Darnell Lamont Boone (born January 21, 1980) is an American professional boxer who currently fights at cruiserweight. Despite having never challenged for a world title, Boone is notable for facing several future world champions throughout his career, from middleweight to light heavyweight.Pugmire, Lance (April 20, 2016). "Sparring partner says Gennady Golovkin would beat Andre Ward or Sergey Kovalev". Los Angeles Times. tronc. Retrieved November 29, 2016.Wainwright, Anson (November 15, 2016). "Darnell Boone Breaks Down Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward". The Ring. Retrieved November 29, 2016. In 2004, he was the first to score a knockdown against undefeated Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward, who went on to win a unanimous decision over Boone.Whicker, Mark (August 31, 2016). "Whicker: Darnell Boone still has fight left in him. Los Angeles Daily News. Digital First Media. Retrieved November 29, 2016. In 2010, Boone caused a major upset when he knocked out future world champion Adonis Stevenson, who later gained revenge by knocking out Boone in 2013.Gulas, Greg (March 19, 2013). "Boone gets another shot at 'Superman'" . vindy.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016. Boone also defeated Willie Monroe Jr. in 2011, who later challenged twice for a world title. Other world champions Boone has faced include Jean Pascal, Erislandy Lara, and Sergey Kovalev (twice).Whicker, Mark (August 31, 2016). "Whicker: Gennady Golovkin's sparring partner Darnell Boone more than just a journeyman". Orange County Register. Digital First Media. Retrieved November 29, 2016.

Background Having gotten a late start into the sport of boxing, Boone had just ten amateur fights before turning professional in 2004. Boone had originally gotten into boxing after attending his younger brother's boxing gym. In his first training session, he sparred with future world champion Kelly Pavlik.

Professional boxing career Boone held a record of 6-2-1 by the time he fought Andre Ward, with the two losses coming to former IBF middleweight contender Walid Smichet and future IBA contender Walter Wright. Ward was a heavy favorite despite being just 6-0, and Boone took the fight on just one week's notice. Despite scoring the first knockdown in Ward's career, he lost a unanimous decision.

After improving to 10–3–1, Boone faced future two-time world title contenders Enrique Ornelas, and Anthony Thompson, losing unanimous decisions in each.

After drawing on points against another future title contender in Lajuan Simon, Boone lost a decision to then-undefeated (12-0) Jean Pascal.

In April 2010, Boone was matched up with future lineal, Ring, and world titleholder Adonis Stevenson, in another fight Boone took on short notice against an undefeated fighter as Stevenson was 13–0 at the time. Boone at the time was 16–15–2, and on a five-fight losing streak (the first three fights being decision losses to Craig McEwan, Erislandy Lara, and Edwin Rodriguez, respectively). In an upset Boone finished Stevenson 17 seconds into the second round. Leading up to the fight, Boone had been self-trained.

Boone took another short-notice fight against future champion and then, 17-0-1 Sergey Kovalev in a light heavyweight bout. Boone fought hard, knocking Kovalev down but later lost a point and ultimately a split decision. Boone was then defeated via first-round TKO against Marco Antonio Periban.

Boone was then matched up with future world title challenger and then-undefeated 10-0 Willie Monroe Jr., winning by an eight-round split decision. In March 2013, Boone fought Stevenson again in a rematch, losing via sixth-round KO.

He made his cruiserweight debut in February 2017 against Ramon Luis Nicolas. He lost by unanimous decision.

After a UD loss to Artur Ziyatdinov (10–0, 8 KOs) in September 2019 at light heavyweight, Boone was inactive for a few years before returning to the ring in April 2024 in a cruiserweight bout against Joe Jones, which ended in a majority draw.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes58LossZachary RandolphTKO5 (6), May 3, 202557LossImran HaddabahKO5 (8), Jan 25, 202556LossJoel MutomboTKO3 (6), Jun 15, 202455DrawJoe JonesMD4Apr 27, 202454LossArtur ZiyatdinovUD8Sep 28, 201953DrawLamont CapersMD8Nov 21, 201852Win24–24–4Jorge Alfredo LealTKO1 (6) Aug 19, 201751Loss23–24–4Ramon Luis NicolasUD8Feb 25, 201750Loss23–23–4Schiller HyppoliteUD10Mar 12, 201649Win23–22–4Jimmy CampbellKO2 (6), Dec 12, 201548Win22–22–4Samuel MillerTKO5 (8), Aug 22, 201547Loss21–22–4Arif MagomedovTKO1 (8), May 22, 201546Win21–21–4Phillip Jackson BensonTKO6 (8), Apr 18, 201545Win20–21–4Dionisio MirandaKO3 (10), Dec 11, 201444Draw19–21–4Morgan Fitch6Nov 30, 201343Loss19–21–3Adonis StevensonKO6 (10), Mar 22, 201342Loss19–20–3Derrick WebsterSD6Jan 19, 201341Loss19–19–3Sergey KovalevTKO2 (8), Jun 1, 201240Loss19–18–3Dyah DavisUD6Oct 21, 201139Win19–17–3Marcus Don HallTKO1 (6), Aug 26, 201138Win18–17–3Willie Monroe Jr.SD8Mar 29, 201137Loss17–17–3Marco Antonio PeribánTKO1 (8), Dec 3, 201036Loss17–16–3Sergey KovalevSD8Oct 9, 201035Draw17–15–3Lennox Allen8Aug 7, 201034Win17–15–2Adonis StevensonTKO2 (8), Mar 19, 201033Loss16–15–2Brandon GonzalesUD8Jan 15, 201032Loss16–14–2Jose Angel RodriguezUD8Jan 15, 201031Loss16–13–2Edwin RodríguezUD8Oct 3, 200930Loss16–12–2Erislandy LaraUD6Jul 17, 200929Loss16–11–2Craig McEwan8Jun 27, 200928Win16–10–2Calvin GreenTKO7 (10), May 29, 200927Win15–10–2Louis TurnerMD10Apr 4, 200926Loss14–10–2Brian VeraUD10Jun 15, 200725Loss14–9–2Curtis StevensUD10Mar 22, 200724Win14–8–2James JohnsonUD4Feb 3, 200723Loss13–8–2Jesús GonzálezUD8Dec 15, 200622Win13–7–2Norman JohnsonTKO2 (4)Dec 1, 200621Win12–7–2William JohnsonUD4Nov 2, 200620Win11–7–2Marcus BrooksUD4Oct 6, 200619Loss10–7–2Fernando ZunigaMD8Sep 15, 200618Loss10–6–2Jean PascalUD10Jun 23, 200617Draw10–5–2Lajuan SimonPTS6Apr 28, 200616Loss10–5–1Anthony ThompsonUD10Mar 31, 200615Loss10–4–1Enrique OrnelasUD8Mar 3, 200614Win10–3–1Rasheem BrownUD10Feb 18, 200613Win9–3–1James CountrymanUD6Feb 3, 200612Win8–3–1Willie LeeUD6Jan 13, 200611Win7–3–1Ronald Johnson6Dec 16, 200510Loss6–3–1Andre WardUD6Nov 19, 20059Win6–2–1Chris ArcherTKO4 (6)Nov 11, 20058Loss5–2–1Walid SmichetTKO6 (8), Aug 31, 20057Win5–1–1James NorthKO3 (6)Aug 12, 20056Loss4–1–1Walter WrightUD8May 24, 20055Draw4–0–1Walid Smichet4Feb 26, 20054Win4–0Alex BlackTKO2 (6), Nov 24, 20043Win3–0Michael Rush1 (4), Sep 29, 20042Win2–0Shawn Williams4Jul 2, 20041Win1–0Jay Holland4May 21, 2004

References

External links

"Boxing Darnell Boone beating guys with good records" at vindy.com "Boone's 'Knockout' re-energizes boxing career" at wytv.com