# Al Cole

Alfred Rudolph Cole (born April 21, 1964), best known as Al Cole, is an American former professional boxer. He won the IBF cruiserweight title and was a major force in the division until moving up to heavyweight, where he had less success. In 2001, Cole portrayed boxer Ernie Terrell in the film Ali.

## Career

Cole, at 6'4", was a large and dominant cruiserweight boxer. Later in his career, he did not have the size or power to compete at the upper echelon of the heavyweight division when he moved up in weight class. He listed his hometown as Spring Valley, New York. Cole began his career on a 20-1 tear and captured the cruiserweight title by defeating IBF champ James Warring after only three years as a professional. Cole went on to defend the title five times. His most notable defenses came against Uriah Grant (a fighter who beat Thomas Hearns). Cole defeated Grant twice by unanimous decision. Throughout his career Al Cole has appeared in movies with several big actors such as Robert De Niro, Will Smith, John Voight, Jamie Foxx, Jeffrey Wright & Catherine Zeta-Jones. In one of the movies Al Cole appeared in, Ali, people got knocked out during the audition. Cole was cited -"People really got knocked out auditioning for the movie roles".

### Heavyweight

Cole went up to heavyweight without losing his title. In his first heavyweight fight, Cole was nearly swept on all cards by Tim Witherspoon in a unanimous decision loss. A year later, Cole was TKO'd by Michael Grant in the 10th round. Cole then had brief success by drawing over ten rounds with up and coming, undefeated prospect Kirk Johnson. Johnson was to win the rematch via unanimous decision, a loss which began Cole's career downfall. Cole went on to lose to Corrie Sanders and Jameel McCline. Cole's career then had a brief resurgence with a victory over undefeated Vincent Maddalone, a unanimous decision over David Izonritei, and a draw with Jeremy Williams). Cole failed to build on the momentum though, dropping decisions to Lance Whitaker, former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, and finally a TKO loss to Sultan Ibragimov. Cole then retired, but returned to defeat heavyweight prospect Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell on September 5 in Sweden. A year later, he was defeated by fringe contender Timur Ibragimov. Cole had scheduled to fight a rematch with Abell in 2010 in Uganda, but that bout fell through. Reflecting on his long career in boxing, Cole noted "I gave people what they wanted to see-an action-packed fight."

### Life as a trainer

Cole is now a professional boxing trainer. He is currently training USBA Heavyweight Champion Maurice Harris for Boxing 360.

## Professional boxing record

| 54 fights | 35 wins | 16 losses |
| By knockout | 16 | 4 |
| By decision | 19 | 12 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 54 | Loss | 35–16–3 | Danny Williams | SD | 6 | 03/09/2011 | Karlstad CCC, Karlstad | |
| 53 | Loss | 35–15–3 | Timur Ibragimov | UD | 6 | 04/09/2009 | Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad | |
| 52 | Win | 35–14–3 | Joey Abell | SD | 6 | 05/09/2008 | Nojesfabriken, Karlstad | |
| 51 | Loss | 34–14–3 | Sultan Ibragimov | TKO | 3 | 03/03/2005 | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York | WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight Title |
| 50 | Loss | 34–13–3 | Hasim Rahman | UD | 10 | 11/03/2004 | Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie | |
| 49 | Loss | 34–12–3 | Lance Whitaker | UD | 12 | 30/10/2003 | Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek | NABA Heavyweight Title. |
| 48 | Win | 34–11–3 | Joe Lenhart | UD | 6 | 22/08/2003 | Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas | |
| 47 | Win | 33–11–3 | David Izonritei | UD | 8 | 01/03/2003 | Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas | |
| 46 | Draw | 32–11–3 | Jeremy Williams | PTS | 10 | 30/01/2003 | Rose Garden, Portland | |
| 45 | Loss | 32–11–2 | Sedreck Fields | UD | 10 | 31/08/2002 | Strawberry Field, Bridgehampton | |
| 44 | Win | 32–10–2 | Vinny Maddalone | UD | 6 | 29/06/2002 | Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | |
| 43 | Loss | 31–10–2 | Sherman Williams | UD | 10 | Jan 26, 2002 | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York | |
| 42 | Loss | 31–9–2 | Juan Carlos Gómez | TKO | 6 | 04/08/2001 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas | |
| 41 | Loss | 31–8–2 | Jameel McCline | UD | 10 | 25/05/2001 | Norfolk | |
| 40 | Loss | 31–7–2 | David Bostice | UD | 10 | 08/12/2000 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas | |
| 39 | Loss | 31–6–2 | Terrence Lewis | UD | 10 | 14/09/2000 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York | |
| 38 | Draw | 31–5–2 | Frankie Swindell | PTS | 10 | 27/04/2000 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York | |
| 37 | Loss | 31–5–1 | Corrie Sanders | TKO | 1 | 19/02/2000 | Carnival City, Brakpan | WBU World Heavyweight Title |
| 36 | Win | 31–4–1 | Brian Nix | TKO | 8 | 29/10/1999 | Molson Centre, Montreal | |
| 35 | Loss | 30–4–1 | Kirk Johnson | UD | 10 | 20/03/1999 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma | |
| 34 | Draw | 30–3–1 | Kirk Johnson | PTS | 10 | 08/12/1998 | Roseland Ballroom, New York | |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Derrick Roddy | TKO | 3 | 04/09/1998 | Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | |
| 32 | Win | 29–3 | Carlos Monroe | UD | 10 | 08/05/1998 | Trump Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City | |
| 31 | Loss | 28–3 | Michael Grant | RTD | 10 | 20/06/1997 | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City | IBC World Heavyweight Title. Cole did not come out for the 11th round. |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Matthew Charleston | KO | 1 | 22/11/1996 | Ice Palace, Tampa | |
| 29 | Loss | 27–2 | Tim Witherspoon | UD | 10 | 12/01/1996 | Madison Square Garden, New York | |
| 28 | Win | 27–1 | Uriah Grant | UD | 12 | 24/06/1995 | Convention Center, Atlantic City | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26–1 | Mike Dixon | TKO | 8 | 18/03/1995 | Civic Center, Pensacola | |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Nate Miller | UD | 12 | 23/07/1994 | Civic Center, Bismarck | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Vincent Boulware | TKO | 5 | 17/11/1993 | Caesars Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Glenn McCrory | UD | 12 | 16/07/1993 | CSKA, Moscow | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Uriah Grant | UD | 12 | 28/02/1993 | Trump Castle, Atlantic City | Retained IBF cruiserweight title |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | James Warring | UD | 12 | 30/07/1992 | Waterloo Village, Stanhope | Won IBF cruiserweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Govoner Chavers | TKO | 6 | 12/12/1991 | Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Mike DeVito | TKO | 3 | 25/09/1991 | Waterloo Village, Stanhope | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Frankie Swindell | TKO | 11 | 25/07/1991 | Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | USBA Cruiserweight Title |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Nate Miller | UD | 12 | 09/05/1991 | Essex County College, Newark | USBA Cruiserweight Title. |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Leon Taylor | UD | 12 | 08/03/1991 | Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | USBA Cruiserweight Title. |
| 16 | Loss | 15–1 | Leon Taylor | SD | 10 | 13/12/1990 | Penta Hotel, New York | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Matthew Brooks | TKO | 4 | 27/09/1990 | Waterloo Village, Stanhope | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Jesse Shelby | UD | 10 | 05/08/1990 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Keith McMurray | PTS | 8 | 24/06/1990 | Convention Center, Atlantic City | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Chris Collins | TKO | 5 | 12/06/1990 | Fort Bragg | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Tommy Richardson | TKO | 5 | 03/05/1990 | Quality Inn Hotel, Newark | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Jerry Dorsey | TKO | 3 | 22/03/1990 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Ed Mack | UD | 6 | 07/01/1990 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Luis Castillo | TKO | 3 | 14/11/1989 | South Mountain Arena, West Orange | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Harrison Pearson | KO | 5 | 20/10/1989 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Drake Thadzi | PTS | 6 | 12/09/1989 | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | John Beckles | TKO | 4 | 15/08/1989 | South Mountain Arena, West Orange | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Aundrey Nelson | PTS | 4 | 24/06/1989 | Convention Center, Atlantic City | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jack Basting | MD | 4 | 27/05/1989 | Civic Center, Bismarck | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Guy Sonnenberg | UD | 4 | 25/04/1989 | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Lorenzo Thomas | TKO | 3 | 25/03/1989 | Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas | |