Bruce Seldon


Bruce Samuel Seldon is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 1996, and 2004 to 2009. He held the WBA heavyweight title from 1995 to 1996, most notably losing to Mike Tyson via knockout in his second defense.

Amateur career

Seldon compiled an amateur record of 20 wins and 4 losses, and won the New Jersey Golden Gloves in the super heavyweight division.

Professional career

Known as "The Atlantic City Express", Seldon began his career on October 4, 1988 with a first-round knockout of Joel McGraw and won his first 18 fights without a blemish. During his winning streak he defeated some notable boxers: Ezra Sellers, Ossie Ocasio, David Bey, and Jose Ribalta.
On April 18, 1991 future WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall handed Seldon his first defeat. Seldon was ahead on the scorecards but tired and was knocked down by McCall three times in the ninth. In his next fight Seldon was matched with future undisputed world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe who defeated him.
Seldon returned in 1992 with a victory over Jesse Ferguson whom he stopped on an eye injury, but was knocked down and outpointed the same year by ex-champion Tony Tubbs. Seldon signed with promoter Don King in 1993 and boxed on a series of his undercards, most notably in August 1993 when he stopped ex-champion Greg Page in nine rounds.

WBA heavyweight champion

In 1995, world heavyweight champion George Foreman was stripped of the WBA title for declining to defend it against Tony Tucker. As Seldon was the second-ranked contender, a fight between him and Tucker was arranged for the vacant belt on April 8, 1995 in Las Vegas. Seldon, the underdog, used his jab to great effect and swelled Tucker's eye shut, to the point where the fight was stopped by the ringside doctor after seven rounds.
On August 18, 1995, Seldon fought on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Peter McNeeley fight that marked Tyson's return to boxing. In the first defense of his title, Seldon again used his jab to control Joe Hipp and stop him in the tenth round.

Seldon vs Tyson

Seldon's next defense was scheduled against Tyson, who in early 1996 won the WBC title for a second time by knocking out Frank Bruno. The bout was originally to be a title unification fight, with both Seldon's WBA belt and Tyson's WBC belt at stake. However, the WBC mandated that Tyson defend his belt against former champion Lennox Lewis first. Since the fight with Seldon was already signed, Tyson vacated his belt and only Seldon's was on the line when the two fought on September 7, 1996.
The fight was marred by controversy as Seldon lost by knockout in the first round. His performance in the fight was vastly criticized, as he was knocked down twice on what appeared to be light or "phantom" punches from Tyson. Rumors started that Seldon had been paid to take a dive against Tyson, with the fans chanting "fix" following the decision. Although Seldon claimed in a post fight interview with Jim Gray that he did not take a dive, the criticism of his performance did not stop and Seldon elected to retire following the fight. The late rapper Tupac Shakur attended the fight on that night, and was shot on the journey home, leading to his death six days later.

Comeback

Seldon attempted a comeback at age 37 in 2004. He defeated two journeymen before gaining a high-profile fight on HBO with Gerald Nobles. Abandoning his jab and boxing style for a punch out, Seldon decked Nobles in the second and was ahead on points but ended up throwing in the towel due to an eye injury in the ninth. In his next bout, an overweight Seldon was stopped in two rounds by Tye Fields.
Seldon launched a second comeback in 2007, now into his 40s, and knocked out a series of journeymen before being knocked out himself by ranked contenders Kevin Johnson and Fres Oquendo. He was also KO'd in four during an exhibition with Alexander Povetkin.
Seldon is currently training his super middleweight son Isiah Seldon. While not officially 'retired', Seldon is more involved with his son's career at this time. Seldon's career record stands at 40 wins and 8 losses, with 36 knockouts.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
48Loss40–8 Fres OquendoKO9, 2:35Jul 24, 2009 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.For vacant WBA–NABA interim heavyweight title
47Win40–7 Gabe BrownTKO5 May 15, 2009 Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
46Win39–7 Brad GregoryTKO2, 2:01Nov 7, 2008 Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
45Loss38–7 Kevin JohnsonTKO5, 0:28Sep 5, 2008 Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
44Win38–6 Livin CastilloTKO5, 0:57May 31, 2008 Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
43Win37–6 Jay SweetmanKO2, 1:56Mar 10, 2007 Best Western Banquet Hall, Winchester, Virginia, U.S.
42Win36–6 Marcus RhodeTKO1, 1:05Feb 10, 2007 Klein Jewish Community Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
41Loss35–6 Tye FieldsKO2, 1:14Oct 28, 2005 The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
40Loss35–5 Gerald NoblesTKO9, 0:41May 15, 2004 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
39Win35–4 Lenzie MorganTKO2 Apr 9, 2004 Drexel Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
38Win34–4 Otis TisdaleKO3, 3:00Mar 6, 2004 The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
37Loss33–4 Mike TysonTKO1, 1:49Sep 7, 1996 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA heavyweight title
36Win33–3 Joe HippTKO10, 1:47Aug 19, 1995 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA heavyweight title
35Win32–3 Tony TuckerRTD7, 3:00Apr 8, 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBA heavyweight title
34Win31–3 Bill CorriganKO1Dec 17, 1994 Coliseo General Rumiñahui, Quito, Ecuador
33Win30–3 Tui ToiaTKO3 Jul 2, 1994 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
32Win29–3 Nathaniel FitchTKO4 Feb 19, 1994 Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.Retained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
31Win28–3 Greg PageTKO9, 0:49Aug 6, 1993 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon, Puerto RicoRetained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
30Win27–3 Mike RobinsonKO2Apr 17, 1993 Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
29Win26–3 Al ShoffnerTKO7Feb 15, 1993 McGonigle Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
28Win25–3 Alexander PopovTKO2, 3:00Jan 24, 1993 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
27Loss24–3 Tony TubbsUD10Oct 14, 1992 Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26Win24–2 Percell DavisTKO3, 2:38Sep 18, 1992 Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
25Win23–2 Mike DixonUD10Jul 9, 1992 Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24Win22–2 Larry GivensTKO2Jun 22, 1992 Greensburg, Indiana, U.S.
23Win21–2 Jimmy TaylorTKO1Apr 16, 1992 Central Plaza Hotel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
22Win20–2 Dion BurgessTKO1Feb 9, 1992 Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21Win19–2 Jesse FergusonRTD5, 3:00Jan 19, 1992 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
20Loss18–2 Riddick BoweKO1, 1:48Aug 9, 1991 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Loss18–1 Oliver McCallTKO9, 2:37Apr 18, 1991 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18Win18–0 Percell DavisTKO1, 1:07Mar 22, 1991 Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
17Win17–0 Jose RibaltaRTD3, 3:00Jan 11, 1991 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16Win16–0 David BeyTKO10, 0:38Nov 1, 1990 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win15–0 John MortonTKO7, 1:44Aug 16, 1990 Sheraton Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
14Win14–0 Tom SandnerRTD2, 3:00Jun 24, 1990 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win13–0 Ossie OcasioUD8May 18, 1990 San Jose, California, U.S.
12Win12–0 Danny WoffordUD6Apr 7, 1990 Flea Market, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
11Win11–0 Jerry JonesTKO8, 0:42Mar 23, 1990 Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0 Amos Lisboa-CasillasKO1, 0:45Feb 18, 1990 Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9Win9–0 Lorenzo Canady2, 3:00Jan 15, 1990 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0 Hassan ShabazzTKO5, 0:08Nov 28, 1989 Alumni Arena, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
7Win7–0 Isaac PooleKO1 Sep 15, 1989 Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.
6Win6–0 Ezra SellersTKO2 Aug 22, 1989 Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0 Warren ThompsonTKO3 Jun 25, 1989 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
4Win4–0 Jesse McGhee4May 30, 1989 Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0 Mike RobinsonTKO3 Mar 21, 1989 Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0 Tyrone Barwell1, 1:34Nov 23, 1988 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1Win1–0 Joel McGraw1 Oct 4, 1988 Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Professional debut