Rico Hoye (born November 9, 1974) is an American professional boxer who current competes in the
Cruiserweight division. He resides
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the on ...
, and is a former number one ranked light heavyweight contender (
IBF
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Counci ...
) and a former world title challenger in the light heavyweight division. Hoye was a Cruiserweight division contestant in the fourth season of
the Contender, boxing three 5-round bouts and one 8-round bout on
Versus, winning three.
Early life and professional career
Hoye was raised in Monroe, Michigan and Detroit, Michigan. His father, Bobby Hoye (1951–1996) was a professional super middleweight contender. Rico was raised by his grandfather Robert Hoye (1930–1999) a United States Army and Golden Gloves middleweight boxer.
Both his father and grandfather brought him to the gym as an infant and he first competed at 7 years old. As a teenager, he was trained by his grandfather, and he was able to amass a 68-12 amateur record, including junior Olympic titles and Golden Gloves titles in Toledo and Detroit, and was hopeful for an opportunity to make the 1992 Olympic team. At that time, however, his grandfather was injured and wasn't able to train him and he strayed from the sport and became involved in street activity around his Detroit neighborhood. In a 1992 altercation at 17 years old, he shot and killed someone and spent 9 years in prison. While in prison, both his father and grandfather died. Upon his release from prison, he immediately began seriously training and was soon back in the ring competing.
Hoye made his professional debut in June 2001 with a third round stoppage of Omar Pucci in
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
. Over the next two years, Hoye scored twelve consecutive wins. He won the vacant IBA Continental Light Heavyweight title by decisioning
Prince Badi Ajamu over 12 rounds in June 2003.
Defenses and challenges
Hoye made three defenses of his IBA regional title. He defeated Etienne Whitaker in October 2003, Donnell Wiggins in March 2004, and
Montell Griffin
Montell Julian Griffin (born June 6, 1970) is an American former professional boxer. He held the WBC light heavyweight title in 1997, and challenged twice for a world title.
Early life
Montell Griffin was born June 6, 1970 in Chicago. By age 22 ...
in September 2004 in a bout which was also an International Boxing Federation eliminator for a world title shot.
In March 2005, the 18-0 Hoye traveled to England to challenge
Clinton Woods
Clinton Woods (born 1 May 1972) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2009, and held the IBF light-heavyweight title from 2005 to 2008. At regional level he held the Commonwealth super-middleweight title from 1997 t ...
for the vacant IBF title, losing on a fifth-round technical knockout. In May 2007, Hoye challenged unbeaten Romanian boxer
Adrian Diaconu for the WBC International light heavyweight title, an eliminator for the full
WBC world title, and lost when the fight was stopped in the 3rd round.
Contender
In late 2008, Hoye moved up to the
cruiserweight division to compete in the fourth season of the boxing reality show,
The Contender.
Hoye defeated Mike Alexander and Joell Godfrey by decision in separate five round bouts. In the semifinal, Hoye lost by unanimous decision to
Ehinomen Ehikhamenor
Ehinomen Ehikhamenor (born 1 April 1980) is a Nigerian professional boxer who fights in the cruiserweight division.
Professional career
Ehikhamenor turned professional in February 2004 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut, U.S.. In his debut ...
of Nigeria. In February 2009, Hoye defeated
Akinyemi Laleye
The fourth season of ''The Contender'' was recorded in Singapore (with the exception of the live finale), and premiered on Versus on December 3, 2008. The show was on its third network, with the first season being broadcast on NBC and second and ...
by 8 round unanimous decision to win third place in the televised competition.
[
]
Return from retirement
Hoye, who lived in Los Angeles and then
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the on ...
, with his wife and children, operated a boxing and fitness gym in Phoenix during his four years of inactivity, working with clients on physical conditioning, including training such professional athletes as baseball player
Troy O'Leary and football running back
Marcel Shipp. Hoye has also sparred with heavyweights
Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko; an equivalent English spelling is Vladimir Klichko . His full name in uk, label=Ukrainian is, Володимир Володимирович Кличко, Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Klychko, . ( uk, Володимир Вол ...
and
Chris Arreola
Cristobal Arreola (born March 5, 1981) is an American professional boxer who has challenged three times for the WBC heavyweight title. He was ranked by BoxRec as the world's No.8 heavyweight at the conclusion of 2007 and as No.7 heavyweight fro ...
.
Hoye returned to the ring on November 2, 2013, at heavyweight with a 1st-round TKO of Brandon Winner and then lost by unanimous decision to cruiserweight contender Lucasz Janik in Poland June 28, 2014.
Professional boxing record
, -
, align="center" colspan=8, 24 Wins (16 knockouts, 8 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions
, -
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Result
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Record
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Opponent
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Type
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Round
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Date
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Location
, align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Notes
, -align=center
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Łukasz Janik
Łukasz Janik (born 17 December 1985, in Jelenia Gora) is a Polish Cruiserweight professional boxer.
Career
On 2 November 2013, Janik fought Ola Afolabi for the vacant IBO Cruiserweight title, but lost by majority decision.
On 22 May 2015, ...
, UD
, 10
, 06/28/2014
, align=left, Hala na Podpromiu,
Rzeszów
Rzeszów ( , ; la, Resovia; yi, ריישא ''Raisha'')) is the largest city in southeastern Poland. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River in the heartland of the Sandomierz Basin. Rzeszów has been the capital of the Subcarpathian ...
, Poland
, align=left,
, -
, -align=center
, Win
,
, align=left, Brandon Winner
, TKO
, 1
, 11/02/2013
, align=left, Potawatomi Bingo Casino,
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee ...
, align=left,
, -
, -align=center
, Win
,
, align=left,
Akinyemi Laleye
The fourth season of ''The Contender'' was recorded in Singapore (with the exception of the live finale), and premiered on Versus on December 3, 2008. The show was on its third network, with the first season being broadcast on NBC and second and ...
, UD
, 8
, 02/25/2009
, align=left,
Foxwoods
Foxwoods Resort Casino is a hotel and casino complex owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on their reservation located in Ledyard, Connecticut. Including six casinos, the resort covers an area of . The casinos have more th ...
,
Mashantucket, Connecticut
Mashantucket is a census-designated place (CDP) in the northeast part of the town of Ledyard, New London County, Connecticut, United States. It consists of land held by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. The Foxwoods Resort Casino
Foxwoods Resort ...
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Ehinomen Ehikhamenor
Ehinomen Ehikhamenor (born 1 April 1980) is a Nigerian professional boxer who fights in the cruiserweight division.
Professional career
Ehikhamenor turned professional in February 2004 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut, U.S.. In his debut ...
, UD
, 5
, 02/18/2009
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Joell Godfrey
, UD
, 5
, 02/11/2009
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Mike Alexander
, UD
, 5
, 01/12/2009
, align=left,
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Adrian Diaconu
, TKO
, 3
, 05/09/2007
, align=left,
Studio Mel's,
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Sam "Punching Policeman" Hill
, TKO
, 10
, 11/10/2006
, align=left,
Quiet Cannon,
Montebello, California
Montebello (Italian for "Beautiful Mountain") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located just east of East Los Angeles and southwest of San Gabriel Valley. It is an independent city. east of downtown Los Angeles. It ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Derrick Whitley
, UD
, 6
, 12/10/2005
, align=left,
Mohegan Sun,
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ea ...
, align=left,
, -
, Loss
,
, align=left,
Clinton Woods
Clinton Woods (born 1 May 1972) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2009, and held the IBF light-heavyweight title from 2005 to 2008. At regional level he held the Commonwealth super-middleweight title from 1997 t ...
, TKO
, 5
, 03/04/2005
, align=left,
Magna Centre,
Rotherham
Rotherham () is a large minster and market town in South Yorkshire, England. The town takes its name from the River Rother which then merges with the River Don. The River Don then flows through the town centre. It is the main settlement of ...
,
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Montell Griffin
Montell Julian Griffin (born June 6, 1970) is an American former professional boxer. He held the WBC light heavyweight title in 1997, and challenged twice for a world title.
Early life
Montell Griffin was born June 6, 1970 in Chicago. By age 22 ...
, SD
, 12
, 09/16/2004
, align=left,
Kewadin Casino,
Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie ( ') is the only city in, and county seat of, Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. With a population of 13,337 at the 2020 census, it is the second-most populated city in the Upper Peninsula after Marquette. It i ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Richard Hall
, KO
, 4
, 05/15/2004
, align=left,
Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay is a 43-story luxury resort and casino at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by Vici Properties and The Blackstone Group and operated by MGM Resorts International. It was developed by Circus Circu ...
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Donnell Wiggins
, TKO
, 1
, 03/18/2004
, align=left,
Chumash Casino,
Santa Ynez, California
Santa Ynez (; Spanish for "St. Agnes") is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, California.
The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities of the Santa Ynez Valley. It features the Santa Ynez Airp ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Marris Virgil
, KO
, 1
, 12/12/2003
, align=left,
Ford Community Center,
Dearborn, Michigan
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Etianne Whitaker
, TKO
, 2
, 10/11/2003
, align=left,
The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly referred to as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena built in 1988 and located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shoc ...
,
Auburn Hills, Michigan
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Prince Badi Ajamu
, UD
, 12
, 06/05/2003
, align=left,
State Theatre,
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Tyrone Muex
, TKO
, 3
, 04/24/2003
, align=left,
Grand Casino Gulfport
Grand Casino was a riverboat casino and hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi, United States. It was owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. Prior to its destruction by Hurricane Katrina, the casino had two hotels with a total of 1,000 rooms, and a ...
,
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi after the state capital, Jackson. Along with Biloxi, Gulfport is the co-county seat of Harrison County and the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolit ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left,
Segundo Mercado
, TKO
, 1
, 01/29/2003
, align=left,
Andiamo's Banquet Center,
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2020 Census places the city's population at 139,387, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb.
T ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Ayodeji Fadeyi
, TKO
, 1
, 11/02/2002
, align=left,
The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly referred to as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena built in 1988 and located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shoc ...
,
Auburn Hills, Michigan
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, "Mr. Everything" Greg Wright
, UD
, 8
, 09/27/2002
, align=left,
The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly referred to as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena built in 1988 and located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shoc ...
,
Auburn Hills, Michigan
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, George Klinesmith
, TKO
, 2
, 06/08/2002
, align=left,
Pyramid Arena
The Memphis Pyramid, formerly known as the Great American Pyramid and the Pyramid Arena, is a building located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States, at the banks of the Mississippi River. Built in 1991 as a 20,142-seat arena, the facili ...
,
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Ruben Ruiz
, TKO
, 2
, 04/19/2002
, align=left,
Auburn Hills, Michigan
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Kenny Snow
, UD
, 6
, 01/31/2002
, align=left,
The Roostertail,
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Conley Person
, KO
, 1
, 01/22/2002
, align=left,
Andiamo's Banquet Center,
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Vidal Middlebrook
, TKO
, 1
, 12/21/2001
, align=left,
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County. At the 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area, whi ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Marris Virgil
, KO
, 2
, 11/23/2001
, align=left,
The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly referred to as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena built in 1988 and located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shoc ...
,
Auburn Hills, Michigan
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Percel Banks
, TKO
, 3
, 08/10/2001
, align=left,
Cobo Hall
Huntington Place (formerly known as Cobo Hall, Cobo Center, and briefly as TCF Center) is a convention center in Downtown Detroit, owned by the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and operated by ASM Global. Located at 1 Washi ...
,
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
, align=left,
, -
, Win
,
, align=left, Omar Pucci
, TKO
, 3
, 06/20/2001
, align=left,
Andiamo's Banquet Center,
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2020 Census places the city's population at 139,387, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb.
T ...
, align=left,
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoye, Rico
1974 births
Living people
People from Monroe, Michigan
Boxers from Michigan
Light-heavyweight boxers
Cruiserweight boxers
The Contender (TV series) participants
American male boxers