# Darren Hamilton

Darren Hamilton (born 6 September 1978) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2015. He held the British super lightweight title from 2012 to 2014.

## Boxing career

Hamilton began his boxing career at the age of 12, when an uncle took him and a cousin to a local gym in Bristol. He would later go on to box for the St George's club in that city. As a schoolboy, he would fight in 27 amateur bouts, losing just four.
Hamilton showed considerable promise as an amateur, despite never making it to international level, or ever entering the senior ABA ranks. One memorable amateur fight was against Matty Teu, who had fought over 60 bouts when he met Hamilton, who was then a 'veteran' of just 12 bouts. Hamilton won the fight.
"I didn't have an active career; very stop start. In 1992 and 1993 I got to the national schoolboy semi-finals but lost on points in London both times. Most of the opponent's names have gone out of my head, sorry," Hamilton told Boxnation.
Hamilton collected Southern Area and British Masters titles on his rise to becoming British Champion. His bout for the latter crown was marked by some controversy, however, when he fought West Midlands area champion Dave Ryan. He beat Ryan at the second attempt, after being disqualified from the first fight for headbutting.
Guided by Spencer Fearon short notice fights were relished, first against John Watson, and then Ashley Theophane for the Lonsdale Belt. These fights took him from relative obscurity to become the British Light Welterweight Boxing Champion. Successful British Title defenses against the tough Steve Williams and the energetic Adil Anwar followed. However, in February 2014, Hamilton lost his British title to former professional footballer Curtis Woodhouse at the Hull Ice Arena. The fight was decided on points by a split decision. Regarding the decision, Hamilton told Sky Sports: "It could have gone either way. He had the advantage of being at home. It was a close fight. As the champion I should have dominated a lot more."

## Personal life

Hamilton was born on 6 September 1978, in Bristol, Avon, England. He has an elder sister, as well as four children of his own. His nickname is 'Ammo', something he says is partially derived from his tendency to talk a lot. "I talk a lot. Lyrically I've got loads of ammo!" he says. He now lives in Wanstead, east London.
Hamilton was homeless for a short period, before an offer to work as cleaner in a gym came along. "I took a job as a cleaner in a gym," he told the Bristol Post. "I lived in the towel cupboard for about four months. It wasn't ideal, but it was a start and for the first time in a long time I felt I was moving in the right direction."

## Professional boxing record

| 19 fights | 16 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 13 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 19 | Win | 17–2 | Mikhail Avakian | PTS | 6 | 13 Jun 2015 | Whitchurch Sports Centre, Bristol, England | |
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Steven Bloyer | PTS | 6 | 20 Sep 2014 | Wembley Arena, London, England | |
| 17 | Loss | 15–2 | Curtis Woodhouse | SD | 12 | 22 Feb 2014 | Ice Arena, Hull, England | Lost British super lightweight title |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | Adil Anwar | UD | 12 | 6 Jul 2013 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England | Retained British super lightweight title |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Stevie Williams | UD | 12 | 23 Feb 2013 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England | Retained British super lightweight title |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Ashley Theophane | UD | 12 | 19 May 2012 | Aintree Equestrian Centre, Liverpool, England | Won British super lightweight title |
| 13 | Win | 11–2 | John Watson | PTS | 8 | 27 Apr 2012 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England | |
| 12 | Win | 10–2 | Geoffrey Munika | TKO | 5 (6) | 23 Mar 2012 | The Troxy, London, England | |
| 11 | Win | 9–2 | Dave Ryan | PTS | 10 | 7 Oct 2011 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 10 | Loss | 8–2 | Dave Ryan | DQ | 1 (10) | 18 Jun 2011 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Peter McDonagh | TKO | 8 (10) | 18 Mar 2011 | York Hall, London, England | Won British Southern Area super lightweight title |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Daniel Thorpe | PTS | 4 | 27 Nov 2010 | Magna Centre, Rotherham, England | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Ideh Ochuko | PTS | 4 (4) | 4 Jun 2010 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 6 | Loss | 5–1 | Daryl Setterfield | TKO | 4 (4) | 26 Mar 2010 | Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Essex, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Johnny Greaves | TKO | 3 (6) | 10 Dec 2007 | Holiday Inn, Peterborough, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Byron Vince | PTS | 6 | 28 Nov 2007 | Cafe Royal, London, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | James Lilley | PTS | 6 | 24 Feb 2007 | Filton College Wise Campus, Bristol, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jaz Virdee | PTS | 6 | 7 Dec 2006 | Holiday Inn, Peterborough, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Neil McQuade | PTS | 6 | 3 Nov 2006 | Dolman Exhibition Hall, Bristol, England |