Steve Little (June 9, 1965 – January 30, 2000) was an American former professional boxer who competed from 1983 to 1998, having held the WBA super middleweight champion in 1994. He is best known for his victories over Pipino Cuevas and Michael Nunn.
Steve Little | |
---|---|
Born | Steven K. Little June 9, 1965 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | January 30, 2000 West Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 34)
Nationality | American |
Other names | Lightning |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | |
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 45 |
Wins | 25 |
Wins by KO | 6 |
Losses | 17 |
Draws | 3 |
Amateur boxing career
editLittle won 228 of 265 amateur bouts and fought in eight amateur weight classes, ranging from 80 pounds (36 kg) to 156 pounds (71 kg).[1]
Professional boxing career
editLittle turned professional in 1983 and while he won his first four bouts, he soon started compiling losses including to former WBC light middleweight champion Terry Norris.[2] Even with a mediocre record, he fought for the WBO light-middleweight title against John David Jackson in 1989. He lost by a technical knockout. He retired for a short time after that fight.
In 1994 he scored an upset victory over Lineal and WBA super-middleweight champion Michael Nunn by split decision in London. He lost the belt in his first defense to Frankie Liles, losing a decision. Although he later fought James Toney and Arthur Williams, he never fought for another major title.
Besides being a professional boxer, Little also sold used cars in Reading.
Little retired in 1998 and died from colon cancer in 2000, at the young age of 34. He left behind a wife and six children.[3][4]
Professional boxing record
edit45 fights | 25 wins | 17 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 6 | 3 |
By decision | 19 | 14 |
Draws | 3 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
45 | Draw | 25–17–3 | Courtney Butler | SD | 8 | Nov 3, 1998 | Martin's West, Woodlawn, Maryland, U.S. | |
44 | Loss | 25–17–2 | Ivan Camacho | PTS | 6 | Oct 16, 1998 | Aalborghallen, Aalborg, Denmark | |
43 | Loss | 25–16–2 | Arthur Williams | UD | 12 | Sep 9, 1997 | Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S. | For IBF–USBA cruiserweight title |
42 | Win | 25–15–2 | Andre Sherro | KO | 3 (?) | Aug 24, 1997 | Riveredge Restaurant, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
41 | Loss | 24–15–2 | James Toney | UD | 12 | Jun 14, 1997 | Grand Casino Biloxi, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | For IBO cruiserweight title |
40 | Win | 24–14–2 | Joaquin Velasquez | UD | 12 | Aug 30, 1996 | Municipal Stadium, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Won IBC super middleweight title |
39 | Win | 23–14–2 | Camilo Alarcon | UD | 12 | Mar 23, 1996 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S. | Won WBC FECARBOX super middleweight title |
38 | Loss | 22–14–2 | Frankie Liles | UD | 12 | Aug 12, 1994 | Club Defensores de Villa Lujan, San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina | Lost WBA super middleweight title |
37 | Win | 22–13–2 | Michael Nunn | SD | 12 | Feb 26, 1994 | Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Kensington, London, U.S. | Won WBA super middleweight title |
36 | Win | 21–13–2 | Anthony Williams | UD | 8 | Dec 4, 1992 | Merv's Griffin Resorts, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
35 | Win | 20–13–2 | Hector Rosario | UD | 10 | Sep 14, 1992 | Outdoor Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
34 | Draw | 19–13–2 | Merqui Sosa | SD | 10 | Jan 31, 1992 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
33 | Win | 19–13–1 | Tyrone Frazier | SD | 12 | Sep 23, 1991 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,, U.S. | Won Pennsylvania State super middleweight title |
32 | Win | 18–13–1 | Michael Dale | UD | 10 | Jul 1, 1991 | Cheyney University Gym, Cheyney, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
31 | Loss | 17–13–1 | Adam Garland | MD | 10 | May 20, 1991 | Birgwood Manor, Whippany, New Jersey, U.S. | |
30 | Win | 17–12–1 | Mike Brown | TKO | 10 (?) | Jan 26, 1991 | Reading High School, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
29 | Loss | 16–12–1 | Tyrone Frazier | SD | 10 | Sep 17, 1990 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Won Pennsylvania super middleweight title |
28 | Loss | 16–11–1 | John David Jackson | TKO | 8 (12), 0:38 | Apr 22, 1989 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | For WBO light middleweight title |
27 | Loss | 16–10–1 | Dave Hilton Jr. | UD | 10 | Mar 14, 1989 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
26 | Loss | 16–9–1 | Terry Norris | TKO | 6 (12), 1:06 | Dec 9, 1988 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | For WBC–NABF light middleweight title |
25 | Win | 16–8–1 | Jerry Williams | UD | 10 | Aug 27, 1988 | Reading Municipal Stadium, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
24 | Loss | 15–8–1 | Robert Hines | UD | 12 | Apr 21, 1988 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | For IBF–USBA light middleweight title |
23 | Win | 15–7–1 | Ismael Negron | UD | 10 | Dec 23, 1987 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
22 | Loss | 14–7–1 | David Gutierrez | UD | 10 | Sep 3, 1987 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
21 | Loss | 14–6–1 | Tyrone Trice | UD | 10 | Aug 6, 1987 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
20 | Win | 14–5–1 | Norberto Bueno | UD | 10 | Feb 21, 1987 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
19 | Win | 13–5–1 | David Braxton | UD | 10 | Aug 12, 1986 | Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
18 | Win | 12–5–1 | Pipino Cuevas | UD | 10 | Mar 3, 1986 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
17 | Loss | 11–5–1 | Hugh Kearney | MD | 12 | Jan 14, 1986 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | For Pennsylvania welterweight title |
16 | Loss | 11–4–1 | Glenn Wolfe | RTD | 8 (10), 3:00 | Sep 18, 1985 | Egypt Shrine Temple, Tampa, Florida, U.S. | |
15 | Win | 11–3–1 | Sanford Ricks | SD | 10 | Jun 30, 1985 | Essex Racquet Club, West Orange, New Jersey, U.S. | |
14 | Draw | 10–3–1 | Joe Walker | PTS | 8 | Jun 4, 1985 | Tropicana Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
13 | Loss | 10–3 | Mark Breland | UD | 6 | Apr 6, 1985 | Coliseum, San Angelo, Texas, U.S. | |
12 | Win | 10–2 | Junie Nash | UD | 6 | Feb 23, 1985 | Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
11 | Win | 9–2 | Glenn Wolfe | UD | 8 | Feb 5, 1985 | Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
10 | Win | 8–2 | Harold Whitfield | SD | 6 | Dec 12, 1984 | Harrah's Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
9 | Win | 7–2 | John Herbert | UD | 6 | Oct 31, 1984 | Harrah's Atlantic, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
8 | Win | 6–2 | Bob Saxton | TKO | 4 (6), 1:44 | Oct 5, 1984 | Sheraton Berkshire Inn, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
7 | Loss | 5–2 | Joe Summers | MD | 6 | Sep 18, 1984 | Tropicana Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
6 | Loss | 5–1 | Tony Montgomery | UD | 6 | May 30, 1984 | Harrah's Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Charlie Smith | KO | 4 (6) | Apr 25, 1984 | Harrah's Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Buddy Randolph | TKO | 2 (4) | Apr 7, 1984 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | James Morgan | UD | 4 | Feb 22, 1984 | Harrah's Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Greg Tutt | SD | 4 | Feb 3, 1984 | Holiday Inn West, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Gregory Girolami | TKO | 2 (4), 0:35 | Dec 13, 1983 | Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
Championship titles held
edit- Pennsylvania State - Super Middleweight (1991)
- Lineal - Super Middleweight (1994)
- WBA - Super Middleweight (1994)
- WBC FECARBOX - Super Middleweight (1996)
- IBC - Super Middleweight (1996)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Seltzer, Robert (August 1994), "A Dream Fulfilled: Little Proves Better than Nunn", World Boxing
- ^ "Terry Norris of San Diego stopped Steve Little, of..." United Press International. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ "Former WBA champ Little dies of cancer". ESPN. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ "FORMER WBA CHAMPION STEVE LITTLE DIES OF ..." The Morning Call. February 2000. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
External links
edit- Boxing record for Steve Little from BoxRec (registration required)
- Steve Little - CBZ Profile