Andre Dirrell


Andre Dirrell is an American professional boxer who held the IBF interim super middleweight title from 2017 to 2018. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 2004 Olympics. His younger brother Anthony Dirrell is also a professional boxer.

Amateur career

Dirrell and his younger brother Anthony began boxing while still in elementary school in their hometown of Flint, Michigan. The brothers have been trained from the beginning by grandfather Leon "Bumper" Lawson Sr., a former sparring partner of Muhammad Ali, and uncle Leon Jr.
Dirrell was a standout as an amateur and won the 2003 United States national amateur championships at middleweight. He also competed at the 2003 Pan American Games, with his results being:
He qualified for the Olympic Games by finishing in first place at the 1st AIBA American 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tijuana, Mexico. Prior to the Athens Games he won the 2004 Acropolis Boxing Cup in Athens, Greece by defeating Cuba's Yordanis Despaigne in the final of the middleweight division.
He won the middleweight bronze medal for the United States at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. His results were:
Dirrell completed an amateur record of 210–26.

Professional career

Dirrell began his professional career in 2005. A southpaw possessing exceptional athleticism and the ability to switch-hit, he was considered among boxing's top young prospects following an extensive amateur career. Dirrell defeated future world title challenger Curtis Stevens on HBO's Boxing After Dark in June 2007.

Super Six World Boxing Classic

Dirrell was one of the six super-middleweights who competed in Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic, a boxing tournament, along with Arthur Abraham, Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Jermain Taylor. His first fight and only loss was against England's Carl Froch on October 18 for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship. Two of the judges scored the fight 115-112 for Froch, with the third scoring it 114-113 for Dirrell.
On March 27, 2010, Dirrell faced undefeated former Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham in Detroit, Michigan. In the fourth round, Dirrell knocked Abraham down for the first time in his career. Dirrell was outboxing Abraham throughout the bout and comfortably ahead on the scorecards 97-92, 98-91, and 97-92. In the 11th round, a slick spot in the corner of the ring caused Dirrell to slip to one knee. While down, Abraham delivered a punch to the chin of Dirrell; a delayed reaction was followed by Dirrell lying on the ground, unconscious and shaking. The referee ruled the blow by Abraham an intentional foul and awarded Dirrell a victory via disqualification. Some critics contested the ending of the fight, claiming that Dirrell may have overreacted after Abraham's final punch. However, Dirrell said he was really knocked out and did not know what happened after he fell down.
On October 7, 2010, Dirrell declined to face his friend and eventual Super Six tournament winner Andre Ward, and announced that he was withdrawing from the tournament due to neurological issues.

After Super Six

Dirrell took a 21-month layoff to heal from the neurological injuries sustained in the Abraham fight. Dirrell defeated Darryl Cunningham via second-round technical knockout.
Thirteen months after that, Dirrell made a return to the ring with a unanimous decision win against Michael Gbenga after knocking him down in round 9.
Andre was set to headline Friday Night Fights on April 12, 2013, but withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
Eighteen months after the Gbenga fight, Dirrell returned to score a fifth-round KO against Vladine Biosse.
On May 23, 2015, Andre Dirrell fought against British star James DeGale at the Agganis Arena in Boston. DeGale gained two knockdowns in the second round, which proved to be the difference as he won a unanimous decision over Dirrell to win a 168-pound world title. DeGale won 114-112 on two judges’ scorecards and 117-109 on the third.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30Win27–3 Juan Ubaldo CabreraKO5, 1:36Dec 21, 2019 Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, U.S.
29Loss26–3 José UzcáteguiRTD8, 3:00Mar 3, 2018 Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost IBF interim super middleweight title
28Win26–2 José UzcáteguiDQ8, 3:00May 20, 2017 MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S. Won vacant IBF interim super middleweight title;
Uzcátegui disqualified for hitting after the bell
27Win25–2 Blake CaparelloUD10Apr 29, 2016 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26Loss24–2 James DeGaleUD12 Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.For vacant IBF super middleweight title
25Win24–1 Derek EdwardsUD12Dec 19, 2014 Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
24Win23–1 Nick BrinsonTKO4, 2:12Oct 8, 2014 Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
23Win22–1 Vladine BiosseTKO5, 2:46Aug 1, 2014 Little Creek Casino Hotel and Resort, Shelton, Washington, U.S.
22Win21–1 Michael GbengaUD10Feb 2, 2013 Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
21Win20–1 Darryl CunninghamTKO2, 2:05Dec 30, 2011 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, U.S.
20Win19–1 Arthur Abraham11, 1:13Mar 27, 2010 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.Super Six World Boxing Classic: group stage 2;
Abraham disqualified for hitting after a slip
19Loss18–1 Carl Froch12Oct 17, 2009 Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, EnglandFor WBC super middleweight title;
Super Six World Boxing Classic: group stage 1
18Win18–0 Derrick Findley6, 3:00Mar 28, 2009 Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, U.S.
17Win17–0 Victor OganovTKO6, 0:28Nov 1, 2008 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.Won vacant WBO–NABO interim super middleweight title
16Win16–0 Mike PaschallTKO4, 1:32Aug 2, 2008 Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
15Win15–0 Anthony HanshawTKO5, 1:13May 2, 2008 Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S.
14Win14–0 Shannon MillerTKO3, 1:58Dec 6, 2007 Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S.
13Win13–0 William JohnsonKO3, 2:03Feb 1, 2008 Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, U.S.
12Win12–0 Curtis StevensUD10Jun 16, 2007 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
11Win11–0 Kenny KostUD8Feb 16, 2007 Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
10Win10–0 Cullen RogersTKO3, 1:19Dec 22, 2006 Perani Arena and Event Center, Flint, Michigan, U.S.
9Win9–0 James SundinTKO2, 2:33Nov 17, 2006 Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, California, U.S.
8Win8–0 Marcus Don HallTKO3, 1:57Jun 23, 2006 Oakland Arena, Oakland, California, U.S.
7Win7–0 Alfonso RochaUD6May 25, 2006 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S.
6Win6–0 Mike EatmonUD6Apr 21, 2006 Omar Shrine Temple, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S.
5Win5–0 Juan CamachoKO2, 2:42Aug 18, 2005 HP Pavilion, San Jose, California, U.S.
4Win4–0 Carl Cockerham6Apr 15, 2005 Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Airway Heights, Washington, U.S.
3Win3–0 Jacob RodriguezKO2, 1:12Mar 10, 2005 Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.
2Win2–0 Walter Coles1, 2:16Feb 11, 2005 Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
1Win1–0 Carlos Jones4, 2:50Jan 27, 2005 Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.Professional debut