# Jeremy Bates (boxer)

Jeremy Bates (born January 12, 1974) is an American professional boxer. Nicknamed "The Beast", Bates was a moderately successful fighter who fought several other journeyman fighters of his era. Bates has become something of a "comeback" opponent for veteran fighters such as Holyfield, Golota, and Meehan.

## Professional boxing career
### Early career

Bates turned professional in 1999 and fought mainly journeyman fighters, losing to prospect Andre Purlette in 2001. Bates later lost to Sedreck Fields, Kirk Johnson, Leo Nolan, Brian Minto, and Ray Austin before his first retirement.

### The Evander Holyfield fight

Bates was persuaded to postpone his retirement when he was given an opportunity to fight four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. On August 18, 2006, in a 10-round bout at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, 44-year-old Holyfield dominated the fight which was stopped in the second round after he landed around 20 consecutive punches on Bates. The events prior to, and the fight itself, are documented in Evander Holyfield's book 'Becoming Holyfield'.

### Retirement from boxing

Bates retired with a record of 21 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw, with 18 wins by knockout. Post boxing, Bates began a successful career as a full-time insurance sales professional. Bates is currently employed at the United States Enrichment Corporation. (USEC) is a Uranium gaseous diffusion plant in Portsmouth OH.

### Coming out of retirement

Bates would come out of retirement to face Guillermo Jones, Andrew Golota, Odlanier Solis, Kevin Rainey, and most recently Kali Meehan. All of those fights, with the exception of Bates' bout with Kevin Rainey, would be losses. Currently, Bates' record stands at 23 wins, 17 losses and 1 draw, with 19 wins by knockout.

## Professional boxing record

| 46 fights | 26 wins | 19 losses |
| By knockout | 22 | 14 |
| By decision | 4 | 4 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 46 | Loss | 26–19–1 | BJ Flores | TKO | 1 (10) | Feb 25, 2017 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix | |
| 45 | Loss | 26–18–1 | Óscar Rivas | KO | 1 (8) | Jun 4, 2016 | Bell Centre, Montreal | |
| 44 | Win | 26–17–1 | Adolpho Washington | RTD | 1 (6) | Apr 23, 2016 | Pullman Plaza Hotel, Huntington | |
| 43 | Win | 25–17–1 | Dante Craig | TKO | 2 (6) | Sep 5, 2015 | Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington | |
| 42 | Win | 24–17–1 | Levi Bowling | TKO | 1 (4) | Jul 11, 2015 | Parkersburg | |
| 41 | Win | 23–17–1 | Justin Riegle | TKO | 1 (4), 1:03 | Jul 30, 2011 | Cannonsburg, Kentucky | |
| 40 | Loss | 22–17–1 | Siarhei Liakhovich | TKO | 1 (8), 2:11 | Nov 7, 2009 | Nuremberg, Germany | |
| 39 | Loss | 22–16–1 | Kali Meehan | TKO | 3 (10), 1:16 | Feb 16, 2008 | Nuremberg, Germany | |
| 38 | Win | 22–15–1 | Kevin Rainey | UD | 4 | Jan 18, 2008 | Somerset, Kentucky | |
| 37 | Loss | 21–15–1 | Odlanier Solís | TKO | 2 (8), 0:18 | Oct 19, 2007 | Berlin, Germany | |
| 36 | Loss | 21–14–1 | Andrew Golota | TKO | 2 (10), 2:59 | Jun 9, 2007 | Katowice, Poland | |
| 35 | Loss | 21–13–1 | Guillermo Jones | TKO | 1 (8), 1:44 | Jan 6, 2007 | Hollywood, Florida | |
| 34 | Loss | 21–12–1 | Evander Holyfield | TKO | 2 (10), 2:56 | Aug 18, 2006 | Dallas, Texas | |
| 33 | Loss | 21–11–1 | Ray Austin | TKO | 2 (10), 1:17 | Apr 1, 2006 | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 32 | Loss | 21–10–1 | Zack Page | UD | 8 | Dec 9, 2005 | Wheeling, West Virginia | |
| 31 | Win | 21–9–1 | Jason Waller | UD | 8 | Oct 14, 2005 | Wheeling, West Virginia | |
| 30 | Win | 20–9–1 | Travis Fulton | TKO | 1 (8) | Aug 12, 2005 | Wheeling, West Virginia | |
| 29 | Loss | 19–9–1 | Jason Waller | UD | 6 | May 24, 2005 | Woodlawn, Maryland | |
| 28 | Win | 19–8–1 | Carlton Johnson | UD | 8 | Apr 22, 2005 | Wheeling, West Virginia | |
| 27 | Win | 18-8–1 | Kevin Tallon | UD | 4 | Jun 25, 2004 | Wheeling, West Virginia | |
| 26 | Loss | 17–8–1 | Brian Minto | TKO | 8 (10), 2:56 | Apr 23, 2004 | Wheeling, West Virginia | For vacant West Virginia heavyweight title. |
| 25 | Win | 17–7–1 | Jeff Lally | KO | 2 | Jan 18, 2004 | West Virginia | |
| 24 | Loss | 16–7–1 | Leo Nolan | TKO | 4 (8) | Jun 13, 2003 | Detroit, Michigan | Corner retirement. |
| 23 | Win | 16–6–1 | Rodney Phillips | TKO | 1 | Mar 29, 2003 | Parkersburg, West Virginia | |
| 22 | Loss | 15–6–1 | Kirk Johnson | KO | 2 (8), 2:59 | Dec 7, 2002 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 21 | Win | 15–5–1 | Mark Johnson | TKO | 4 (4), 0:00 | Jul 12, 2002 | Lexington, Kentucky | Corner retirement. |
| 20 | Loss | 14–5–1 | Willie Phillips | TKO | 6 (8), 1:41 | Jun 11, 2002 | Chester, West Virginia | |
| 19 | Win | 14–4–1 | Scott Hosaflook | TKO | 1 | Jun 1, 2002 | Morgantown, West Virginia | |
| 18 | Loss | 13–4–1 | David McNemar | MD | 12 | Apr 20, 2002 | Parkersburg, West Virginia | |
| 17 | Loss | 13–3–1 | Sedreck Fields | DQ | 4 (5), 1:11 | Jan 30, 2002 | Miami Beach, Florida | Bates was disqualified for flagrant headbutting. |
| 16 | Loss | 13–2–1 | Andre Purlette | TKO | 2 (12), 1:29 | Oct 5, 2001 | Miami Beach, Florida | For vacant NABO heavyweight title. |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Jimmy Haynes | KO | 1 (6), 2:00 | Sep 28, 2001 | Lexington, Kentucky | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Gerald Moore | KO | 1 | Aug 25, 2001 | Beckley, West Virginia | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Carlton Johnson | KO | 1 | Aug 14, 2001 | Chester, West Virginia | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Jorel Mann | TKO | 1 | Jul 28, 2001 | Huntington, West Virginia | |
| 11 | Win | 9–1–1 | Mike Sheppard | TKO | 1 | Jun 9, 2001 | Parkersburg, West Virginia | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Antonio Colbert | TKO | 1 (4), 2:10 | Apr 19, 2001 | Lexington, Kentucky | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | David Johnson | KO | 1 (4), 1:50 | Mar 30, 2001 | Lexington, Kentucky | |
| 8 | Draw | 6–1–1 | Chad Van Sickle | PTS | 4 | Mar 1, 2001 | Lexington, Kentucky | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Elmer Coles | TKO | 1 | Jan 20, 2001 | Huntington, West Virginia | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | George Randolph | TKO | 1 | Dec 9, 2000 | Huntington, West Virginia | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Thomas Dixon | TKO | 3 | Sep 16, 2000 | Huntington, West Virginia | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Mario Hereford | KO | 2 | Aug 26, 2000 | Gallatin, Tennessee | |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Kanovas Alexander | TKO | 1 | Jun 8, 2000 | Barboursville, West Virginia | |
| 2 | Loss | 1–1 | Tim Knight | UD | 4 | Mar 22, 2000 | Louisville, Kentucky | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Reggie Strickland | TKO | 1 (4) | Nov 10, 1999 | Chester, West Virginia | |

## Professional wrestling

Bates made his professional wrestling debut on November 15, 2008, in Ashland, Kentucky, at Ohio Championship Wrestling's November Reign, where he defeated Vinnie Viagra. He defeated "The Driller" Eddie Browning on December 13 at OCW's Season's Beatings.
Bates got his third victory at OCW on January 10, 2009, at the New Year's Bash by defeating NWA All-Star Wrestling Heavyweight Champion "Pretty Boy" Stan Lee. Bates made his wrestling debut at an arena where he is undefeated in the boxing ranks, the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia, at 304 Wrestling's Battlefront. He defeated Vinnie Viagra in that outing.
Bates is now in training to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His progress is being documented in a YouTube series called "Being the Beast".