Mike Jimenez (Hollywood)
Name: Mike Jimenez
Alias: Hollywood
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 185cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Am Muay Thai: Record
Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (born May 15, 1987) is an American professional boxer from Chicago, Illinois. An orthodox fighter standing 6 ft 1 in (185 cm), Jimenez competed primarily in the super middleweight division before later campaigning at light heavyweight.
During his professional career, Jimenez became the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Champion and UBF All-Americas Super Middleweight Champion. He was also known as a popular Chicago-area attraction promoted by Hitz Boxing.
Personal information
Name: Mike Jimenez
Nickname: "Hollywood"
Born: May 15, 1987
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Stance: Orthodox
Divisions: Super Middleweight / Light Heavyweight
Early life
Jimenez grew up in the Chicago area and attended Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois, graduating in 2005.
Athletics were an important part of his life before boxing. Following high school, Jimenez attended Harper College, where he played football as a wide receiver.
Jimenez later began working as a union ironworker in Chicago. Throughout much of his boxing career, he continued working full-time while simultaneously training and competing as a professional fighter.
His career as an ironworker became an important part of his public identity, with Jimenez frequently discussing the demanding schedule required to balance construction work with professional boxing.
Amateur career
Jimenez began boxing relatively late compared with many professional fighters.
He competed in the Chicago amateur boxing scene and participated in the Chicago Golden Gloves. After experiencing several close decisions during his amateur career, Jimenez elected to turn professional, believing that professional scoring and longer fights were better suited to his aggressive, power-punching style.
Professional career
Jimenez turned professional in 2010.
Fighting primarily throughout the Chicago and Midwest boxing scene, he developed a reputation as an aggressive super middleweight with punching power and an entertaining personality.
Jimenez was associated with Chicago boxing trainer Pete George and boxer/trainer Donovan George. He was promoted for much of his career by Hitz Boxing.
His combination of punching power, confidence and crowd-friendly style helped make him a recognizable attraction on Chicago boxing cards.
Rise through the super middleweight division
Jimenez remained unbeaten during the early portion of his professional career while accumulating a series of victories primarily in Illinois and the surrounding region.
Among his opponents during his rise were Antwun Echols, Michael Walker, Skylar Thompson, Jimmy Campbell and Rollin Williams.
His performances eventually positioned him for national-level opportunities in the super middleweight division.
Jesse Hart fight
On May 2, 2015, Jimenez received one of the biggest opportunities of his career when he faced undefeated Philadelphia contender Jesse Hart at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The bout was held on the undercard of the highly publicized Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao event.
The fight was contested for the vacant USBA and WBO NABO Super Middleweight Championships.
Jimenez entered the bout unbeaten.
Hart defeated Jimenez by technical knockout in the sixth round, handing Jimenez the first professional defeat of his career.
Despite the loss, appearing on one of the largest boxing events of the era significantly increased Jimenez's national exposure.
Return following first defeat
Jimenez returned to competition following the Hart fight and rebuilt his career through several victories.
He continued competing primarily at super middleweight while remaining active in the Chicago boxing scene.
His comeback eventually led to a championship rivalry with Aaron Pryor Jr., the son of former world champion Aaron Pryor.
Aaron Pryor Jr. rivalry
Jimenez and Aaron Pryor Jr. first fought on May 14, 2016 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
The fight was contested over ten rounds for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Championship.
After ten competitive rounds, the judges declared the fight a majority draw. One judge scored the bout for Pryor while the remaining two judges scored the contest even.
Because of the draw, the championship remained vacant.
The competitive nature of the first fight led to a rematch.
WBC Continental Americas Championship
Jimenez and Pryor met for a second time on June 23, 2017 at The Dome at the Ballpark in Rosemont, Illinois.
The vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Championship was again at stake.
Jimenez was knocked down during the eighth round but recovered and completed the ten-round fight.
The judges awarded Jimenez a split-decision victory.
The official scores were 96-93 and 95-94 for Jimenez, while the third judge scored the contest 96-93 for Pryor.
With the victory, Jimenez became WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Champion.
The championship victory represented one of the most significant accomplishments of his professional career.
According to the WBC Continental Americas championship lineage maintained by BoxRec, Jimenez held the championship from June 23, 2017 until 2018.
UBF All-Americas Championship
Jimenez also became the Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) All-Americas Super Middleweight Champion.
His championship reign placed him among the UBF's recognized regional champions and established another major accomplishment in his professional boxing career.
BoxRec's UBF championship records list Jimenez among the organization's UBF All-Americas Champions.
Move to light heavyweight
During the later portion of his career, Jimenez moved from super middleweight to the 175-pound light heavyweight division.
On November 21, 2018, he defeated Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
The victory positioned Jimenez for another regional championship opportunity.
Charles Foster fight
On March 16, 2019, Jimenez traveled to Boston, Massachusetts to challenge undefeated Charles Foster for the NABA Light Heavyweight Championship.
The bout took place at the House of Blues.
Jimenez entered the contest as an experienced former regional super middleweight champion moving into the light heavyweight division.
Foster defeated Jimenez by technical knockout in the ninth round.
Despite the result, Jimenez was credited with providing a competitive challenge before Foster's boxing and combination punching resulted in the stoppage.
Fighting style
Jimenez was known primarily as an aggressive power puncher.
His style emphasized pressure, physical strength and offensive combinations rather than a strictly defensive approach.
His confidence and outgoing personality contributed to the nickname "Hollywood," while his aggressive fighting style helped develop a strong following among Chicago boxing fans.
Outside boxing
Throughout much of his professional career, Jimenez worked full-time as a union ironworker in Chicago.
He began working in the trade around the same period that he became seriously involved in boxing.
Jimenez frequently balanced early work schedules and physically demanding construction jobs with evening boxing training.
This working-class background became an important part of his identity and helped establish Jimenez as a popular fighter among Chicago boxing supporters.
Before boxing, Jimenez also played football and competed as a wide receiver at Harper College.
Championships and accomplishments
- WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Champion
- Won June 23, 2017 against Aaron Pryor Jr.
- Won by ten-round split decision in Rosemont, Illinois
- UBF All-Americas Super Middleweight Champion
- Challenged for the vacant USBA Super Middleweight Championship
- Challenged for the vacant WBO NABO Super Middleweight Championship
- Challenged for the NABA Light Heavyweight Championship
Notable opponents
Among the notable fighters Jimenez faced during his professional career were:
- Jesse Hart
- Aaron Pryor Jr.
- Charles Foster
- Derrick Findley
- Antwun Echols
- Rollin Williams
Notable bouts
Mike Jimenez vs. Jesse Hart May 2, 2015 – MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada Vacant USBA and WBO NABO Super Middleweight Championships Hart defeated Jimenez by TKO in round six.
Mike Jimenez vs. Aaron Pryor Jr. I May 14, 2016 – Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana Vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Championship Majority draw after ten rounds.
Mike Jimenez vs. Aaron Pryor Jr. II June 23, 2017 – The Dome at the Ballpark, Rosemont, Illinois Vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Championship Jimenez won by split decision after ten rounds.
Mike Jimenez vs. Charles Foster March 16, 2019 – House of Blues, Boston, Massachusetts NABA Light Heavyweight Championship Foster defeated Jimenez by ninth-round TKO.
Legacy
Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez became one of the recognizable fighters associated with Chicago's professional boxing scene during the 2010s.
His career combined the demanding life of a full-time union ironworker with professional boxing at the regional and national levels.
Jimenez competed on the Mayweather-Pacquiao undercard, fought for multiple regional championships and ultimately captured both the WBC Continental Americas and UBF All-Americas Super Middleweight Championships.
His two-fight series with Aaron Pryor Jr., culminating in his 2017 WBC Continental Americas championship victory, remains one of the defining chapters of his career.