Emanuel Augustus shot in the head, reportedly in critical condition

Oct

Retired boxer Emanuel Augustus, whom Floyd Mayweather Jr. once called his most difficult opponent, is reportedly in critical condition after being shot in the head Monday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Augustus, 39, who was once known as Emanuel Burton, was shot just a few blocks from the gym where he occasionally still sparred, according to The Advocate newspaper based in Baton Rouge.

Augustus, who retired after his last fight in 2011 with a record of 38-34-6 that included 20 knockouts, is “on life support right now,” Baton Rouge boxer Chris Singleton, a sometime trainer partner of Agustus, told The Advocate. The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating the shooting, according to The Advocate.

Mayweather tabbed Augustus as his most difficult opponent during an interview with Showtime’s Steve Farhood in March.

“It’s Emanuel Augustus. Tough. Tough,” said Mayweather. “It was Emanuel Burton when I fought him, but he was so, tough. Tough opponent.”

JOSE RAMIREZ, JESSIE MAGDALENO RETURN

Junior welterweight prospect Jose Ramirez, an undefeated 2012 Olympian, will face David Rodela in the main event of Top Rank Promotions’ “Solo Boxeo Tecate” card from the Selland Arena in Fresno, Calif., on Oct. 25, the promotional company announced on Tuesday.

Coming off a unanimous decision over Alfred Romero in August, the 21-year-old Ramirez (11-0, 8 KOs) will face the 27-year-old Rodela (17-9-3, 7 KOs) on UniMas as the headliner for “Fight For Water 3.”

Proceeds from the event benefit farm workers and farmers who have been adversely affected by California’s historical drought that has depleted water supplies.

Also on the card will be junior featherweight prospect Jessie Magdaleno (19-0, 15 KOs), who is 22, will face Erick Ruiz (13-1, 6 KOs), who is 22, and heavyweight hopeful Andy Ruiz (22-0, 16 KOs), 25, will pursue his ninth straight stoppage win against Kenny Lemos (12-8-2, 8 KOs).

BANNER PROMOTIONS’ CHRIS ALGIERI, RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV, DEMETRIUS ANDRADE ALL IN ACTION

WBO 140-pound titleholder Chris Algieri, former beltholder Ruslan Provodnikov, and WBO junior middleweight titleholder Demetrius Andrade highlight a busy period for Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions.

On Nov. 22 in Macau, China, Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) will rise into the welterweight division to challenge WBO welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao. Algieri is co-promoted by Pelullo and Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing.

On Nov. 28, Provodnikov will face an opponent to be determined in his native Russia in an attempt to rebound after having been dethroned by Algieri. On Dec. 13, Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) could face Jermell Charlo (24-0, 11 KOs), in accordance to an earlier report by RingTV.com. Andrade is also co-promoted by Pelullo and DeGuardia.

DEMARCUS CORLEY STILL IS FIGHTING

Former titleholder DeMarcus Corley (41-22-1, 25 KOs), who turned 40 in June, will be in action against an opponent to be determined in a lightweight bout on Nov. 15 at The Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., according to a release from promoter Jimmy Lange.

Also on the card against opponent to be determined will be undefeated welterweight Todd Wilson and junior middleweight Ronald Hearns, the 35-year-old son of Hall of Famer and former champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. Ronald Hearns will meet Jonathon Reid.

A winner of his past two fights by stoppage and unanimous decision Dedrick Bell and Daniel Attah in August and September, respectively, Corley has faced a Who’s Who of fighters over the course of his career.

A southpaw, Corley won the WBO junior welterweight title with a first-round knockout of Felix Flores in June 2001 and made two defenses before being dethroned following a split-decision loss to Zab Judah in July 2003.

Corley has knocked out Paul McCloskey, split bouts with former titleholder Randall Bailey, lost decisions to Mayweather, Junior Witter, Devon Alexander, Marcos Maidana, Ruslan Provodnikov, Thomas Dulorme and Viktor Postol, and been stopped by Miguel Cotto, Lucas Matthysse, Selcuk Aydin and Freddy Hernandez.

A career highlight for Corley occurred in May of 2004 during his the 140-pound debut of Mayweather. After three rounds of scintillating, give-and-take action, Corley rocked Mayweather with a flush shot in the fourth round, and then, followed Mayweather to the ropes to deliver further punishment.

But Mayweather recovered, adjusted, and floored Corley once each in the eighth and 10th rounds of a unanimous decision victory.