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The dream boxing power manager Scott Hirsch had a year ago, of turning an inexperienced country boy into a world-class heavyweight, came closer to being realized today, as Arkansas’ JD “The Natural” Chapman has entered the WBC’s world ratings at #14.
The 23-year-old Chapman (25-0, 22 KOs) has fought ten times in the year he has worked with Hirsch. Along the way, he’s picked up IBF/USBA Southern Regional, NABC, WBC Latino and Arkansas State Heavyweight Championships.
“I’m proud of JD,” exclaimed a proud Hirsch. “Here you have a kid with no amateur experience and he’s worked extremely hard and fought his way to within reach of a heavyweight title shot. When I met him, you could see he had talent, but in one year, he’s used his relentless determination to make himself into a winner.”
Chapman has been extremely busy lately. In addition to serving as upcoming heavyweight title challenger Monte Barrett’s sparring partner, the hard-punching Arkansas native has logged career-best performances in his last two fights, knocking out veterans Chris Lewallen and Ray Lunsford in two rounds apiece.
WBC Top 15, as of October 2, 2006
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: OLEG MASKAEV (KAZAKHSTAN)
WON TITLE: August 12, 2006
1 .- Samuel Peter (Nigeria) NABF
2 .- James Toney (US)
3 .- Hasim Rahman (US)
4 .- Sinan Samil Sam (Turkey) INTL
5 .- Oliver McCall (US) FECARBOX
6 .- Tony Thompson (US) AMERICA
7 .- Vladimir Virchis (Ukraine) EBU
8 .- Lamon Brewster (US)
9 .- Chris Byrd (US)
10 .- Peter Okhello (Uganda) OPBF
11 .- Henry Akinwande (GB)
12 .- Jameel McCline (US) USNBC
13 .- Alexander Dimitrenko (Ukraine)
14 .- JD Chapman (US) LATINO
15 .- Evander Holyfield (US)
