Superman Derrick Findley, Trialhorse on the Edge of Forever

Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 At age 40, throughout 20 years and 68 pro bouts, Derrick ‘Superman’ Findley, 36-31-1 with 25 knockouts, Merrillville, Indiana by way of Chicago, has been the journeyman trialhorse on the edge of forever. Findley has even fought for the BKFC pro bareknuckles world championships. You cannot have more guts than that in the ring.

 His first five losses came at the hands of opponents with a combined record of 68-0, including future world champions Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell. His future wins and losses are a who’s who of the middleweight and super middleweight 160 and 168 pounds divisions, including bouts with Viktor Polyakov, Ronald Hearns, J’Leon Love, Curtis Stephens, Gilberto Ramirez and Mike Jimenez. Always ready to fight and do battle, Stephens got the hometown decisions, but never won the decisions or battles on the road. Like Tiger Ted Lowry losing 10 round decisions to Rocky Marciano, Derrick Findley was, is and will forever be the gatekeeper of the middle divisions, available for a paycheck on a moment’s notice.

 Jesse Hart, Maxim Vlasov, Edwin Rodriguez, Maciej Sulecki, Jose Uzcategui, Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, Lonenda Mock, Arif Magomedov and Ievgen Khytrov followed. Upset wins over Lamar Russ, Donavan George, and Daniel Heinse occurred. Faded names like Michael Walker and Antwun Echols were no match for Findley. Late career wins over Ryan McIntosh and Henry Mercer kept the flame alive.

 By 2023, though, Findley began to fade. Losses to Angel Hernandez, Pierre Dibombe, and Thomas Hughes signaled the end. A four round split decision win over Noah Kidd in October 2023 in Gary, Indiana, bought one more bout attempt.

 On October 1, 2024, Findley traveled to Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee, giving a game but losing effort over 10 rounds against 10-0 Maidel Sando. For Derrick Findley, it was a brilliant final effort, another decision he would not get. Like Archie Moore, often traveled, and the end of the road came. In 10 rounders, Findley was 0-10, on the road to a paycheck, including two split decision losses, the valiant trial horse always in the house.

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