Renaldo Snipes (born Reenaold Snipes on August 15, 1956) is a retired American professional boxer. He unsuccessfully challenged Larry Holmes for the world heavyweight championship in 1981. He notably took victories over Heavyweight Boxing Champions Trevor Berbick and Gerrie Coetzee as well as a win over contender Johnny du Plooy.

Amateur career

Snipes was a two-time Chicago Golden Gloves Champion (1977 and 1978). He lost on a first-round stoppage to future heavyweight contender Eddie Gregg in the 1978 Intercity match-ups between Chicago and New York Golden Glove winners.

Professional career

Nicknamed "Mister" Snipes, Snipes started off his career successfully, with a first-round knockout of Carl Halliburton. That fight was on the same card on which future heavyweight contender James Tillis made his debut. 21 more wins followed, and he challenged world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes for the title November 6, 1981 in Pittsburgh. Snipes knocked down the champion in the seventh round. However Holmes got up and Snipes was stopped in Round 11. Snipes complained that Holmes was the beneficiary of a long count. Films show, however, that the claim is exaggerated; Holmes rose at the count of 4 and though badly hurt, fought off the charging Snipes for the remainder of the round. Snipes fought a string of world-class fighters after the Holmes bout, in contests that mostly descended into wildly entertaining brawls. He amassed a record of 39 wins (22 by knockout), 8 losses, and 1 draw. In his career he fought boxers Larry Holmes, Trevor Berbick, Gerrie Coetzee, Tim Witherspoon, Greg Page, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Alfredo Evangelista, Rickey Parkey, South African puncher Johnny DuPlooy and many more.

Tyson fight

Snipes had been in the frame for a big money fight with Mike Tyson in 1990, however he broke his right hand in a fight with rugged journeyman Jamie Howe and lost out on the opportunity, which later went to Alex Stewart. The injury and rehabilitation took him out for two years, and when he returned in June 1992 (aged 36) he fought then-dangerous Garing Lane, surviving an 8th-round knockdown to score a split decision win. He knocked out Eddie Curry (not to be confused with Eddy Curry, the NBA basketball player) the following year before being matched with heavily hyped undefeated Cuban giant Jorge Luis Gonzalez on the high-profile Bowe/Holyfield II undercard. At 37, Snipes struggled with the bigger younger man, and after a gallant effort was stopped with less than a minute remaining in the 10th and final round, after a knockdown, with the stoppage being announced to be because of cuts, much to his disgust.

In 1993 former mobster Sammy Gravano testified under oath that in the late 80s he attempted to arrange a fixed fight between Snipes and undefeated WBO champion Francesco Damiani, who Gravano alleged was associated with an organized crime family in Italy. The winner (Snipes) would fight Tyson, however Damiani lost his fight with Ray Mercer before the Snipes bout and that put him out of the picture for a major fight.

Professional boxing record

39 Wins (22 knockouts, 17 decisions), 8 Losses (2 knockouts, 6 decisions), 1 Draw
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
Loss39–8–1Cuba Jorge Luis GonzalezTKO1006/11/1993United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 2:15 of the tenth round.
Win39–7–1United States Eddie CurryKO324/06/1993United States Paramount Theater, New York City, U.S.
Win38–7–1United States Garing LaneSD1026/06/1992United States King Street Palace, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Win37–7–1United States Jamie HowePTS1018/05/1990United States Callicoon, New York, U.S.
Win36–7–1United States Tim AdamsTKO326/12/1989United States Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Win35–7–1United States Melvin EppsPTS1014/09/1989United States Beacon Theatre and Hotel, New York City, U.S.
Win34–7–1Brazil Manoel De AlmeidaTKO1011/05/1989United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.Almeida knocked out at 0:24 of the tenth round.
Win33–7–1United States Andre CrowderTKO330/03/1989United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.
Win32–7–1United States Lionel WashingtonTKO415/12/1988United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 2:38 of the fourth round.
Win31–7–1South Africa Johnny DuPlooyTKO712/08/1988United States Eagles Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Win30–7–1United States Terry ArmstrongTKO816/06/1988United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.
Loss29–7–1United States Orlin NorrisUD1219 Mar 1988United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.NABF Heavyweight Title.
Win29–6–1United States Terry AndersonKO1023/07/1987United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.Anderson knocked out at 2:40 of the tenth round.
Win28–6–1United States Richard Earl ScottUD1004/06/1987United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.
Win27–6–1United States Melvin EppsTKO509/04/1987United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.Referee stopped the bout at 1:14 of the fifth round.
Loss26–6–1United States Tyrell BiggsUD1012/12/1986United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S.
Win26–5–1United States Donnie LongUD1017/08/1986United States Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win25–5–1United States Dennis FikesKO224/07/1986United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.Fikes knocked out at 0:55 of the second round.
Win24–5–1United States Bobby CrabtreeKO510/07/1986United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.Crabtree knocked out at 1:21 of the fifth round.
Loss23–5–1United States Ricky ParkeySD1030/10/1984United States Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Loss23–4–1Uruguay Alfredo EvangelistaSD1023/09/1983Ohio Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S.
Loss23–3–1United States Greg PageUD1220/05/1983United States Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.IBF USBA Heavyweight Title.
Win23–2–1Canada Trevor BerbickPTS1002/10/1982United States Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Loss22–2–1United States Tim WitherspoonMD1005/06/1982United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Draw22–1–1United States Scott FrankPTS1021/03/1982United States Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Loss22–1United States Larry HolmesTKO1106/11/1981Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.WBC World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:05 of the 11th round.
Win22–0South Africa Gerrie CoetzeeSD1009/08/1981United States New Westchester Theater, Tarrytown, New York, U.S.
Win21–0United States Eddie Mustafa MuhammadSD1017/05/1981United States Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win20–0United States Floyd CummingsUD1008/03/1981United States Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win19–0United States Leroy BoonePTS1021/01/1981United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win18–0United States Dwain BondsKO817/12/1980United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win17–0United States Malik DozierKO525/11/1980United States Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Win16–0United States Rodell DupreeKO318/10/1980United States Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win15–0United States Larry AlexanderKO217/09/1980United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win14–0United States Robert ColayKO109/08/1980United States Superstar Theatre, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win13–0United States Johnny WarrPTS811/06/1980United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win12–0United States James ReidKO314/05/1980United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win11–0United States Dave JohnsonPTS816/04/1980United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win10–0United States Tyrone HarleeKO405/12/1979United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win9–0United States Mike TarasewichPTS810/10/1979United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win8–0United States Eugene GreenPTS608/07/1979United States Felt Forum, New York City, U.S.
Win7–0United States "Young" Charles CoxPTS620/06/1979United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win6–0United States Barry "Fighting Postman" FunchesKO323/05/1979United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win5–0United States Dave SmithKO311/04/1979United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win4–0"Inspector" Ron HopePTS414/03/1979United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win3–0United States Sam MillerKO314/02/1979United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win2–0Hal EmersonPTS415/12/1978United States Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.
Win1–0United States Carl HalliburtonKO118/11/1978United States DePaul University Alumni Hall, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Life after boxing

April 30, 2017 Inducted into the New York Boxing Hall of fame.

Snipes currently resides in New York City. He currently is involved in numerous charity fund-raising projects and was awarded the "Ring 8 2012 Community Service Award". He was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame on Nov 1, 2006 and the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame on April 30, 2017.

Snipes is an avid cigar smoker and is a much sought after guest at many New York cigar lounges.

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