Calvin Brock
28-0 (22 KOs)
Age: 31
Division: Heavyweight
Blog and Weave's Division Ranking: #8
Key wins: Clifford Etienne (3rd-round technical knockout, 1/21/05), Jameel McCline (10 round unanimous decision, 4/23/05)
Key loses: None
Last fight: 6th-round knockout over Zuri Lawrence (20-11-4) on February 25, 2006
Next fight: Timor Ibragimov (21-0-1) on June 24, 2006
Strengths: Surprising power, as evident by his knockout percentage of 78%; very good technically; able to throw combinations and jabs, which is rare in the current heavyweight division; solid chin; good amateur record (U.S. amateur champion in '99 at 201 pounds, 2000 U.S. Olympian)
Weaknesses: Has not faced good boxers during their prime (mostly young fighters and has-been veterans); lacks a signature punch, so he often has to work at landing a knockout blow; has yet been put to the test, so how he handles pressure is unknown
Bio: Calvin Brock is as much a story inside the squared circle as he is outside. Brock is known as "The Boxing Banker," given to him when he was working for Bank of America as an analyst. When watching Brock, he doesn't box like a heavyweight, slugging it out and lumbering around the ring. Instead, he fights like an oversized middleweight, staying active, landing good jabs and combinations before throwing precision power punches and displaying decent defense. Brock is well-educated and soft-spoken, so he's a breath of fresh air to boxing.
Contender or Pretender?: CONTENDER. In any other era, Brock might have a tough time rising through the ranks of the heavyweight division, but in this day and age, Brock has the skills and hunger to one day become a champion. The next step is to move up in class and face fellow undefeated Timor Ibragimov. The winner will most likely be regarded as the top heavyweight without a belt.
