CALVIN BROCK

updated February 20, 2007

"I wanted to tap dance even before I wanted to box. It's great. I sweat just as much as when I box. It strengthens my calf muscles, controls my weight, and makes me lighter on my feet."

Many would assume the above quote was spoken by the man recognized as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all-time, Sugar Ray Robinson. After all Robinson did learn to tap dance as a youth and even attempted to make a career of it after retiring from the ring.

Yet, the words above were actually spoken by 2000 U.S. Olympian and former banker Calvin Brock.

Brock began boxing at the age of 12, and unlike many fighters who follow in the footsteps of relatives who have climbed into the ring before them: he is the first and only Brock to ever box.

As an amateur he compiled an exceptional record of 147-38. However, fistic accolades weren't the only accolades Brock achieved during this time period. In 1999 Brock graduated from Charlotte University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Shortly thereafter he accepted a position as an Operation Call Analyst for Bank of America. During his nine-month stint at Bank of America, he crowned his distinguished amateur career by earning a spot on the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team.

Unfortunately, he was unable to progress past the opening round of the Sydney tournament, a setback he blames on the U.S. Olympic Team's coaches: "They over-trained me for the fight. I didn't have any legs. I couldn't move. A lot of the fighters complained about the same thing."

Brock's Christian faith occupies a large role in his life. He is an usher at the Victory Christian Center, where he and his family attend services every Sunday. Following the Olympics Brock pondered whether to turn pro. It was spiritual guidance that played the decisive role in his decision to turn pro in February 2001: "I said to myself, 'God wants me to box. I've got to keep my faith in that.'"

As a professional Brock has stopped five fighters in the first round, and has knocked out over 80% of his opponents.

On September 13, 2002, Brock floored Leroy Humphries twice on his way to earning a second round stoppage (TKO 2).

On November 22, 2002, Brock twice dropped Frank Edmundton with body punches to earn a second round knockout (TKO 2).

Three months later on January 24, 2003, Brock stopped Jeff Pegus in three rounds (TKO 3).

On April 4, 2003, Brock annihilated Shawn Robinson at the 1:28 mark of the opening round (TKO 1).

Brock saved his most devastating win as a pro for the Gatti-Ward III undercard on June 7, 2003. Brock annihilated Jim Strohl at 1:41 of round one with a brutal overhand right that sent Strohl sagging to the canvas unconscious (TKO 1). Atlantic City Press boxing writer Dave Weinberg best summarized the finality of the knockout: "Boardwalk Hall officials showed the replay four times on the JumboTron screen above the ring, prompting oohs and aahs from the crowd every time."

Six weeks later on July 19, 2003, Brock showed once again why some insiders believe he will be the surprise of the heavyweight division. After an uneventful first round, Brock pounced on Marcus Rhode with a flurry of blows to the head an body before sending the 50-bout veteran crashing to the canvas with a devastating overhand right that ended the fight (TKO 2).

On August 29, 2003, Brock added another knockout to his resume by stopping Shane Swartz, who was unable to answer the bell for round seven (TKO 6). Swartz was a three-time U.S. National Amateur champion who amassed nearly 200 wins in the amateur ranks. He entered the ring on Aug 29 with a record of 16-1, 11 KO's.

On November 8, 2003, Brock stopped Kenny Murphy in three rounds (TKO 3).

On December 12, 2003, Brock dismantled 50-bout veteran David Vedder in eight rounds (TKO 8). Brock dropped Vedder in rounds three and seven, and overwhelmed Vedder in round eight with a flurry of punches that forced a referee's stoppage at the 1:27 mark of the round. Vedder had only been stopped once in his career prior to Dec 12-by Oleg Maskaev on November 30, 2001 (TKOby 6)-and he had gone the distance with such notables as Chris Byrd and Duncan Dokiwari. Following the bout Vedder had this to say about Brock: "He's got a blistering right hand. He's got good hand speed and he mixes his punches pretty good. He was doing to me what I usually do to others. I wasn't expecting his hands to be so fast. He hides his right hand well".

On January 22, 2004, Brock stopped Derrick Berry (TKO 6).

Brock returned to the ring on May 15, 2004, Brock made his first appearance on the NBC "Budweiser Boxing Series", dominating fellow-undefeated heavyweight prospect Terry Smith to earn a unanimous decision victory (W 10).

On July 24, 2004, Brock decisioned Willie Williams (W 8).

In his last bout on November 14, 2004, Brock destroyed Wesley Martin in two rounds (TKO 2).

After 24 pro fights Brock continues his quest for the world heavyweight championship, while working equally as hard to reach the artistic heights of his tap-dance inspiration Gregory Hines. In fact, on June 8, 2002, while most people were watching Lennox Lewis destroy Mike Tyson on pay-per-view television, Brock was performing in his first recital at Garr Memorial Baptist Church.

On January 21, 2005, Brock propelled himself to the top of the class of young heavyweights by goring "The Black Rhino" in three rounds (TKO 3). Brock traded bombs with Clifford Etienne in the opening round, absorbing Etienne's devastating left hooks while battering him with punishing overhand rights and left hooks to the head and body. In round two, Brock again encouraged Etienne to brawl . . . and then dropped him with a short left hook. Etienne climbed to his feet and finished the round strong, but was dropped two more times in round three to force a referee's stoppage at the 1:25 mark of the round.

Brock launched himself into world title contention on April 23, 2005, when he out-hustled and out-gutted the hulking Jameel McCline to win a unanimous decision on ESPN's first-ever PPV boxing event (W 10). Although outweighed by 47 pounds Brock pressured McCline throughout the bout and even staggered the former world title challenger on several occasions. Spectators witnessed one 2005's most exciting rounds in round eight when Brock climbed off the canvas to attack McCline and send him reeling by round's end.

On June 25, 2005, Brock destroyed Kenny Craven in four rounds on the undercard of the Arturo Gatti-Floyd Mayweather, Jr world title PPV showdown (TKO 4).

Brock captured his first professional title on November 19, 2005, when he dominated David Bostice to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision by the scores of 118-110 (twice) and 116-112 (W 12). The two heavyweights traded blows from the opening bell in an action-packed heavyweight bout that brought Charlotte fans to their feet.

In his last bout on February 25, 2006, Brock opened the Fernando Vargas-Shane Mosley PPV broadcast by destroying Zuri Lawrence with a single, vicious counter-left hook at the 2:58 mark of round six (TKO 6). The ferocity of the blow stunned spectators as Lawrence frighteningly sagged to the canvas and remained there receiving medical attention for several minutes. It was the first time in his career that Lawrence has been stopped. The impressive victory left many at ringside believing that Brock is the best of the young heavyweights vying for a world title opportunity.