# Rydell Booker

Rydell Tyron Booker (born 17 February 1981) is an American professional boxer. He was the former number one ranked amateur Heavyweight in the United States.

## Amateur career

During his amateur career he won the Michigan State and Regional championships every year from 1992 through 2000, his first national title came in 1999. In 2001 he defeated Devin Vargas at the U.S. Challenge. As the top rated Heavyweight in the United States. Rydell was to represent the USA at the World Championship in Ireland. During Training at Lake Placid, New York, he was accused of stealing a calling card from fellow fighter Jason Estrada, and decided to leave the team training and turn pro instead.

## Professional career

Much later in his professional career, while out of jail on bond and far from tip-top shape, he signed for an IBA world championship heavyweight bout with James Toney. Five months before, Booker had been arrested in Detroit with three other men and charged with possession of cocaine and intent to deliver more than 1,000 grams of the drug. On September 23, 2004 in Temecula, California, Rydell fought James Toney for the International Boxing Association heavyweight and WBC Continental Americas heavyweight championships. In the fight Booker was down in the eighth and then went on to lose the twelve-round decision.

## Incarceration

Shortly after his first professional loss to James Toney, Booker was convicted for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver over 1000 grams. He was sentenced to 12 to 30 years in prison. After serving over a decade, Booker was released, and won three comeback bouts of six rounds duration, before losing a televised ten round bout by unanimous decision to undefeated heavyweight Jermaine Franklin in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.

## Professional boxing record

| 36 fights | 28 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 15 | 1 |
| By decision | 13 | 6 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 36 | Win | 28–7–1 | John Cortez | TKO | 2 (6), 1:30 | Dec 21, 2024 | Gimnasio Striking Fitness, Cali, Colombia | |
| 35 | Win | 27–7–1 | Norman Neely | TKO | 1 (6), 0:43 | Dec 9, 2022 | Newtown A.C. - "The NAC", Newton Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 26–7–1 | Stephan Shaw | UD | 8 | Nov 22, 2022 | Edison Ballroom, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 33 | Loss | 26–6–1 | Otto Wallin | UD | 10 | May 26, 2022 | Ford Community Center, Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 26–5–1 | Marcin Siwy | UD | 8 | Mar 26, 2022 | Arena Bedzin, ul. Sportowa 20, Bedzin, Poland | |
| 31 | Draw | 26–4–1 | Ray Austin | SD | 6 | Nov 19, 2021 | MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 30 | Loss | 26–4 | Filip Hrgović | TKO | 5 (10), 0:43 | Nov 7, 2020 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. | |
| 29 | Loss | 26–3 | Kubrat Pulev | UD | 10 | Nov 9, 2019 | Chukchansi Park, Fresno, California, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Dieuly Aristilde | TKO | 3 (6), 2:58 | Jun 7, 2019 | MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 27 | Loss | 25–2 | Jermaine Franklin | UD | 10 | Apr 13, 2019 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Domonic Jenkins | UD | 6 | Jul 13, 2018 | MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Terrell Jamal Woods | UD | 6 | Apr 13, 2018 | MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Rodney Moore | UD | 6 | Feb 2, 2018 | Cameron Center, Laurel, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 23 | Loss | 22–1 | James Toney | UD | 12 | Sep 23, 2004 | Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. | For vacant WBC Continental Americas and IBA heavyweight titles |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Tipton Walker | SD | 8 | Jun 18, 2004 | Great Lakes Sports Arena, Fraser, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Ken Murphy | TKO | 3 (8) | May 21, 2004 | Riehle Brothers Pavilion, Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Arthur Williams | UD | 10 | Jun 13, 2003 | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Andrew Greeley | RTD | 5 (10) | Mar 14, 2003 | DeCarlo's Banquet Center, Warren, Michigan, U.S. | Retained WBC Youth cruiserweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Uriah Grant | UD | 10 | Jan 10, 2003 | DeCarlo's Banquet Center, Warren, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Larry Prather | SD | 6 | Dec 14, 2002 | Cambridge Place, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Art Jimmerson | TKO | 2 (6) | Nov 23, 2002 | Community Market, Danville, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Leon Nkendzap | KO | 1 (10), 1:23 | Sep 20, 2002 | DeCarlo's Banquet Center, Warren, Michigan, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Youth cruiserweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Donnie Penelton | UD | 4 | Sep 5, 2002 | Farm Bureau Building, Indianapolis, Indiana., U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | John Battle | UD | 6 | Aug 29, 2002 | The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Eric Davis | UD | 6 | Aug 17, 2002 | SeaGate Convention Centre, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Anthony Kohler | TKO | 1 (4), 1:48 | Aug 9, 2002 | Cheaton's Bingo Hall, Akron, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | John Basil Jackson | UD | 6 | Jul 20, 2002 | Leesburg Armory, Leesburg, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Michael Shanks | TKO | 2 (4) | Jun 28, 2002 | Farm Bureau Building, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Ka-Dy King | UD | 10 | Jun 21, 2002 | DeCarlo's Banquet Center, Warren, Michigan, U.S. | Won vacant USA Midwest, Mid American, and Michigan State cruiserweight titles |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Ronald Burnett | KO | 1 (4), 0:40 | Jun 1, 2002 | Cumberland Place, West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Roy Bedwell | KO | 1 (4) | May 11, 2002 | Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Anthony Prince | KO | 1 (6), 0:49 | Mar 29, 2002 | Club International, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Steve Thornton | TKO | 1 (4), 1:27 | Jan 31, 2002 | The Roostertail, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Charles Judge | TKO | 1 (4), 1:22 | Nov 9, 2001 | Club International, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Michael Moncrief | UD | 4 | Oct 12, 2001 | Club International, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Mike White | TKO | 1 (4), 1:10 | Aug 10, 2001 | Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |