Whatever Happened To Boone Kirkman, The Second Great White Hope?
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Correspondent
Ranked as high as seventh in the world by Ring Magazine, the bible of boxing, Boone ‘Boom Boom’ Kirkman was the second of the so-called ‘Great White Hopes, coming between Rocky Marciano and Gerry Cooney. In fact, Kirkman’s last ring appearance was an exhibition against Cooney in 1983.
Kirkman was strong enough in 1978 to go the four round distance with George Foreman in 1978 and break one of Foreman’s ribs in the exhibition. Kirkman’s career, like that of Harry Matthews and Pete Rademacher, was a case of being put in with contenders over his head too soon. His manager, Jack Hurley, put all three of them in with the wrong fighters before they were ready to do so.
Between 1966 and 1978, Kirkman, a Washington State native, compiled a record of 36 wins and six losses, with 25 knockouts. Kirkman won his first 11 professional bouts, before losing on a seventh round stoppage to Doug Jones in June 1967. Kirkman stopped Jones in a rematch in six rounds less than two months later. Winning 11 straight bouts again, Kirkman got stopped by 23-0 George Foreman in November 1970 in the second round. Kirkman then won ten bouts in a row.
Kirkman then faded in 1974 and 1975, losing to Al Jones, Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, and Randy Neumann. Boone attempted a comeback two years later, decisioning Jose Roman and Pedro Agosto, and stopping Ron Stander and Charles Atlas. In Toronto in 1977, Kirkman was one of four fighters involved in the infamous exhibition against George Foreman. Kirkman made the best of the rematch, breaking one of Foreman’s ribs, and finding weak spots which would enable Jimmy Young to beat Foreman thereafter. Kirkman was a white heavyweight, who like Jerry Quarry and so many others, never won the title but accomplished much.
Kirkman retired at age 33, and drove truck for Boeing until his retirement in 2010 at age 65. An accomplished mountain climber, Kirkman is married with two children and three grandchildren. Kirkman never got to fight the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Chuck Wepner, Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson and many other significant fighters of his era back in the day. Boone had a big heart and chin, and what can you say? They just don’t make heavyweights like they used to.
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