Rau'shee Warren

Rau'shee Warren (/ˈrʃ/; born February 13, 1987) is an American professional boxer who held the WBA (Undisputed), and IBO bantamweight titles from 2016 to 2017. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the 2007 World Championships, as well as bronze at the 2005 and 2011 World Championships, all in the flyweight division.

Rau'shee Warren
Born (1987-02-13) February 13, 1987 (age 37)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBaby Pit
Statistics
Weight(s)Bantamweight
Height5 ft 6+12 in (169 cm)
Reach64+12 in (164 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins19
Wins by KO5
Losses4
No contests1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Chicago Flyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Mianyang Flyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Baku Flyweight

Amateur career

At the 1st AIBA American 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2004, at the age of 17, he upset Rayonta Whitfield and Diego Hurtado and international competitors Raúl Castañeda (Mexico), and Miguel Miranda (Venezuela) to qualify as the U.S. boxing team's 106-pound light flyweight representative at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was both the youngest boxer in the games and the youngest US male in all sports. He was eliminated by the favored Zou Shiming of China in the first round.

He moved up to flyweight soon after and in 2005 and 2006 became US champion. At the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Mianyang he avenged a previous loss to European champion Georgy Balakshin before losing to the Korean surprise winner Lee Ok-Sung and having to settle for bronze.

In 2006 Light middleweight Akima Stocks and Warren were named USA Boxing's 2006 Athletes of the Year. That year he also moved up to fight as a bantamweight, and lost to highly regarded Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux in November.

In 2007 he returned to the flyweight ranks and repeated as US champion.

At the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago he defeated European Champion Georgy Balakshin in a rematch and Samir Mammadov to reach the finals. In the finals he defeated Thai Somjit Jongjohor.

In 2008 he became the first American boxer in more than 30 years to compete at two Olympic Games, accomplishing something not done since Davey Lee Armstrong in 1972 and 1976.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Warren lost in the first round, again to Lee Ok-Sung, in a controversial decision given that he assumed that he had won on points.

He remained in the amateur ranks and ascended to the bantamweight division again at the US Nationals 2009 where he controversially lost his semifinal 19:19 (countback loss) to eventual champion Jesus Magdaleno.

While competing for the Los Angeles Matadors in the World Series of Boxing, Warren secured a Bronze in the US nationals in 2009, gold in 2010, and in 2011 a bronze at the Worlds. A gold medal in the 2011 individual competition (they also compete for team titles) at the WSB secured champions in 5 WSB weight classes the first Olympic slots, so participation in WSB saw Warren's first near miss at qualifying (only top 2 ranked boxers after team competition selected for individual title fight). Warren won the 2011 US Olympic Trials and came home with the Bronze after the 2011 AIBA World Championships, securing his place in a 3rd Olympics, unprecedented for an American boxer, at only 25 years old.

On August 3, 2012 at the London Olympics, Rau'shee Warren failed to get past the first round of the brackets yet again for the third time of his amateur career losing to Nordine Oubaali of France in a close decision of 19-18.

World Series of Boxing record

7 Wins, 0 Losses
ResultRecordTeamOpponent (Team)ScoreDateLocationNotes
Win7–0Los Angeles Matadors Donchai Thathi (Bangkok Elephants)2-12011-12-18 Los Angeles, U.S.
Win6–0Los Angeles Matadors Khabibulla Ismail-Akhunov (Astana Arlans)3-02011-11-13 Los Angeles, U.S.
Win5–0Los Angeles Matadors Mirzhan Rakhimzhanov (Astana Arlans)3-02011-04-09 Astana, KazakhstanSemi-finals first leg
Win4–0Los Angeles Matadors Braulio Ávila (Mexico Guerreros)3-02011-02-04 Mexico City, Mexico
Win3–0Los Angeles Matadors Luis Miguel Diaz (Miami Gallos)3-02011-01-30 Los Angeles, U.S.
Win2–0Los Angeles Matadors Ronny Beblik (Memphis Force)3-02010-12-16 Memphis, U.S.
Win1–0Los Angeles Matadors Elias Emigdio (Mexico Guerreros)3-02010-11-28 Los Angeles, U.S.

Professional career

Warren made his long-awaited professional debut on November 9, 2012, winning a four-round unanimous decision over Luis Rivera.

Having won thirteen of his first fourteen fights (the only blemish being a three-round no contest against Javier Gallo on December 12, 2014), Warren attempted to win his first world championship—the WBA (Undisputed) and vacant IBO bantamweight titles—on August 2, 2015, but lost a debatable split decision to Juan Carlos Payano.[1]

In a rematch with Payano on June 18, 2016, Warren gained revenge by winning both titles with a majority decision.[2]

However, Warren lost in his first defense to Zhanat Zhakiyanov by split decision.[3]

On 29 July 2017, Warren faced McJoye Arroyo in an IBF super flyweight eliminator. Warren outworked Arroyo in most of the rounds, often being the busier, sharper and tougher fighter. The scorecards read 118-110, 117-109 and 117-109 if favor of Warren.[4]

In his next fight against Juan Gabriel Medina, Warren had another dominant performance and defeated his opponent via unanimous decision, winning every single round on all of the scorecards.[5]

On September 5, 2018, it was announced that Warren would face former Olympics opponent Nordine Oubaali for the WBC bantamweight title, previously vacated by Luis Nery.[6] Both fighters fought well, but it was Oubaali who was the bigger puncher and landed more eye-catching shots. In addition to that, Oubaali was simply busier and sharper than Warren, which ultimately made the difference. The scorecards read 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113 in favor of Oubaali.[7][8]

On 15 February, Warren faced Gilberto Mendoza. Warren outclassed Mendoza and won the fight comfortably on all three scorecards, 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91.[9]

Professional boxing record

24 fights19 wins4 losses
By knockout50
By decision144
No contests1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
24Loss19–4 (1)Francisco Pedroza PortilloUD6Aug 20, 2022Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, US
23Win19–3 (1)Damien VázquezKO2 (10), 2:55Aug 14, 2021Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, US
22Win18–3 (1)Sharone CarterUD10Feb 20, 2021Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
21Win17–3 (1)Gilberto MendozaUD10Feb 15, 2020Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
20Loss16–3 (1)Nordine OubaaliUD12Jan 19, 2019MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For vacant WBC bantamweight title
19Win16–2 (1)Juan Gabriel MedinaUD8Apr 21, 2018Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
18Win15–2 (1)McJoe ArroyoUD12Jul 29, 2017Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
17Loss14–2 (1)Zhanat ZhakiyanovSD12Feb 10, 2017Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.Lost WBA (Undisputed) and IBO bantamweight titles
16Win14–1 (1)Juan Carlos PayanoMD12Jun 18, 2016UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Won WBA (Undisputed) and IBO bantamweight titles
15Loss13–1 (1)Juan Carlos PayanoSD12Aug 2, 2015Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida, U.S.For WBA (Undisputed) and vacant IBO bantamweight titles
14Win13–0 (1)Javier GalloTKO1 (10), 0:52Mar 6, 2015MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13NC12–0 (1)Javier GalloNC1 (10), 1:08Dec 12, 2014UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Gallo cut from accidental head clash
12Win12–0Jose Luis AraizaUD10Sep 6, 2014U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
11Win11–0Ricardo AlvaradoUD10May 2, 2014Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0German MerazUD8Jan 25, 2014D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
9Win9–0Jose SilveiraUD8Dec 14, 2013Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
8Win8–0Jhon Alberto MolinaUD4Oct 14, 2013BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
7Win7–0Omar GonzalezUD6Sep 2, 2013Cowboys Dancehall, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
6Win6–0Jesus BayronUD6Jul 5, 2013Cumberland County Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
5Win5–0Jiovanne FuentesTKO2 (4), 1:04Jun 22, 2013Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
4Win4–0Angel CarvajalTKO4 (4), 2:05May 18, 2013Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0Richard HernandezTKO2 (4), 2:04Feb 16, 2013Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0David ReyesUD4Dec 8, 2012Business Expo Center, Anaheim, California, U.S.
1Win1–0Luis RiveraUD4Nov 9, 2012Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.

References

Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Ronald Siler
U.S. flyweight champion
2005–2007
Next:
Randy Caballero
Previous:
Louie Byrd
U.S. Golden Gloves
flyweight champion

2010
Next:
Louie Byrd
Previous:
Jessie Magdaleno
U.S. bantamweight champion
2010
Next:
John Franklin
Minor world boxing titles
Preceded by IBO bantamweight champion
June 18, 2016 – February 10, 2017
Vacant after loss to Zhakiyanov
Vacant
Title next held by
Michael Dasmariñas
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by
Juan Carlos Payano
WBA bantamweight champion
Undisputed title

June 18, 2016 – February 10, 2017
Succeeded by