James Scott

[THEHAMMER321]

Does anyone know what happened to James after he lost to Dwight Braxton,is he still in prison or did he return to society.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He was doing a pretty long stint, I would guess he has probably been released by now. I'm sure you could Google it easy enough.

[My2Sense]

He was released either in late 2004 or early 2005.


From http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 516615.ece

"From the other side of the Atlantic last week came a cutting that stirred memories of one of the strangest days of my working life. It was a brief news item that told how James Scott, a former contender for the light-heavyweight championship of the world, had been released from prison at the end of a 28-year stretch and “just one month after turning 57”. The age was dubious. Scott already had the habit of subtracting a couple of years when I met him in September 1981. That he had other less harmless foibles was indicated by the location of our specially negotiated rendezvous, which was in the depths of Rahway State Prison, one of New Jersey’s maximum security penitentiaries and home, as I observed at the time, to men mean enough to make Bad, Bad Leroy Brown yell for his mammy.

Scott was serving a life sentence for a first-degree murder alleged to have been committed to cover up an armed robbery and, just in case that didn’t give him enough cell-block cred, he had made himself star performer of an extraordinary boxing programme operated at Rahway. The scheme involved eight professionals and about 40 amateurs, all of whom fought regularly inside the penitentiary against opponents from outside. Scott had a career total of 22 fights (19 wins, two defeats) and exactly half of them were in Rahway, often with famous names in the other corner. He beat Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Yaqui Lopez before his hopes of a title shot petered out with losses to Jerry Martin and Dwight Qawi. Qawi, who had also served in Rahway, said he recalled the other convict “walking around like he had a Superman cape on his back”.

My photographer colleague, Michael Brennan, and I found Scott rather less sociable than Superman. “Don’t write the conventional article,” he told me. “You got to put some exciting adverbs in there. Tell them about that English guy John Gully.” Gully was a Bristol man who emerged from debtors’ prison at the beginning of the 19th century to become heavyweight champion of England and an MP. James Scott hasn’t done quite as well but anybody who wants to taunt him about the difference shouldn’t expect help from me."

[My2Sense]

BTW, what was the story behind Scott's conviction? That article I posted above says he went to jail for murder, but this here is from an old Sports Illustrated article from around the time he fought Eddie Gregory:

"A few nights earlier, Scott's car had been seen in the vicinity of a murder and robbery. When the Newark police checked the car they found bloodstains and a bullet hole. Scott said he had loaned the car to a friend. Held at first as a material witness, Scott was later charged with the robbery, which had netted $238. Found guilty, in March 1976 he was sentenced to 30 to 40 years. He was transferred to Rahway on May 27, 1977 as inmate No. 57735."

[bollox]

There was a great story on Scott in a book some years ago, Punchlines: Berger on Boxing. I gathered from the writeup that Scott was one dangerous MF indeed

[HomicideHenry]

James Scott, sheesh, had he not been put in with Braxton so quickly, who knows what might have been. He's one of many ex-boxers turn jail bird, but was one of the best, just couldnt keep his nose clean long enough. IMHO, though, he didn't hold a candle to Hatchetman Sheppard or Jerry Evans.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Not sure what you mean, Braxton was a significant underdog.

[Collins2000]

James Scott, sheesh, had he not been put in with Braxton so quickly, who knows what might have been. He's one of many ex-boxers turn jail bird, but was one of the best, just couldnt keep his nose clean long enough. IMHO, though, he didn't hold a candle to Hatchetman Sheppard or Jerry Evans.

Most clueless post so far, mate.

[John Galt]

I agree with Collins. James Scott was a top light heavyweight. Neither Shepherd nor Evans would be rated over Scott. In addition Scott had been beaten by Jerry Martin before he lost to Braxton. He wasn't "rushed" in with Braxton, he might have been "rushed" in with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad but that one worked out well for him.

If Scott had the luxury of picking opponents, he might have been better off fighting boxers rather than physically strong fighters like Martin and Braxton. Scott was in great condtion and physical strength was one of his biggest assets. Scott was a difficult fight for anyone.

[Dart340]

I was a huge James Scott mark back in the day. Looking back at his fights, he was less of a bruiser and more of a determined technician than I remember from the time. I still believe he beats either Mustafa or Saad Muhammad for the title and probably convincingly.

[My2Sense]

James Scott, sheesh, had he not been put in with Braxton so quickly, who knows what might have been.

"Quickly" in what way? He'd already been a leading contender for some time (and beaten several other contenders), and actually was supposed to fight John Conteh even before he went to jail. If anyone was being put in "quickly" with anyone, it was Braxton.