Rubin Carter

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (born May 6, 1937), middleweight boxer from 1961?1966, is better known for his controversial convictions (1967, 1976) for the alleged murder of three people at the Lafayette Grill, Paterson, New Jersey, in June, 1966, and his subsequent release from prison (1985).

Boxing career

While in prison, Carter resumed his interest in boxing, and promptly upon his release in September 1961, turned professional. At 5-feet-8, Carter did not seem tall enough to be a middleweight, but he fought most of his professional career at 155-160 pounds. His shaven head, prominent mustache, unwavering stare and solid frame made him an intimidating presence in the ring decades before such a look became commonplace. His aggressive style and punching power (which resulted in many early-round knockouts) drew attention, establishing him as a crowd favorite and earning him the nickname ?Hurricane?. When he decisioned perennial contender Holley Mims on December 22, 1962, he entered Ring Magazines list of the top 10 middleweights.

Related Topics:
Boxing - Hurricane - Holley Mims - December 22 - 1962 - Ring Magazine

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He fought six times in 1963, winning four and losing two. He remained ranked in the lower regions of the top 10 until December 20, when he surprised the boxing world by knocking out past and future world champion Emile Griffith in the first round.

Related Topics:
December 20 - Emile Griffith

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That win resulted in Carter being ranked as the #3 contender for Joey Giardello's middleweight title. Carter won two more fights (one a decision over future heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis) in 1964, before meeting Giardello in Philadelphia for a 15-round championship match on December 14. Carter fought well, but the judges awarded Giardello a unanimous decision. Most of the press concurred; an informal poll conducted among sportswriters at ringside showed that 14 of 18 agreed that Giardello had outboxed the challenger. Carter was gracious in defeat and did not protest the judging.

Related Topics:
Joey Giardello - Middleweight - Heavyweight - Jimmy Ellis - December 14

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After that fight, Carter's standing as a contender ? as reflected by his ranking in Ring Magazine - began to decline. He fought nine times in 1965, but lost four out of five fights against top contenders (Luis Manuel Rodriguez, Harry Scott and Dick Tiger). Tiger, in particular, had no problem with the Hurricane, flooring him three times in their match.

Related Topics:
Luis Manuel Rodriguez - Harry Scott - Dick Tiger

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In his autobiography, British boxing promoter Mickey Duff describes an event that occurred during Carter's 1965 visit to London for one of his two bouts with British boxer Harry Scott. Carter brought a pistol into the country, concealed in his suitcase, and discharged it in his hotel room. The hotel did not report the incident to the police, although private possession of handguns was then illegal in Great Britain.

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Carter?s boxing did not improve during 1966, and by that summer, Ring Magazine no longer ranked him among the top ten middleweight contenders.

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