Former boxing world title challenger and middleweight Antwun Echols has died aged 52.
Echols fought for world glory three times in 1999, 2000, and 2003 but lost twice to Bernard Hopkins before losing to Anthony Mundine for the vacant WBA World Super Middle. He came close in the first bout, almost stopping the then-reigning champion Hopkins.
The American, nicknamed "Kid Dynamite", turned professional in 1993 but lost his first fight to Anthony Ivory. Echols staged an almighty comeback from the setback, though, winning a whopping 22 of his next 24 fights before setting up his first date with Hopkins. Echols retired from boxing in 2016 with a professional record of 32-22-4(28) after losing his last ten fights.
Alongside his two fights with Hopkins, Echols also faced off against notable names such as Eric Lucas, Kabary Salem, Kingsley Ikeke, Rubin Williams, Fulgencio Zuniga, Peter Quillin, Roman Karmazin, and Caleb Truax.
Tributes have poured in for the former middleweight contender, whose cause of death is yet to be announced. "Tough guy fought him in finals of 1992 Olympic Trials and 1992 Olympic Box-Offs to make 1992 USA Olympic Boxing Team," one of Echols' former opponents, Raul Marquez, tweeted. "RIP Antwun Echols."
Knuckles and Gloves Podcast co-host Aris Pina said: "Antwun Echols was one of my favorite fighters to watch in the late ‘90s/early 2000’s. From knocking Brian Barbosa out of the ring, body slamming Bernard Hopkins, and stopping Charles Brewer in a wild WAR, Echos was always must see TV for the era. RIP, thanks for the memories."
"RIP Antwun Echols," another fan said. "Fearless pincher. Will always remember his war with Charles Brewer and battles with Bernard Hopkins. Rest easy champ."
Echols' former trainer Leonard Overstreet Sr also paid tribute to the ex-fighter. "He had the hardest punch," Overstreet Sr told Quad-City Times. "Antwun and I go way back. We were childhood friends. I started working with Antwun when he was an amateur at the Davenport Boxing Club.”
Overstreet Sr added: "I worked with him and once Antwun got himself together he beat everybody in the gym."
