Felix Cora Jr.
Felix Cora Jr. is an American professional boxer. He is a former holder of the USBA and North [American Boxing Federation|NABF] cruiserweight titles and was a contestant in the fourth season of the reality TV show The Contender.
Professional career
Early boxing career
Cora made his professional boxing debut in September 2000 with a 2nd round stoppage win over Mitchell Seigrist in Houston, Texas. Over the next three years he boxed a further 14 times, winning 12 with two draws including one draw with the then unbeaten Michael Simms. By January 2004, Cora could boast an unbeaten professional record of 13-0-2.Title fights
In June 2004, Cora once again challenged old foe Michael Simms, this time for the vacant USBA cruiserweight title in Rosemont, Illinois. Cora won the bout via a majority decision to claim the title and to go one better than the last time he faced Simms. Throughout the rest of 2004, Cora defended his belt twice more scoring wins over Jermell Barnes and James Elizalde.In October 2005, Cora challenged for, and won, the NABF version of the cruiserweight title beating champion Arthur Williams after Williams corner retired him in the 8th round. He would defend the belt only once against Darnell Wilson in March 2006 before losing it in his first career defeat to Russian Vadim Tokarev in May of the same year.
Cora suffered his second career defeat to unbeaten former Olympian team-mate Matt Godfrey in his very next fight. The fight which took place in April 2007 in Connecticut was also for Cora's former NABF belt which had been vacated by Tokarev. Godfrey won the fight via a 2nd round TKO.