JD Chapman continues comeback

[philly]

July 28, 2021, Fort Smith, Arkansas—American Heavyweight Contender JD “The Natural” Chapman (30-0, 26 KO’s) continues his surprise comeback on July 31, 2021 when he takes on veteran gatekeeper Terrell Jamal Woods (24-49-9) at home, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Woods recently had a draw with Russian heavyweight contender Alexander Ustinov (36-4) and is renown for testing top fighters, having taken to the distance former world champion Dominick Quinn, and top prospects such as Michael Hunter (21-1) any Nicholas Musterek (9-0).

JD “The Natural” Chapman (30-0), returned to Boxing on June 5, 2021, after a thirteen year layoff. At the time of his retirement, Chapman was ranked by just about every rating organizing and was considered one of America’s best chance at reclaiming the Heavyweight title. With his return, Chapman immediately became one of the most talked about heavyweight contenders.

Asked whether it is not too soon to fight such a dangerous opponent as Terrell Jamal Woods so early in his comeback, Chapman said with his usual humility, “Jamal Woods is tough and will be a good test for me as I’m rusty and nowhere close to where I used to be. However, if I can’t go through guys like Jamal, I might as well hang up my gloves and retire for good this time.”

Says his promoter Edward Mendy, “JD Chapman is the ‘Next Great American Hope.’ No offense to Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz, but no American heavyweight today has a better shot at the world title than Chapman Period. JD has the size, the power, the skills and the experience to take on any of the top five heavyweights today. I’m so pleased with his progress, I would gladly to put him up against any other top ten heavyweight today. But first, he has to pass the Wood test.”

Chapman’s next fight, July 31, 2021 fight Terrell Jamal Woods, will take place at the River Valley Combat Academy in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

About JD Chapman
Born John David Chapman in March of 1983, JD Chapman did not fight as an amateur. Instead, he started fighting in Toughman Contest competitions before he turned pro in 2002. Chapman chose the name "The Natural" as he hails from Arkansas, "The Natural State".

After fighting mostly guys with losing records his first fourteen fights, JD Chapman stepped it up and never fought another opponent with a losing record. In the process he has accumulated 30 wins with 26 of the wins by way of knockout (knockout ratio greater than 90%). Also, Chapman has beaten several known contenders and gatekeepers. His most notable opponents were Chicago-based Edward Gutierrez who was 15-0-1 coming into the bout, New York veteran John Carlo who then possessed a 14-1 record, and fellow undefeated Mid-West prospect Matt Hicks then 7-0.

Chapman further captured several regional heavyweight titles including the IBF Southern Regional title, the North American Boxing Council title, the WBC Latino title and the Arkansas State title. Just when it seemed that Chapman was at the cusp of stardom, he hung it all up and rode into the sunset.
At the time of his retirement in 2008, Chapman was considered a major heavyweight contender and was the darling of the boxing press. He received tremendous coverage and exposure in the boxing press and was featured repeatedly on television. More importantly, Chapman was rated Top Ten by every major sanctioning body except the WBC, which gave him a World Rating of 14.

He is being trained by former MMA Champion Brian Foster. Chapman’s return is being guided by Edward Mendy of Lion Heart Boxing Productions.

[margaret thatcher]

wouldnt be surprised if chappy doesnt win this one

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

If it is on the up and up woods wins

[margaret thatcher]

the giant has been slayed

tj woods beats chapman 38-37 x3

[HomicideHenry]

I remember once upon a time that JD Chapman was rated number four in the world by the WBO in line for a shot at Klitschko. Then he just walked away from it all to become a truck driver.

The explanation that I heard was that he never wanted to compete anywhere else but Arkansas. It reminds me of a certain group of people known as gym fighters, who look absolutely incredible behind closed doors--- but the moment they get under the hot lights they fizzle. It's some sort of mental block that prevents them from being able to compete.

Anyways, JD always seemed like a nice man but he's been out of the ring for far too long. You're not going to mount any serious comeback at the age of 38 unless your name is George Foreman. He was the exception not the rule.

I hate to hear that he lost but somebody should have really drilled it into his head that chances are he would lose to an active heavyweight no matter how crappy their record was. The guy who beat him had a record of 24-49-9, and had a split decision draw against Ustinov ffs. They chose the wrong hand-picked dead man to fight against.

[funso banjo baby]

Terrel woods adds another scalp

[Lackeos]

"was considered one of America’s best chance at reclaiming the Heavyweight title"
I remember him being considered as one of the major bottomfeeders of the division; like Roman Greenberg, Donnell Holmes, and Malik Scott (who eventually grew into a normal contender). I don't know if anyone outside of the trailer park boys really thought Chapman was a real contender.

However... I wouldn't have recommended that he take a 13-year break. In 2008, he was best-positioned for a possible 6-figure payday. Or, he even could've drawn halfway okay money taking easier fights. Seems like a waste of the ability to capitalize on the record that he had built.

[margaret thatcher]

"was considered one of America’s best chance at reclaiming the Heavyweight title"
I remember him being considered as one of the major bottomfeeders of the division; like Roman Greenberg, Donnell Holmes, and Malik Scott (who eventually grew into a normal contender). I don't know if anyone outside of the trailer park boys really thought Chapman was a real contender.

However... I wouldn't have recommended that he take a 13-year break. In 2008, he was best-positioned for a possible 6-figure payday. Or, he even could've drawn halfway okay money taking easier fights. Seems like a waste of the ability to capitalize on the record that he had built.

it made no sense really......my hunch is that he didnt have the fortitude to fight a legit fighter, hence stepping away before cashing out on his record. he was supposed to fight david haye wasnt he...........i guess he'd rather have retired than taken a beating and a loss, even if the latter would've earned him a lot more

tj woods is one of americas better journeymen, i expected him to win this one if he actually tried

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

"was considered one of America’s best chance at reclaiming the Heavyweight title"
I remember him being considered as one of the major bottomfeeders of the division; like Roman Greenberg, Donnell Holmes, and Malik Scott (who eventually grew into a normal contender). I don't know if anyone outside of the trailer park boys really thought Chapman was a real contender.

However... I wouldn't have recommended that he take a 13-year break. In 2008, he was best-positioned for a possible 6-figure payday. Or, he even could've drawn halfway okay money taking easier fights. Seems like a waste of the ability to capitalize on the record that he had built.

- Plenty of discussions on AOL over him and Joe Mesi, but we had a few videos of Mesi and none of JD that made him something of an exotic. Thing that made him tick was being trained and sparred by Michael Moorer who suffered few fools.

Was his promoter that Goodson feller that made you boys all butt hurt back in the day? I dunno, but turning pro with no ama experience age 19 is always going to be progress report. In his last fight, age 24, he and Rich Boruff squared off in one of the earliest if not the earliest Dubai fights with Moorer on the undercard. Thing is Moorer had KOed the undefeated Boruff the year before in Panama, so that's a bit odd.

The story went back in the day that his purse was $100+K but that he only got 10-12K out of it and naturally quit as anyone would in a crooked sport without a decent manager and promoter backing him. I'd guess Moorer knows what happened, but he ain't one to open up about personal matters. At any rate, the New JD, Michael Coffie, got dumped in Rice this weekend for his first loss. Be interesting to see where these guys go from here.

Thanks for the report, Philly.

[HomicideHenry]

Was his promoter that Goodson feller that made you boys all butt hurt back in the day?

Yes, Stacy Goodson was his original promoter and manager. Then he left Goodson for some other fellow whose name escapes me at the moment--- but it was short lived because JD retired unexpectedly anyways.

[margaret thatcher]

shoulda fought rick dyer