Jesse Ferguson was born on March 20,1957 and is a retired American boxer who was a Heavyweight title challenger and top contender who Beat undisputed Heavyweight world champion Buster Douglas, Heavyweight world champion Ray Mercer and Cruiserweight world champion Tyrone Booze.
32 Facts About Jesse Ferguson
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Jesse Ferguson had 10 straight wins, the most notable being a 4-round knockout of Reggie Gross.
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Jesse Ferguson made a debut with a 4-round knockout of Richard Scott, and followed it up in the semi-finals with a 10-round points win where he outpunched James "Buster" Douglas, a fight that would become more significant over the years, as Douglas went on to upset Mike Tyson in 1990 and win the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
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Jesse Ferguson was matched up with Carl "The Truth" Williams, who was himself coming off a disputed 15-round points loss to Larry Holmes.
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Jesse Ferguson was employed as a sparring partner for Mike Tyson, Razor Ruddock, Lennox Lewis, and Michael Moorer.
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From this point on Jesse Ferguson became a part-time boxer, finding it difficult to find meaningful fights but used regularly by all the top contenders as a sparring partner, who preferred training with him than risking fighting him.
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However Jesse Ferguson had been relegated to 'trial horse' status and McCall was given the decision.
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In 1992 he took on Bruce Seldon where an indifferent Jesse Ferguson retired after five rounds with an eye injury.
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Jesse Ferguson dropped decisions to two ex-world champions, Michael "Dynamite" Dokes and Tony "TNT" Tubbs, but in 1993 would see a turnaround of his fortunes.
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On February 6,1993, Jesse Ferguson fought on the untelevised undercard of an HBO event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Jesse Ferguson was signed to fight Ray Mercer, a former World Boxing Organization world Heavyweight champion, in what was actually a heavyweight title eliminator but was regarded by many as a tune up for Mercer for a potential second shot at a world championship.
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Jesse Ferguson defied the odds and defeated an underprepared Mercer by a unanimous decision to earn his shot against Bowe, who knocked out Dokes in the first round.
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The win over Mercer proved controversial as Mercer was later investigated for allegedly trying to bribe Jesse Ferguson to let Mercer win the bout.
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Jesse Ferguson came into the fight below 230 pounds for the first time in years and was considered to be in the best shape of his career.
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Jesse Ferguson thought he had a legitimate chance to knock the champion out, but Bowe disregarded his boasts.
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Jesse Ferguson was knocked down toward the end of the first round and barely made it back to his feet at the bell, then was dropped again as the second round began and knocked out.
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Jesse Ferguson was matched against Mercer yet again, who this time came in shape at 223.
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Once again Jesse Ferguson was on the wrong end of a close decision as Mercer was awarded a split decision that was even jeered by his hometown crowd at Atlantic City.
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In 1994 Jesse Ferguson travelled to the UK to fight Frank Bruno, who was returning after his loss to Lennox Lewis.
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The overweight Jesse Ferguson collapsed in one round in a passionless performance.
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Jesse Ferguson despite being out of shape had Holmes reeling in the second, and appeared to get the best of the ex-champ.
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Jesse Ferguson had Jeremy Williams out on his feet but quit in the 7th with a swollen eye.
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Jesse Ferguson dropped Alex Stewart twice but was denied the decision.
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Jesse Ferguson did nothing against Danell Nicholson and pulled out after 8 rounds.
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Jesse Ferguson returned late in 1996, now aged 39, and beat undefeated Bobby Harris.
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Jesse Ferguson followed this up with two more wins before a high-profile fight on HBO with Tongan Samson Po'uha, in 1997.
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Jesse Ferguson decked Po'uha several times before knocking him out in the 8th round.
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Jesse Ferguson followed up the Rahman fight with a 10-round decision win over ex-cruiserweight champ Tyrone Booze.
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Jesse Ferguson then took on Obed Sullivan, ranked No 4 in the world, and won an upset decision.
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Jesse Ferguson was tapped as Thunder's replacement and accepted the bout on short notice; he lost the fight by decision.
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Jesse Ferguson spoke of comebacks in 2000 and 2002 but each time nothing came of them.
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Jesse Ferguson complained of being "blackballed" by the boxing establishment.