Remembering Keith Mullings

Keith Mullings

SOME time has passed since the May 29 death of former world super-welterweight champion Keith Mullings at the age of 53 but he deserves a tribute nonetheless. The American, when a 7/1 underdog, essentially ended the career of the brilliant Terry Norris in December 1997 when he dethroned the long-standing leader at 154lbs via stoppage in the ninth round.

Regarded among the very best fighters in the sport at the time, Norris was supposed to defeat Mullings and finalise a fight with Oscar De La Hoya. The finer details of De La Hoya-Norris had already been arranged with both fighters set to earn millions from the welterweight showdown. But Mullings, who picked up $70,000 for beating Norris, hadnโ€™t read the script.

โ€œEvery time I trained, on the bag, everything, I had Norrisโ€™ face in my eyes. By the time I fought him I had fought Norris a thousand times already,โ€ Mullings told James Slater in 2018.

โ€œHe made me raise my level, my game, a whole lot. It takes a great fighter to bring out the greatness in you. He came at me at a blazing pace.โ€

Mullings overcame a taxing start to bully Norris to defeat. But De La Hoya had little interest in taking on Mullings instead of Norris. โ€œThe big fights never seemed to come for me and I kept seeing dollar bills fly out of the window,โ€ Mullings said.

The Jamaican-born Brooklyn resident would make one defence of his championship (halting Davide Ciarlante in five) before losing a tight 1999 12-rounder to Javier Castillejo in Spain. Subsequent defeats to David Reid, Ronald Wright and Steve Roberts convinced Mullings to retire with a 16-8-1 (11) record in 2001. Other notable contests included a contentious split decision loss to Raul Marquez in 1997, three months before shocking Norris.

Things were rarely easy for the military man who served in the Gulf War in the early 1990s. His time in Iraq would haunt him for the rest of his life. He was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after seeking help a Veterans Administration Hospital. Mullings told Robert Mlandich in 2005 that his problems could be traced back to his army colleagues messing with his gas mask as a โ€œjokeโ€.

โ€œI was really hyper-vigilant, to the point where I needed to deal with my issues,โ€ Mullings said of how his disorder later manifested itself. โ€œI always thought I was the only one. To find out I wasnโ€™t alone was a godsend. Iโ€™ve learned how to trust again, not just in boxing but in every aspect of life.โ€

Mullings then took a job, working in food services, at Westchester County Veteranโ€™s Facility so he could help others with the same afflictions he was suffering with. With his own issues in check, he planned a boxing comeback in 2005 that never materialised.

Boxing was always close to his heart. Due to his athletic gifts โ€“ he excelled at baseball and football in school โ€“ he was voted by his classmates from James Madison High School in 1986 as the most likely to succeed. A career with the New York Police Department beckoned but he chose the fight game instead.

โ€œI made a decision to go into boxing with my heart and soul,โ€ Mullings said. โ€œEven though I won a title I didnโ€™t feel I got out of boxing all that I could have. I didnโ€™t really have the time to enjoy my title and I didnโ€™t leave the game on my terms.โ€

His death was announced by Gary Pippa, the head trainer at Be First Boxing in Peekskill, New York, where Mullings had worked as a trainer.

โ€œHe was an inspiration to many young and old,โ€ Pippa said. โ€œMy heart goes out to his family, he was a giving manโ€ฆ He inspired us never to give up until your last breath.โ€

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