
Tim Witherspoon
Tim Witherspoon (born December 27, 1957) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 2003. He was a two-time world heavyweight champion, having held the WBC title in 1984, and the WBA title in 1986. He beat heavyweight ...
, TKO
, 7
, 2:25
, 5 Dec 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 13
, Win
, 13–0
, align=left, Vernon Johnston
, KO
, 2
, ?
, 3 Oct 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 12
, Win
, 12–0
, align=left, Leroy Boone
, UD
, 10
, N/a
, 21 Aug 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 11
, Win
, 11–0
, align=left, Henry Patterson
, KO
, 2
, 1:37
, 27 Jul 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 10
, Win
, 10–0
, align=left, Eddie Temple
, KO
, 2
, ?
, 29 Jun 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 9
, Win
, 9–0
, align=left, David Starkey
, KO
, 2
, 1:27
, 16 Apr 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 8
, Win
, 8–0
, align=left, James Dixon
, UD
, 8
, ?
, 2 Apr 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 7
, Win
, 7–0
, align=left, Baker Tinsley
, KO
, 4
, ?
, 9 Mar 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 6
, Win
, 6–0
, align=left, Stan Johnson
, KO
, 2
, ?
, 22 Feb 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 5
, Win
, 5–0
, align=left, Johnny Townsend
, UD
, 8
, N/a
, 15 Jan 1981
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 4
, Win
, 4–0
, align=left, Melvin Hosey
, TKO
, 5
, 1:50
, 13 Nov 1980
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 3
, Win
, 3–0
, align=left, Charles Anderson Atlas
, KO
, 1
, ?
, 9 Oct 1980
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 2
, Win
, 2–0
, align=left, Mike Chrun
, TKO
, 2
, 1:50
, 22 Sep 1980
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, 1
, Win
, 1–0
, align=left, Jim Flynn
, KO
, 1
, 2:11
, 25 Aug 1980
, align=left,
, align=left,
See also
*
List of world cruiserweight boxing champions
References
External links
*
Alfonso Ratliff - CBZ Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ratliff, Alfonso
1956 births
Living people
American male boxers
African-American boxers
Boxers from Mississippi
Sportspeople from Clarksdale, Mississippi
Boxers from Chicago
Heavyweight boxers
World cruiserweight boxing champions
World Boxing Council champions
The Ring (magazine) champions
20th-century American sportsmen