Jeremy Bates (born January 12, 1974) is an American professional boxer. Nicknamed "The Beast", Bates was a moderately successful fighter who fought several other journeyman fighters of his era. Bates has become something of a "comeback" opponent for veteran fighters such as Holyfield, Golota, and Meehan.
Professional boxing career
Early career Bates turned professional in 1999 and fought mainly journeyman fighters, losing to prospect Andre Purlette in 2001. Bates later lost to Sedreck Fields, Kirk Johnson, Leo Nolan, Brian Minto, and Ray Austin before his first retirement.
The Evander Holyfield fight Bates was persuaded to postpone his retirement when he was given an opportunity to fight four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. On August 18, 2006, in a 10-round bout at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, 44-year-old Holyfield dominated the fight which was stopped in the second round after he landed around 20 consecutive punches on Bates. The events prior to, and the fight itself, are documented in Evander Holyfield's book 'Becoming Holyfield'.
Retirement from boxing Bates retired with a record of 21 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw, with 18 wins by knockout. Post boxing, Bates began a career as a full-time insurance sales professional. Bates is currently employed at the United States Enrichment Corporation. (USEC) is a Uranium gaseous diffusion plant in Portsmouth OH.
Coming out of retirement Bates would come out of retirement to face Guillermo Jones, Andrew Golota, Odlanier Solis, Kevin Rainey, and most recently Kali Meehan. All of those fights, with the exception of Bates' bout with Kevin Rainey, would be losses. Currently, Bates' record stands at 23 wins, 17 losses and 1 draw, with 19 wins by knockout.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes46Loss BJ FloresTKO1 Feb 25, 2017 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix45Loss26–18–1 Óscar RivasKO1 Jun 4, 2016 Bell Centre, Montreal44Win26–17–1 Adolpho WashingtonRTD1 Apr 23, 2016 Pullman Plaza Hotel, Huntington43Win25–17–1 Dante CraigTKO2 Sep 5, 2015 Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington42Win24–17–1 Levi BowlingTKO1 Jul 11, 2015 Parkersburg41Win23–17–1 Justin RiegleTKO1 , 1:03Jul 30, 2011 Cannonsburg, Kentucky40Loss22–17–1 Siarhei LiakhovichTKO1 , 2:11Nov 7, 2009 Nuremberg, Germany39Loss22–16–1 Kali MeehanTKO3 , 1:16Feb 16, 2008 Nuremberg, Germany38Win22–15–1 Kevin RaineyUD4Jan 18, 2008 Somerset, Kentucky37Loss21–15–1 Odlanier SolísTKO2 , 0:18Oct 19, 2007 Berlin, Germany36Loss21–14–1 Andrew GolotaTKO2 , 2:59Jun 9, 2007 Katowice, Poland35Loss21–13–1 Guillermo JonesTKO1 , 1:44Jan 6, 2007 Hollywood, Florida34Loss21–12–1 Evander HolyfieldTKO2 , 2:56Aug 18, 2006 Dallas, Texas33Loss21–11–1 Ray AustinTKO2 , 1:17Apr 1, 2006 Cleveland, Ohio32Loss21–10–1 Zack PageUD8Dec 9, 2005 Wheeling, West Virginia31Win21–9–1 Jason WallerUD8Oct 14, 2005 Wheeling, West Virginia30Win20–9–1 Travis FultonTKO1 Aug 12, 2005 Wheeling, West Virginia29Loss19–9–1 Jason WallerUD6May 24, 2005 Woodlawn, Maryland28Win19–8–1 Carlton JohnsonUD8Apr 22, 2005 Wheeling, West Virginia27Win18-8–1 Kevin TallonUD4Jun 25, 2004 Wheeling, West Virginia26Loss17–8–1 Brian MintoTKO8 , 2:56Apr 23, 2004 Wheeling, West Virginia25Win17–7–1 Jeff LallyKO2Jan 18, 2004 West Virginia24Loss16–7–1 Leo NolanTKO4 Jun 13, 2003 Detroit, Michigan23Win16–6–1 Rodney PhillipsTKO1Mar 29, 2003 Parkersburg, West Virginia22Loss15–6–1 Kirk JohnsonKO2 , 2:59Dec 7, 2002 Las Vegas, Nevada21Win15–5–1 Mark JohnsonTKO4 , 0:00Jul 12, 2002 Lexington, Kentucky20Loss14–5–1 Willie PhillipsTKO6 , 1:41Jun 11, 2002 Chester, West Virginia19Win14–4–1 Scott HosaflookTKO1Jun 1, 2002 Morgantown, West Virginia18Loss13–4–1 David McNemarMD12Apr 20, 2002 Parkersburg, West Virginia17Loss13–3–1 Sedreck FieldsDQ4 , 1:11Jan 30, 2002 Miami Beach, Florida16Loss13–2–1 Andre PurletteTKO2 , 1:29Oct 5, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida15Win13–1–1 Jimmy HaynesKO1 , 2:00Sep 28, 2001 Lexington, Kentucky14Win12–1–1 Gerald MooreKO1Aug 25, 2001 Beckley, West Virginia13Win11–1–1 Carlton JohnsonKO1Aug 14, 2001 Chester, West Virginia12Win10–1–1 Jorel MannTKO1Jul 28, 2001 Huntington, West Virginia11Win9–1–1 Mike SheppardTKO1Jun 9, 2001 Parkersburg, West Virginia10Win8–1–1 Antonio ColbertTKO1 , 2:10Apr 19, 2001 Lexington, Kentucky9Win7–1–1 David JohnsonKO1 , 1:50Mar 30, 2001 Lexington, Kentucky8Draw6–1–1 Chad Van SicklePTS4Mar 1, 2001 Lexington, Kentucky7Win6–1 Elmer ColesTKO1Jan 20, 2001 Huntington, West Virginia6Win5–1 George RandolphTKO1Dec 9, 2000 Huntington, West Virginia5Win4–1 Thomas DixonTKO3Sep 16, 2000 Huntington, West Virginia4Win3–1 Mario HerefordKO2Aug 26, 2000 Gallatin, Tennessee3Win2–1 Kanovas AlexanderTKO1Jun 8, 2000 Barboursville, West Virginia2Loss1–1 Tim KnightUD4Mar 22, 2000 Louisville, Kentucky1Win1–0 Reggie StricklandTKO1 Nov 10, 1999 Chester, West Virginia
Professional wrestling Bates made his professional wrestling debut on November 15, 2008, in Ashland, Kentucky, at Ohio Championship Wrestling's November Reign, where he defeated Vinnie Viagra. He defeated "The Driller" Eddie Browning on December 13 at OCW's Season's Beatings.
Bates got his third victory at OCW on January 10, 2009, at the New Year's Bash by defeating NWA All-Star Wrestling Heavyweight Champion "Pretty Boy" Stan Lee. Bates made his wrestling debut at an arena where he is undefeated in the boxing ranks, the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia, at 304 Wrestling's Battlefront. He defeated Vinnie Viagra in that outing.
Bates is now in training to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His progress is being documented in a YouTube series called "Being the Beast".
References
External links
ESPN Article on Bates