James Shuler (May 29, 1959 – March 17, 1986) was a U.S. Olympic and professional boxer from Philadelphia known as "Black Gold."

James Shuler
Born
James Shuler

(1959-05-29)29 May 1959
DiedMarch 17, 1986(1986-03-17) (aged 26)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBlack Gold
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach78 in (198 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights23
Wins22
Wins by KO16
Losses1
Medal record
Amateur boxing
Representing the  United States
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1979 New York Light-Middleweight
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1979 San Juan Light-Middleweight

Amateur career

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Shuler was trained by Joe Frazier.[1]

Shuler was the 1979 and 1980 National Golden Gloves Light Middleweight Champion. He qualified at 156 pounds and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team that perished in an air crash in Warsaw, Poland, on March 14, 1980.[2] Shuler was not with the team, however, as he had stayed in America due to injury.[3] The team was en route to Warsaw, Poland for the USA vs. Poland Box-off as part of "USA vs. the World." event. Among the USA Boxing teammates who were killed in the plane crash were Lemuel Steeples from St. Louis; Kelvin Anderson from Connecticut; Paul Palomino - the brother of Carlos Palomino; George Pimentel, and Olympic Coach, Sarge Johnson. Members of the team who were also not aboard included Bobby Czyz and Alex Ramos RBF.[4]

Shuler did not participate in the 1980 Olympics due to the boycott.[5] In 2007, he posthumously received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.[6]

Highlights

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Shuler finished his amateur career with a record of 165–8.[1]

Professional career

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Shuler began his professional boxing career as a middleweight on September 12, 1980, with a second-round knockout of Chris Rogers in Philadelphia. During his five years as a pro, he won the NABF, national Middleweight championship with a win over Sugar Ray Seales. He had a 22–1 record with sixteen knockouts. His first and only professional loss came on March 10, 1986, to Thomas Hearns when he was knocked out in the first round.

Death

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Shuler died in a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia on 17 March 1986, just one week after his last fight.[7][8]

Memory and tribute

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Bob Arum, the promoter of Shuler's last fight, said that the boxer came to Arum's room a day after the Hearns fight and thanked him for promoting it. Arum, who had promoted many bouts, said that Shuler was the only fighter who had ever done that, adding, "He was a decent, decent young man."[9]

In 1995, his close friend Percy Custus opened the 'James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym' in Shuler's native Philadelphia in honor of the fallen fighter. Custus met Shuler in the 1970s at the Joe Frazier Gym where they trained together and remained close friends for the rest of James’ life.[5][10]

Professional boxing record

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22 Wins (16 knockouts, 6 decisions), 1 Loss (1 knockout)[11]
Result Opp Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 40-2   Thomas Hearns KO 1 10/03/1986   Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada WBC NABF Middleweight Title. Shuler knocked out at 1:13 of the first round.
Win 16-13   Jerry Holly UD 10 04/07/1985   Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey 8-2, 9-0, 10-0.
Win 34-0-2   James Kinchen SD 12 16/02/1985   The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey WBC NABF Middleweight Title. 115-114, 116-113, 114-115.
Win 15-4   Kenny Bristol UD 10 25/02/1984   Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 23-3   Clint Jackson PTS 12 17/01/1984   Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WBC NABF Middleweight Title.
Win 15-5   Leroy Green, Jr. KO 1 25/11/1983   Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
Win 12-5-2   Wilbur Henderson KO 3 28/09/1983   Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 21-4   Norberto Sabater KO 2 17/09/1983   The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win --   Wilfredo Acosta KO 1 14/06/1983   Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 30-23-5   Inocencio De la Rosa KO 4 18/03/1983   Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 56-7-3   Ray Seales UD 12 23/10/1982   Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey WBC NABF Middleweight Title. 118-111, 119-110, 117-112.
Win 9-9   Dario De Asa KO 2 18/09/1982   The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 4-5   Collin Keller KO 2 12/06/1982   Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 6-4   Ricky Sheppard KO 4 11/04/1982   Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 17-8   Jesus Castro KO 4 13/02/1982   Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey Castro knocked out at 0:42 of the fourth round.
Win 1-6   Wyatt Simpkins KO 4 07/11/1981   Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 5-2-2   Kenny Hodges KO 3 18/07/1981   Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 2-3   Willard Nance KO 4 17/06/1981   Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 0-2 Vincent Evans TKO 1 11/04/1981   Concord Resort Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, New York Referee stopped the bout at 1:33 of the first round.
Win 0-7   Robert Gregory Dean Thomas TKO 5 28/03/1981   Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 2-2   Charlie Hecker TKO 3 28/11/1980   Felt Forum, New York City Referee stopped the bout at 1:09 of the third round.
Win 3-1   Jamal Arbubakar UD 4 10/10/1980   Felt Forum, New York City
Win 0-2   Chris Rogers TKO 2 12/09/1980   Felt Forum, New York City

References

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  1. ^ a b Sports, Pacific Stars And Stripes, September 15, 1980, p. 21.
  2. ^ Forensic NewsArchived 2010-01-06 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "RingSide Report :: View topic - Boxing Looks Back at James "Black Gold" Shuler". ringsidereport.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  4. ^ RBF
  5. ^ a b "James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym - Philadelphia, PA".
  6. ^ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  7. ^ "Boxer's Requiem: Shuler's Corner Is Empty Now" by Sarajane Freligh philly.com 28 March 1986.
  8. ^ "Requiem For A Middleweight On A North Phila Street" George Azar philly.com April 1, 1986.
  9. ^ "James Shuler, Champion" philly.com March 25, 1986 1986.
  10. ^ "Max Boxing - News - Remembering a True Champion: James "Black Gold" Shuler". Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  11. ^ Boxer boxrec.com Archived 2015-04-26 at the Wayback Machine
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