Career
Nicknamed "The Beast", Bates was a moderately successful fighter who fought several other journeyman fighters of his era. Bates has become something of a "comeback" opponent for veteran fighters such as Holyfield, Golota, and Meehan. Early career
Bates turned professional in 1999 and fought mainly journeyman fighters, losing to prospect Andre Purlette in 2001.
Bates later lost to Sedreck Fields, Kirk Johnson, Leo Nolan, Brian Minto, and Ray Austin before his first retirement.
The Holyfield fight
On August 18, 2006 in a 10 round bout at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the 44-year-old Holyfield dominated the fight which was stopped in the second round after Holyfield landed about 20 consecutive punches on Bates. The events prior too, and the fight itself are documented in Evander Holyfields new book "Becoming Holyfield".
Retirement from boxing
Bates retired with a record of 21 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw, with 18 wins by knockout. Post boxing, Bates began a successful career as a full-time insurance sales professional.
Bates is currently employed at the United States Enrichment Corporation.
(USEC) is a Uranium gaseous diffusion plant in Portsmouth Ohio. Coming out of retirement
Bates would come out of retirement to face Guillermo Jones, Andrew Golota, Odlanier Solis, Kevin Rainey, and most recently Kali Meehan. All of those fights, with the exception of Bates" bout with Kevin Rainey, would be losses. Currently, Bates" record stands at 23 wins, 17 losses and 1 draw, with 19 wins by knockout.
Professional boxing record
Bates made his professional wrestling debut on November 15, 2008 in Ashland, Kentucky at Ohio Championship Wrestling"s November Reign, where he defeated Vinnie Viagra.
He defeated "The Driller" Eddie Browning on December 13 at OCW"s Season"s Beatings. Bates made his wrestling debut at an arena where he is undefeated in the boxing ranks, the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia, at 304 Wrestling"s Battlefront.
He defeated Vinnie Viagra in that outing. Bates is now in training to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
His progress is being documented in a YouTube series called "Being the Beast".
The videos are available for viewing at www.youtube.com/user/beast0107.
