Career
Born in Barbados in 1959, Straughn moved to England with his family when he was 10. He learned to box at the Hitchin Youth Amateur Boxing Club and went on to a successful career as an amateur, which included winning American Bar Association light-heavyweight titles in 1979, 1980, and 1981, and representing the United Kingdom at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He travelled to the United States in 1984 where he suffered his first defeats, to Arthel Lawhorne and Tim Bullock.
Back in the United Kingdom he was unbeaten in his next eight fights, leading to a fight against Tee Jay in October 1986 for the British cruiserweight title vacated by Sammy Reeson.
His first defence came in February 1987 against Roy Smith, with Smith taking the title on points. Straughn then fought Glenn McCrory in an eliminator for the title, losing after a cut eye forced a stoppage in the tenth round.
This time his first defence was against Johnny Nelson and again Straughn lost the title, Nelson stopping him in the eighth round in May 1989. In March 1990 Straughn challenged Derek Angol for the Commonwealth cruiserweight title at the Royal Albert Hall.
Angol stopped Straughn in the eighth round.
This proved to be Straughn"s final fight.
