Happy 48th Birthday Drunken Master Emanuel Augustus
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas,NV (January 2nd, 2023)– On January 2, 2023, ‘The Drunken Master’, Emanuel Augustus (Ya’kov Burton), will celebrate his 48th birthday. Characterized by Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the toughest opponent Floyd had faced in his career, he was ranked as high as number two in the world in the lightweight division.
Augustus fought Irish Mickey Ward on July 13, 2001, in the ESPN 2001 Fight of the Year, and the Ring Magazine 2001 Fight of the Year. The fight was nominated for ESPN’s Fight of the Decade. Augustus was voted ESPN’s most memorable fighter of all-time. At various times in his career, Augustus held the IBA World Light Welterweight title, the WBC Continental Americas Light Welterweight championship, and the WBO Oriental Welterweight championship.
Between 1994 and 2011, Augustus fought 78 professional contests, winning 38, losing 34, and drawing six bouts, with 53 bouts going the four, six, eight, 10 and 12 round distance. August fought 25 undefeated fighters, including Floyd.
Along the way during his career, Augustus scored many magical wins. His noteworthy performances included bouts with: 7-0 David Herrod (Win 6); 2-0 Teddy Randolph (Win 4); 1-0 Richard Armstrong (Win 6); 7-0 Barry Guidry (Win TKO 4, and Augustus subsequently defeated Guidry Win 6 in a rematch); 12-1 Wilfredo Negron (Win 8); 11-0-1 Danny Acevedo (Win TKO 5); 25-1-1 David Toledo (Win KO 10); 19-4-1 Louie Leija (Win 8); 45-1 Fred Ladd (Win TKO 8. Ladd lost his next ten bouts after getting beaten by Augustus, and never recovered his career); 38-1 Soren Sandergaard (Draw 8 in Denmark); 16-3 Jon Thaxton (Win TKO 7 in Switzerland); 7-2 Sammy Sparkman (Win KO 5); 10-0 Jamar Carter (Win 8); 21-0-1 Terrell Finger (KO 8. Finger lost two of his next four bouts after getting beaten by Augustus, and never recovered his career).
More great performances by Augustus: 17-4-1 Gerald Gray (Win 8); 13-3 Orlando Milian (Win TKO 2); 5-0 Jesus Abel Santiago (Win TKO 8); 10-5 Luis Alejandro Ugalde (Win 8); 31-3-1 Leavander Johnson (Draw 10. Fought at lightweight. Johnson went on to win the IBF World Lightweight title in his second attempt); 37-1-2 Carlos Wilfredo Vilches (Win TKO 8. Augustus took this bout on two days of notice, and emerged ranked number two in the world at 140 pounds); 16-0 Alvaro Aguilar (Draw 8).
More splendid performances by Augustus: 20-2 Courtney Burton (In their first meeting, August lost a 10 round split decision in which a knockdown was not counted, and a spinning move out of a clinch caused a point deduction. Ringside commentator Teddy Atlas scored the bout 97-92 for Augustus and was outraged, as Augustus landed 302 punches to Burton’s 231. In the rematch, Augustus knocked out Burton in the eighth round)); 16-12-3 Dillon Carew (Win TKO 8); 47-10-2 Ray Oliveira (Win TKO 8. The Drunken Master ends world class fighter Oliviera’s career); 30-8-1 Jaime Rangel (Win TKO 10); 19-16 Russell Stoner Jones (Win 10. Augustus wins every round on all three scorecards and also wins the vacant WBC Continental Americas title); 15-10-3 Jun Paderna (Win 6); 36-10 Irish Mickey Ward (Lost 10. One judge had the ESPN war 96-94 for Ward).
Augustus lost his last five bouts against opponents with a combined record of 83-2. In his time, August fought so many champions and top contenders from Floyd to Leonard Dorin, there were too many too count. Augustus fought anybody, anywhere, anyplace, anytime. August had a no-style style consisting of an entertaining yet skillful style, showboating with irregular movements meant to confuse, intimidate and outpsych his opponents. Probably Augustus got robbed any number of times in questionable or biased decisions, with the majority of the losses coming to unbeaten rising contenders poised to win no matter what. The above results prove, however, Augustus did win some of these bouts.
If ever a record was meant to be deceiving, Emanuel Augustus and former World Heavyweight Champion Mike Weaver hold two of the confusing records on record. Their number of losses did not testify to their true abilities. In the video accompanying this article, the insane style of Augustus is explained in graphic detail, and it has to be seen to be believed. Augustus could dance around his opponents, sometimes on one foot, and all around the ring. Augustus also had a noteworthy defensive style of twisting and turning, long before Roy Jones Jr. did it. Augustus often fought with no structure of boxing form, designed to embarrass and frustrate his opponents, often to maximum effect. Augustus would frequently use his oddball dance moves to set up elaborate feints. His head movements and foot movements mixed with various styles were an emotional disguise to pinpoint his punching range and land his punches and combinations from odd positions and angles.
On the night of October 13, 2014, Augustus was critically wounded after being hit in the back of the head by a random gunshot and was on life support in his native Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Augustus eventually recovered, and was living with his sister in Baton Rouge. As of 2016, Augustus was engaged to be married and was in improved health and spirits. As of 2023, the Facebook of Emanuel Augustus has him living in Pahokee, Florida.
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