Jeremy Bates (boxer)

Jeremy Bates (born January 12, 1974) is an American professional boxer. Nicknamed "The Beast", Bates was a moderately successful fighter who fought several other journeyman fighters of his era.^{[citation needed]} Bates has become something of a "comeback" opponent for veteran fighters such as Holyfield, Golota, and Meehan.

Bates turned professional in 1999 and fought mainly journeyman fighters, losing to prospect Andre Purlette in 2001. Bates later lost to Sedreck Fields, Kirk Johnson, Leo Nolan, Brian Minto, and Ray Austin before his first retirement.^{[citation needed]}

Bates was persuaded to postpone his retirement when he was given an opportunity to fight four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. On August 18, 2006, in a 10-round bout at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, 44-year-old Holyfield dominated the fight which was stopped in the second round after he landed around 20 consecutive punches on Bates. The events prior to, and the fight itself, are documented in Evander Holyfield's book 'Becoming Holyfield'.

Bates retired with a record of 21 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw, with 18 wins by knockout. Post boxing, Bates began a successful^{[peacock prose]} career as a full-time insurance sales professional.^{[citation needed]} Bates is currently employed at the United States Enrichment Corporation. (USEC) is a Uranium gaseous diffusion plant in Portsmouth OH.

Bates would come out of retirement to face Guillermo Jones, Andrew Golota, Odlanier Solis, Kevin Rainey, and most recently Kali Meehan. All of those fights, with the exception of Bates' bout with Kevin Rainey, would be losses. Currently, Bates' record stands at 23 wins, 17 losses and 1 draw, with 19 wins by knockout.^{[citation needed]}

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
46	Loss	26–19–1	BJ Flores	TKO	1 (10)	Feb 25, 2017	Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix
45	Loss	26–18–1	Óscar Rivas	KO	1 (8)	Jun 4, 2016	Bell Centre, Montreal
44	Win	26–17–1	Adolpho Washington	RTD	1 (6)	Apr 23, 2016	Pullman Plaza Hotel, Huntington
43	Win	25–17–1	Dante Craig	TKO	2 (6)	Sep 5, 2015	Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington
42	Win	24–17–1	Levi Bowling	TKO	1 (4)	Jul 11, 2015	Parkersburg
41	Win	23–17–1	Justin Riegle	TKO	1 (4), 1:03	Jul 30, 2011	Cannonsburg, Kentucky
40	Loss	22–17–1	Siarhei Liakhovich	TKO	1 (8), 2:11	Nov 7, 2009	Nuremberg, Germany
39	Loss	22–16–1	Kali Meehan	TKO	3 (10), 1:16	Feb 16, 2008	Nuremberg, Germany
38	Win	22–15–1	Kevin Rainey	UD	4	Jan 18, 2008	Somerset, Kentucky
37	Loss	21–15–1	Odlanier Solís	TKO	2 (8), 0:18	Oct 19, 2007	Berlin, Germany
36	Loss	21–14–1	Andrew Golota	TKO	2 (10), 2:59	Jun 9, 2007	Katowice, Poland
35	Loss	21–13–1	Guillermo Jones	TKO	1 (8), 1:44	Jan 6, 2007	Hollywood, Florida
34	Loss	21–12–1	Evander Holyfield	TKO	2 (10), 2:56	Aug 18, 2006	Dallas, Texas
33	Loss	21–11–1	Ray Austin	TKO	2 (10), 1:17	Apr 1, 2006	Cleveland, Ohio
32	Loss	21–10–1	Zack Page	UD	8	Dec 9, 2005	Wheeling, West Virginia
31	Win	21–9–1	Jason Waller	UD	8	Oct 14, 2005	Wheeling, West Virginia
30	Win	20–9–1	Travis Fulton	TKO	1 (8)	Aug 12, 2005	Wheeling, West Virginia
29	Loss	19–9–1	Jason Waller	UD	6	May 24, 2005	Woodlawn, Maryland
28	Win	19–8–1	Carlton Johnson	UD	8	Apr 22, 2005	Wheeling, West Virginia
27	Win	18-8–1	Kevin Tallon	UD	4	Jun 25, 2004	Wheeling, West Virginia
26	Loss	17–8–1	Brian Minto	TKO	8 (10), 2:56	Apr 23, 2004	Wheeling, West Virginia	For vacant West Virginia heavyweight title.
25	Win	17–7–1	Jeff Lally	KO	2	Jan 18, 2004	West Virginia
24	Loss	16–7–1	Leo Nolan	TKO	4 (8)	Jun 13, 2003	Detroit, Michigan	Corner retirement.
23	Win	16–6–1	Rodney Phillips	TKO	1	Mar 29, 2003	Parkersburg, West Virginia
22	Loss	15–6–1	Kirk Johnson	KO	2 (8), 2:59	Dec 7, 2002	Las Vegas, Nevada
21	Win	15–5–1	Mark Johnson	TKO	4 (4), 0:00	Jul 12, 2002	Lexington, Kentucky	Corner retirement.
20	Loss	14–5–1	Willie Phillips	TKO	6 (8), 1:41	Jun 11, 2002	Chester, West Virginia
19	Win	14–4–1	Scott Hosaflook	TKO	1	Jun 1, 2002	Morgantown, West Virginia
18	Loss	13–4–1	David McNemar	MD	12	Apr 20, 2002	Parkersburg, West Virginia
17	Loss	13–3–1	Sedreck Fields	DQ	4 (5), 1:11	Jan 30, 2002	Miami Beach, Florida	Bates was disqualified for flagrant headbutting.
16	Loss	13–2–1	Andre Purlette	TKO	2 (12), 1:29	Oct 5, 2001	Miami Beach, Florida	For vacant NABO heavyweight title.
15	Win	13–1–1	Jimmy Haynes	KO	1 (6), 2:00	Sep 28, 2001	Lexington, Kentucky
14	Win	12–1–1	Gerald Moore	KO	1	Aug 25, 2001	Beckley, West Virginia
13	Win	11–1–1	Carlton Johnson	KO	1	Aug 14, 2001	Chester, West Virginia
12	Win	10–1–1	Jorel Mann	TKO	1	Jul 28, 2001	Huntington, West Virginia
11	Win	9–1–1	Mike Sheppard	TKO	1	Jun 9, 2001	Parkersburg, West Virginia
10	Win	8–1–1	Antonio Colbert	TKO	1 (4), 2:10	Apr 19, 2001	Lexington, Kentucky
9	Win	7–1–1	David Johnson	KO	1 (4), 1:50	Mar 30, 2001	Lexington, Kentucky
8	Draw	6–1–1	Chad Van Sickle	PTS	4	Mar 1, 2001	Lexington, Kentucky
7	Win	6–1	Elmer Coles	TKO	1	Jan 20, 2001	Huntington, West Virginia
6	Win	5–1	George Randolph	TKO	1	Dec 9, 2000	Huntington, West Virginia
5	Win	4–1	Thomas Dixon	TKO	3	Sep 16, 2000	Huntington, West Virginia
4	Win	3–1	Mario Hereford	KO	2	Aug 26, 2000	Gallatin, Tennessee
3	Win	2–1	Kanovas Alexander	TKO	1	Jun 8, 2000	Barboursville, West Virginia
2	Loss	1–1	Tim Knight	UD	4	Mar 22, 2000	Louisville, Kentucky
1	Win	1–0	Reggie Strickland	TKO	1 (4)	Nov 10, 1999	Chester, West Virginia

Bates made his professional wrestling debut on November 15, 2008, in Ashland, Kentucky, at Ohio Championship Wrestling's November Reign, where he defeated Vinnie Viagra. He defeated "The Driller" Eddie Browning on December 13 at OCW's Season's Beatings.

Bates got his third victory at OCW on January 10, 2009, at the New Year's Bash by defeating NWA All-Star Wrestling Heavyweight Champion "Pretty Boy" Stan Lee. Bates made his wrestling debut at an arena where he is undefeated in the boxing ranks, the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia, at 304 Wrestling's Battlefront. He defeated Vinnie Viagra in that outing.

Bates is now in training to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His progress is being documented in a YouTube series called "Being the Beast".

• Boxing record for Jeremy Bates from BoxRec (registration required)
• ESPN Article on Bates