Welterweight Emanuel Augustus, Drunken Master, in Critical Condition After Shooting
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (October 16th, 2014)– Emanuel ‘The Drunken Master’ Augustus, once one of the most feared light welterweights and welterweights in the division, remains hospitalized in critical condition on life support after being shot in the back of the head in a street incident around 8 P.M. Monday night in the 1700 block of Louisiana Avenue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Drunken Master, Emanuel Augustus, YouTube Career Highlights
Augustus, 38, previously known as Emanuel Burton until he took the last name of his biological father after finding him later in life, turned professional in July 1994 with a six round win over Jamie Cooper in Baton Rouge, and went on to compile a 38-34 record with 20 knockouts. His ring battles with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mickey Ward (the 2001 fight of the year) are legendary. Augustus ended his career with five consecutive losses to fighters with a combined record of 85-2. His last four opponents had a record of 66-0. Augustus was rumored to be considering a comeback at the time he was shot near the North 14th Street boxing gym where he sparred regularly.
Augustus retired in 2011. Known as ‘The Drunken Master’, Augustus employed clowning antics to distract his opponents and disrupt their rhythm, a sort of homemade psychological ploy which drove fighters crazy, and cemented his legend, though Augustus never realized his championship potential. Floyd Mayweather Jr. called his battle with Augustus his toughest fight.
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