Brick City Boxing

YOUNGSTOWN HEAVYWEIGHT; MIKE BOSWELL

By: Jim Amato
At one time he was considered an up and coming heavyweight prospect. He turned professional in 1970 and won his first thirteen fights. He twice stopped J.D. McCauley (the uncle of future heavyweight champion Buster Douglas). He also defeated Terry Sorrell who would later meet George Foreman on Big George’s first campaign toward the title.

In 1971 Mike met former # 1 contender Mac Foster and he was halted in round four. How quickly Mike’s fortunes changed. Boswell would lose nineteen straight fights after his loss to Big Mac. In Boswell’s defense you have to look at the quality of opposition he faced. The losing streak featured names like Chuck Wepner, Joe Bugner, Ron Stander, Roy ” Tiger ” Williams, Ron Lyle, Pedro Lovell, former light heavyweight champion Vincente Rondon, George Chuvalo, Dino Denis and twice to the clever Jimmy Young. No chumps in that group.

In 1979 he finally scored a KO victory over Tim Murphy. Mike would have five more fights and he would lose four of them. Boswell finally hung up the gloves in 1981. His record was 15-24. He knocked out fourteen foes.

It is a deceiving record. Mike met some of the best heavyweights of his era.


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