Marvin Camel

Marvin Camel
Statistics
Real name	Marvin Camel
Weight(s)	Light heavyweight Cruiserweight
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach	79 in (201 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1951-12-24) December 24, 1951 (age 70) Ronan, Montana, USA
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	62
Wins	45
Wins by KO	21
Losses	13
Draws	4
No contests	0

Marvin Camel (born December 24, 1951) is a retired boxer and member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Northwestern Montana. He was born in Ronan and fought out of Missoula. He was the first person recognized as the cruiserweight boxing champion of the world by two different professional sanctioning bodies.^[1]

Professional boxing career[]

Camel fought Mate Parlov in Yugoslavia to a draw in the first ever cruiserweight world title bout. In the rematch, in Las Vegas, Camel beat Mate Parlov for the vacant WBC world Cruiserweight title in 1980, losing the title in his first defense, to Carlos De León who replaced David Pearce. After losing in a rematch to De Leon, he became, in 1983, the IBF's first world champion, by beating Roddy McDonald who also replaced David Pearce after the BBBoC would not sanction the Cruiserweight division in the UK) and thus becoming world Cruiserweight champion for the second time when he claimed that organization's title. He later lost the title to Lee Roy Murphy.

He lost his final bout in June 1990 against Eddie “Young Joe Louis” Taylor in Minneapolis. The 10-round decision left his lifetime mark at 45-13-5.

Camel's pro career took him from Ronan to 13 states and seven foreign nations on three continents.

“I’ve had a good life, as far as boxing is concerned, winning two world titles, losing world titles, seeing the world,” Camel said in 2015. “Some things people only dream about having, I did it. I’ve been there. I’ve been to the top of the mountain. But I feel there’s still something out there that I’ve got to have, and I don’t know what it is.” ^[2]

He is the subject of a biography released in December 2014, titled 'Warrior in the Ring' by Brian D'Ambrosio.^[3][4] The book was nominated for the High Plains Book Award and several other awards. "Boxer Marvin Camel’s life story and "Warrior in the Ring" are the stuff Hollywood movies are made of," said Big Sky Journal.

Born on the Flathead Reservation to a Native American mother and African American father, Camel's physical talents became obvious early in his life — and point to a path that could take him away from the poverty and isolation and racism that shape his childhood. D’Ambrosio looks at Camel's early life, the departure of his father, and the place the Camel children had as mixed-race residents on the reservation. He examines the constructs of identity and takes them as a starting point for his story, built from years of interviews with Camel, his friends and family, and members of the boxing community.

Twice crowned world champion in the cruiserweight division, Camel proudly appeared in his eagle-feather headdress to represent his state and his mother's people when he boxed. D’Ambrosio makes the point that Camel's Montana heritage influenced his story — and perhaps his tenacity — as much as anything else. In reflecting on his career and marveling at what takes a young boy from Montana and makes him a world champion, Camel said of himself, “The hills and fresh air of Montana made Marvin Camel.”

But Camel's story isn't just a feel-good, “boy from a small state and a rough background makes good” tale. The trajectory of Camel's career brought him into contact with some of the greatest names in the sport — and with some of the biggest conmen and villains trying to make money off the drama and danger. D’Ambrosio doesn't flinch away from the ugliness of life on the reservation as a mixed blood, the brutality of life in the boxing ring, or disillusionment about life after a career has slipped away. Nor does the story end with regret. Camel now lives with his second wife in Florida where he works in landscaping. But he will live on forever in the lore and history of Montana.^[5]

In December 2014, D'Ambrosio and Camel attended the 52nd Annual World Boxing Convention.^[6]

Brian D'Ambrosio, with Marvin Camel, "Warrior in the Ring"

Honors[]

In 2006 at the World Boxing Council's 44th annual convention WBC President José Sulaimán awarded Camel honorary champion status.

Professional boxing record[]

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
62	Loss	45–13–4	Eddie Taylor	MD	10	11/06/1990	Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
61	Loss	45–12–4	Joe Hipp	TKO	6	02/12/1989	Lacey, Washington, United States
60	Win	45–11–4	Jerome Hill	PTS	8	06/11/1989	Butte, Montana, United States
59	Win	44–11–4	J.J. Cottrell	UD	10	25/09/1989	Billings, Montana, United States
58	Draw	43–11–4	Trent Surratt	TD	1	10/08/1989	Billings, Montana, United States
57	Loss	43–11–3	James Salerno	TKO	6	31/05/1988	Milan, Lombardia, Italy
56	Loss	43–10–3	Ralf Rocchigiani	PTS	10	26/04/1988	Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
55	Loss	43–9–3	Taoufik Belbouli	TKO	4	10/10/1987	Paris, France
54	Loss	43–8–3	Virgil Hill	KO	1	01/05/1987	Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
53	Loss	43–7–3	José María Flores Burlón	UD	10	08/08/1986	Pergamino, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
52	Draw	43–6–3	Jimmy Bills	PTS	10	22/05/1986	Boise, Idaho, United States
51	Loss	43–6–2	Lee Roy Murphy	TKO	14	06/10/1984	Billings, Montana, United States	Lost IBF cruiserweight title
50	Win	43–5–2	Roddy MacDonald	TKO	5	13/12/1983	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada	Won inaugural IBF cruiserweight title
49	Win	42–5–2	Rocky Sekorski	KO	9	21/05/1983	Billings, Montana, United States
48	Loss	41–5–2	John Odhiambho	TKO	2	11/02/1983	Copenhagen, Denmark
47	Win	41–4–2	Leonardo Rodgers	TKO	5	30/06/1982	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
46	Loss	40–4–2	Carlos de León	TKO	8	24/02/1982	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	For WBC and lineal cruiserweight titles
45	Win	40–3–2	Bash Ali	PTS	12	02/10/1981	San Francisco, California, United States
44	Win	39–3–2	Willie Shannon	TKO	3	11/08/1981	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
43	Win	38–3–2	Rahim Muhammad	UD	12	05/05/1981	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won Nevada Cruiserweight Title
42	Win	37–3–2	Ron Draper	TKO	6	24/04/1981	Billings, Montana, United States
41	Loss	36–3–2	Carlos de León	MD	15	25/11/1980	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States	Lost WBC and lineal cruiserweight titles
40	Win	36–2–2	Mate Parlov	UD	15	31/03/1980	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won inaugural WBC and lineal cruiserweight titles
39	Draw	35–2–2	Mate Parlov	PTS	15	08/12/1979	Split, Yugoslavia	For inaugural WBC and lineal cruiserweight titles
38	Win	35–2–1	David Cabrera	KO	3	30/08/1979	McAllen, Texas, United States
37	Win	34–2–1	Macka Foley	TKO	2	01/08/1979	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
36	Win	33–2–1	Bill Sharkey	UD	12	05/06/1979	Missoula, Montana, United States	Won NABF Cruiserweight Title
35	Win	32–2–1	David Smith	KO	9	24/04/1979	Missoula, Montana, United States
34	Win	31–2–1	Jim Ingram	PTS	10	28/02/1979	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
33	Win	30–2–1	Bob Heflin	KO	2	03/01/1979	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
32	Win	29–2–1	Tom Bethea	KO	2	11/11/1978	Missoula, Montana, United States
31	Win	28–2–1	Dale Grant	PTS	12	13/09/1978	Butte, Montana, United States
30	Win	27–2–1	Ibar Arrington	UD	10	22/08/1978	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
29	Win	26–2–1	Chuck Warfield	KO	5	27/05/1978	Missoula, Montana, United States
28	Win	25–2–1	Pete McIntyre	PTS	10	07/04/1978	Butte, Montana, United States
27	Win	24–2–1	Bobby Lloyd	PTS	10	09/03/1978	Wichita, Kansas, United States
26	Win	23–2–1	David Smith	PTS	10	08/02/1978	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
25	Win	22–2–1	Karl Zurheide	RTD	7	08/12/1977	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
24	Win	21–2–1	Ron Wilson	PTS	10	29/08/1977	Pablo, Montana, United States
23	Loss	20–2–1	Danny Brewer	TKO	6	28/06/1977	Seattle, Washington, United States
22	Win	20–1–1	Gary Summerhays	UD	12	06/05/1977	Missoula, Montana, United States
21	Draw	19–1–1	Dale Grant	PTS	10	15/02/1977	Seattle, Washington, United States
20	Win	19–1	Lionel Ford	UD	10	26/01/1977	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
19	Win	18–1	Larry Castaneda	UD	10	20/11/1976	Seattle, Washington, United States
18	Win	17–1	Matthew Saad Muhammad	MD	10	23/10/1976	Missoula, Montana, United States
17	Win	16–1	Johnny Townsend	UD	10	25/09/1976	Spokane, Washington, United States
16	Win	15–1	Johnny Townsend	UD	10	28/08/1976	Missoula, Montana, United States
15	Loss	14–1	Matthew Saad Muhammad	SD	10	17/07/1976	Stockton, California, United States
14	Win	14–0	Angel Oquendo	UD	10	08/05/1976	Missoula, Montana, United States
13	Win	13–0	Rafael Gutierrez	UD	10	07/04/1976	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
12	Win	12–0	Don Meloncon	TKO	3	18/02/1976	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
11	Win	11–0	Pedro Vega	KO	1	14/01/1976	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
10	Win	10–0	Danny Brewer	UD	10	19/11/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
9	Win	9–0	Terry Lee	TKO	8	24/09/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
8	Win	8–0	Ron Wilson	UD	10	20/08/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
7	Win	7–0	Fernando Lee Jones	RTD	6	28/05/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
6	Win	6–0	Amado Vasquez	KO	3	30/04/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
5	Win	5–0	Jack Johnson	UD	8	02/04/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
4	Win	4–0	Chico Valdez	KO	2	19/02/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
3	Win	3–0	George Clark	TKO	4	22/01/1975	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
2	Win	2–0	James T. Jackson	TKO	4	25/02/1974	Boise, Idaho, United States
1	Win	1–0	Joe Williamson	TKO	1	25/06/1973	Butte, Montana, United States

See also[]

• List of cruiserweight boxing champions

References[]

External links[]

• Boxing record for Marvin Camel from BoxRec
• Marvin Camel - Montana Magazine
• Marvin Camel - CBZ Profile