Recently named ESPN Friday Night Fight’s Most Memorable Fighter of the Decade and a participant in the networks Fight of The Decade, Emanuel Augustus is the ultimate fan favorite. This Saturday night, he’ll take on junior welterweight contender Francisco Figueroa (19-2, 13 KO’s) on the undercard of the Joe Calzaghe – Roy Jones Jr. Light Heavyweight Championship fight.
Despite a less than stellar record (38-29-6, 20 KO’s), Augustus has earned the respect of fans and fighters alike with his unorthodox, yet entertaining, fighting style and for never backing down from a challenge. He’s been in with a who’s who list of boxing stars, is always in the fight, and is capable against many of pulling off the upset.
He gave “Irish” Micky Ward all he could handle in losing a very close decision in Ward’s native New England in 2001, fought to a draw with future world titleholder Leavander Johnson in 2002, and after his corner threw in the towel during the 9th round of his 2000 bout with Floyd Mayweather, the former pound-for-pound king declared him the “toughest fighter I’ve ever fought”.
When he’s in control of a fight, he’ll start dancing and showboating too the delight of the crowd and to the dismay of his opponents, often working clean landing power punches into his mid-fight dance routines.
Not that it hasn’t led to some problems over the years. He was once disqualified in a fight for cursing and has been deducted points for spinning out of a clinch. Incidents such as this have endeared him to fans.
His record shows he has 29 losses, many legitimate, but many outright robberies. His split decision loss to Courtney Burton in 2004 is seen as one of the more despicable exhibitions of judging in recent boxing memory. It was so bad that the Michigan state athletic commission launched an investigation into the matter and ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas openly yelled at officials during the broadcast expressing his displeasure with the call. Augustus later avenged that defeat with an 8th round KO in 2006.
Augustus’ last big fight in the United States took place in January 2007 against Kid Diamond, losing a unanimous decision in a catchweight bout he took on just two days notice. It’s a fight he regrets taking on such short notice, draining himself to make weight on short notice, and looking lackluster in the fight.
This year, he has gone 3-0, fighting in Australia. When he makes his return to an American ring this Saturday night, he’ll have a new trainer working his corner: Roger Mayweather.
His opponent this Saturday, Francisco Figueroa, has been clamoring for a title shot. If Augustus can pull the upset, the title shot may be his.
