Mustafa Hamsho ( ar, مصطفى حمشو; born 10 October 1953) is a

Syrian Syrians ( ar, سُورِيُّون, ''Sūriyyīn'') are an Eastern Mediterranean ethnic group indigenous to the Levant. They share common Levantine Semitic roots. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend of both indi ...

former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

who competed from 1975 to 1989, challenging twice for the undisputed

middleweight Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to . Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have be ...

world title in 1981 and 1984.

Professional career

The Syrian Slugger racked up a winning record in the late 1970s, and defeated Wilford Scypion on June 15, 1980 and former world middleweight champion

Alan Minter Alan Sydney Minter (17 August 19519 September 2020) was a British professional boxer who competed from 1972 to 1981. He held the undisputed middleweight title in 1980, having previously held the British middleweight title from 1975 to 1976, and ...

on June 6, 1981 to get a shot at then-champion

Marvelous Marvin Hagler Marvelous Marvin Hagler (born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler; May 23, 1954 – March 13, 2021) was an American professional boxer and film actor. He competed in boxing from 1973 to 1987 and reigned as the undisputed champion of the middleweight divisi ...

in October of that year. As Hamsho waded into the champion’s punches seeking an opening, Hagler methodically used right jabs and right hooks to cut his face (which needed 55 stitches). The fight was stopped in the 11th by Hamsho's corner after a Hagler barrage.

Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twic ...

commended Hamsho, calling him courageous for his effort. Hamsho continued to fight, defeating Curtis Parker, future world champion

Bobby Czyz Robert Edward Czyz ( ; born February 10, 1962) is an American retired boxer and commentator. Czyz was a two-division world titlist at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. Czyz was born in Orange, New Jersey. He grew up in Wanaque, New Jersey an ...

, and former three-division world champion

Wilfred Benítez Wilfred "Wilfredo" Benítez (born September 12, 1958) is an American-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer and the youngest world champion in the sport's history. Earning his first of three career world titles in separate weight division ...

during 1982 and 1983, then received a return visit to take on Hagler in a rematch in October 1984 in

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

. After Hamsho tried to play rough in the early going, Hagler ended things early this time by flooring Hamsho twice in the third round (the second knockdown produced by a

Floyd Patterson Floyd Patterson (January 4, 1935 – May 11, 2006) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1952 to 1972, and twice reigned as the world heavyweight champion between 1956 and 1962. At the age of 21, he became the youngest boxer in his ...

-like hook), thus forcing Hamsho's trainer to jump in and stop the fight. Hamsho would continue to fight, with the biggest name on his list being

Donny Lalonde Donny Lalonde (born March 12, 1960) is a retired professional boxer. His nickname is "Golden Boy," after the Golden Boy statue atop the Manitoba Legislative Building in his boxing home town of Winnipeg. Lalonde held the WBC Light Heavyweight C ...

, who decisioned Hamsho in the spring of 1987 and would then go on to become light heavyweight champion later that year. Hamsho's career would then peter out over the next few years.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamsho, Mustafa Living people 1953 births Syrian male boxers Middleweight boxers People from Latakia