Nathaniel Fitch

American boxer

Nathaniel Fitch
Fitch (left) assisting on the mitts (U.S. Army Photo)
Born	Nathaniel Fitch Sr. Bastrop, Louisiana
Other names	Sweet Red

Nathaniel Fitch Sr. (born October 31, 1956) is an American former heavyweight boxer best known for his stellar amateur boxing career.

Early years

"Years ago I was at a Boys Club and some guys took my bike and my brothers went to retrieve it and I'll just say I was impressed with the way they did it," said Fitch. "From that point forward I knew I wanted to learn to box."^[1]

In 1977, Fitch enlisted in the U.S. Army where he began his career as an amateur boxer. He transferred to Fort Bragg in 1983.^[1]

Amateur career

Fitch went on to win the 1983 All-Army Championship, the 1983 Interservice Championship, the 1984 Olympic Sports Festival, the 1985 National Amateur Boxing Federation Championship, the 1987 National Golden Gloves Championship and the 1987 Eastern Olympic Trials.^[1]

Accomplishments

1983 All-Army Champion (+201 lbs)
1983 Interservice Champion
1984 U.S. Olympic Festival Winner (+201 lbs)
1985 United States (AAU) Amateur Champion (+201 lbs)
1987 National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champion (+201 lbs)
1987 Eastern Olympic Trials: Qualified (+201 lbs)
1988 National Olympic Trials: in quarterfinals lost to Riddick Bowe by unanimous decision, 5–0

He finished his amateur career with a record of 187 wins, 16 losses and 1 draw.^[1]

Professional career

Fitch turned pro in 1988 and had limited success. His resume included losses to notable heavyweights Lou Savarese, Tim Witherspoon, Bruce Seldon, Jeremy Williams, Chris Byrd, and John Ruiz. He retired in 1997 after a decision loss to Timo Hoffmann.

Professional boxing record

12 Wins (8 knockouts, 4 decisions), 19 Losses (10 knockouts, 9 decisions), 1 No Contest [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	5-0	Timo Hoffmann	PTS	6	05/10/1997	Gera, Germany
Loss	9-0	Najee Shaheed	TKO	5	23/01/1997	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Loss	19-1	Terrence Lewis	KO	4	06/12/1996	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Loss	27-3	John Ruiz	TKO	3	25/10/1996	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Loss	15-0	Richie Melito	TKO	1	17/07/1996	New York City, New York U.S.
Win	0-6	Steve West	TKO	2	06/04/1996	Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Loss	20-0	Don Steele	TKO	5	19/12/1995	Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Loss	12-0	Chris Byrd	KO	7	03/10/1995	Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Win	0-1	Larry Donnell	TKO	1	27/09/1995	Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Loss	22-1	Boone Pultz	UD	8	14/09/1995	Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.
Loss	14-0	Kirk Johnson	PTS	10	07/07/1995	Bossier City, Louisiana, U.S.
Loss	6-2-2	Sam Hampton	PTS	8	11/04/1995	Woodlawn, Maryland, U.S.
Loss	15-0	Zeljko Mavrovic	KO	1	11/02/1995	Frankfurt, Germany
Loss	39-4	Tim Witherspoon	TKO	6	17/12/1994	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
No Contest	9-6	Stanley Wright	NC	2	20/07/1994	Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Loss	28-3	Bruce Seldon	TKO	4	19/02/1994	Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.	IBF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title.
Loss	12-0	Jeremy Williams	RTD	7	09/11/1993	Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.	Fitch retired at the end of the seventh round.
Loss	25-0	Lou Savarese	UD	10	17/04/1993	Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Loss	17-6	Levi Billups	UD	10	25/01/1993	Inglewood, California, U.S.
Win	22-13	Ricky Parkey	TKO	5	24/10/1992	Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Win	30-17	Mike Cohen	PTS	8	26/06/1992	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Win	11-18-2	Danny Wofford	PTS	4	20/05/1992	Concord, North Carolina, U.S.
Win	13-44-2	Frankie Hines	TKO	1	24/04/1992	Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Loss	6-1	Everett Mayo	UD	10	27/02/1992	Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Loss	7-4	Jerry Jones	SD	8	06/02/1992	Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.
Win	26-2-2	Terry Davis	KO	1	12/11/1991	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Win	8-0-1	Fred Adams	UD	6	18/10/1991	Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Win	--	Charlie Harris	KO	2	03/08/1991	Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Win	1-5-1	Sonny Crooms	TKO	2	28/04/1991	Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Win	4-16	Charles Dixon	KO	2	15/02/1991	Dothan, Alabama, U.S.
Win	--	Lynwood Barry	DQ	2	18/11/1990	Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Loss	4-1	Fred Whitaker	PTS	4	16/09/1988	Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.

Retirement and later life

Upon retirement Fitch became a boxing coach at Fitch's Boxing Club in Spring Lake, North Carolina.^[1]

He was also inducted into the North Carolina Boxing Hall Fame.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Hall of Famer boxer gives back to Fort Bragg Soldiers, community By Kevin Goode, May 10, 2012. Army.mil, the Official Web-site of the U.S. Army.