# Terry Ray (boxer)

Terry Ray (born April 10, 1963) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 2001. He held the WBF cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2000 and challenged once for the WBA cruiserweight title in 1998. As an amateur, he defeated 95 of 104 opponents, winning several state and national championships, and earning himself a spot on Team USA to compete against Scandinavia
During his professional career, Ray was trained by distinguished trainers Kevin Rooney (1991–1992) and Angelo Dundee (1993–1998). Since retiring from boxing in 2001, Ray has remained active in the sport as a trainer to both professional and amateur fighters.

## Early life

Terry Ray was born on April 10, 1963, in Terre Haute, Indiana. Ray is the grandson of former five-term mayor of Terre Haute, Ralph Tucker. Ray began boxing in Indiana at a young age to gain an amateur record of 95-9 and going on to win the Indiana Golden Gloves multiple times. In 1985, Ray defeated Melton Bowen in the finals to win the National Police Athletic League Tournament. Also as an amateur after training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Ray earned himself a spot on team USA vs. Scandinavia. Ray is a graduate of Indiana State University.

## Professional career

Ray began his professional boxing career in 1986, debuting his first two fights on ESPN. In 1991–1992, Ray trained in Catskill, New York under Kevin Rooney, winning 12 fights on the east coast. From 1993 to 1998, Ray trained with Angelo Dundee in Hollywood, Florida. In 1994, Ray fought on CBS against WBF Champion Kenny Keene. The fight between Keene on October 8 ended in a decision loss for Ray.
In 1997, Ray fought former WBA champion Robert Daniels on USA Tuesday Night Fights withRay losing a split decision. Announcer Sean O'Grady had Ray winning the bout 7–3. In 1998, Ray challenged for the WBA cruiserweight title against Fabrice Tiozzo in Lyon, France. He lost to Tiozzo by first round knockout. Ray went on to win the WBF title in 1999 and defended it three times before losing it to Bash Ali in Lagos, Nigeria. Ray was inducted into the 2020 class of the Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame.

## Outside of boxing

In 2012, Ray was convicted of sexual battery involving a 14 year old girl, receiving an 18 month suspended prison sentence.

## Professional boxing record

| 50 fights | 41 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 25 | 4 |
| By decision | 16 | 5 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 50 | Win | 41–9 | Brian Yates | TKO | 4 (6), 2:28 | Feb 27, 2000 | Pepsi Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 49 | Loss | 40–9 | Bash Ali | TD | 7 (12) | Sep 11, 2000 | National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria | For vacant WBF cruiserweight title |
| 48 | Win | 40–8 | Rod Bensonhaver | UD | 12 | Jan 29, 2000 | Zorah Shrine Temple, Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | Won vacant WBF cruiserweight title |
| 47 | Loss | 39–8 | Vincenzo Cantatore | KO | 3 (12) | May 15, 1999 | Capo d'Orlando, Italy | For WBU super cruiserweight title |
| 46 | Win | 39–7 | Rod Bensonhaver | TD | 9 (12) | Apr 24, 1999 | Zorah Shrine Temple, Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | Retained WBF cruiserweight title |
| 45 | Win | 38–7 | Samson Cohen | KO | 2 (12), 2:26 | Jan 23, 1999 | Zorah Shrine Temple, Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | Won vacant WBF cruiserweight title |
| 44 | Win | 37–7 | Ken Bentley | DQ | 7 (8) | Nov 28, 1998 | Zorah Shrine Temple, Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 43 | Loss | 36–7 | Brian Nielsen | TKO | 5 (8) | Sep 18, 1998 | Sundbyoster Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| 42 | Loss | 36–6 | Fabrice Tiozzo | TKO | 1 (12), 1:00 | May 2, 1998 | Astroballe, Lyon, France | For WBA cruiserweight title |
| 41 | Win | 36–5 | Tim Knight | UD | 8 | Dec 13, 1997 | Zorah Shrine Temple, Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 35–5 | Paul Garner | TKO | 1 (6), 1:40 | Sep 25, 1997 | Showboat, East Chicago, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 39 | Loss | 34–5 | Don Diego Poeder | TKO | 10 (12), 2:56 | Jun 15, 1997 | Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S. | For WBU cruiserweight title |
| 38 | Win | 34–4 | Bobby Crabtree | TKO | 3 (12), 2:46 | Mar 2, 1997 | UNO Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 33–4 | Robert Daniels | SD | 10 | Oct 1, 1996 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–3 | Duane Smith | TKO | 3 (?) | Jul 13, 1996 | Henderson, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 32–3 | Steve Brewer | TKO | 2 (?) | Jun 25, 1996 | Little Bit of Texas, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 31–3 | Robert Clevenger | UD | 10 | Feb 27, 1996 | Pepsi Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Lopez McGee | TKO | 4 (10) | Feb 10, 1996 | Henderson, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 29–3 | Marc Hans | TKO | 2 (6) | Dec 9, 1995 | The MARK of the Quad Cities, Moline, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 31 | Loss | 28–3 | Kenny Keene | TD | 5 (12) | Jul 9, 1995 | Boise, Idaho, U.S. | For WBF cruiserweight title |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Keith Williams | TKO | 7 (10) | May 24, 1995 | Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Robert Straw | TKO | 5 (10) | Feb 28, 1995 | Pepsi Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Tim Johnson | TKO | 12 (12) | Jan 20, 1995 | Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | Retained IBF Great Lakes Regional cruiserweight title |
| 27 | Loss | 25–2 | Kenny Keene | MD | 12 | Oct 8, 1994 | Hulman Center, Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | For WBF cruiserweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Roy Bedwell | KO | 3 (10) | Aug 5, 1994 | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Keven Wyrick | TKO | 2 (12) | May 6, 1994 | Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | Won vacant IBF Great Lakes Regional cruiserweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Paul Ford | PTS | 6 | Dec 6, 1993 | Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Terrence Wright | TKO | 4 (8) | Sep 14, 1993 | Tyndall Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Billy Preston | KO | 2 (?) | Jun 25, 1993 | Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Carl Albert | TKO | 2 (?) | Apr 21, 1993 | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Wendell Stafford | TKO | 1 (8) | Mar 23, 1993 | Ramada Inn Tropical Pavilion, Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Donnie Penelton | PTS | 8 | Mar 16, 1993 | Adam's Mark Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Willie Perry | PTS | 8 | Jan 5, 1993 | Adam's Mark Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Randy McGaugh | PTS | 8 | Nov 24, 1992 | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Roosevelt Williams | SD | 8 | Sep 25, 1992 | Friar Tuck Inn, Catskill, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Fabian Garcia | MD | 6 | Aug 20, 1992 | Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | David Robinson | KO | 3 (?) | Apr 28, 1992 | Adam's Mark Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Wade Williams | TKO | 1 (?), 1:55 | Nov 27, 1991 | Houston Gym, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Calvin Simon | KO | 1 (?) | Oct 15, 1991 | Harrah's Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Riddick Baker | TKO | 1 (?) | Oct 1, 1991 | Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Willie Kemp | PTS | 4 | Aug 9, 1991 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Edwin Newby | TKO | 4 (8), 1:34 | May 29, 1991 | Buffalo Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Derrick Brown | SD | 4 | Mar 20, 1990 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Donald Johnson | PTS | 6 | Feb 6, 1990 | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Jerry Harris | PTS | 4 | Sep 26, 1989 | Sherwood Club, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 5 | Loss | 4–1 | Mike Peak | UD | 8 | Jan 13, 1987 | Continental Inn, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Gerald Moore | KO | 1 (?), 2:34 | Dec 13, 1986 | National Guard Armory, Martinsville, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | John Fornara | TKO | 1 (4), 2:25 | Oct 31, 1986 | Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Leon McCullum | KO | 1 (8), 2:42 | Sep 20, 1986 | Market Square Garden, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Tim Knight | UD | 4 | Jun 27, 1986 | Springs Golf & Tennis Resort, French Lick, Indiana, U.S. | |