Remembering Julian Letterlough

It’s hard to believe it has been nearly 2 decades.

It will be 19 years this month since the last fight of exciting light heavyweight Julian Letterlough. He fought from 1998-2004 and amassed a record of 21-5-3. He also earned the nickname “Mr. KO” because he scored a stoppage in 20 of his 21 wins.

While Letterlough wasn’t among the elite of the 175-pound division in his career, he was as exciting a fighter as you could hope to watch. He always came forward with KO on his mind throughout the fight. This style made him a fan favorite after he started to develop a reputation as must-see TV. 

Julian, who had some scrapes with the law in his younger years, decided to clean up his life and despite having no amateur fights, took up professional boxing. Letterlough turned pro in 1998 at age 29. Even with his limited experience, he went undefeated in his first 16 fights (15-0-1).

What was even more pleasing to fight fans was he stopped all 15 of the fighters in his first 15 wins. Fans love a good power puncher and Letterlough was all of that. What he lacked in style he more than made up for in strength.

This led to an ESPN fight in 2001 with Julio Gonzalez. The epic back-and-forth war was seen as the ‘Fight of the Year’ by many. Letterlough would hit the deck 2 times but he returned the favor 3 times to Gonzalez, who in the end would beat Julian by UD 12. (The win propelled fellow tough-guy Gonzalez into a world title fight 2 fights later with legend Roy Jones).

Despite the loss, Letterlough garnered a bigger legion of fans off this classic war.

Over the next 3 years, Julian would fight 12 times going a workman-like 6-4-2. A win over world title challenger Ka Dy King 2 fights after the Gonzalez brawl earned him a title shot against cruiserweight champ Vassily Jirov. Fighting well above his best weight, he would lose a decision to Jirov in his only world title shot.

In the last run of fights in his career, Letterlough certainly wasn’t looking for an easy exit facing undefeated Daniel Judah, and world title challengers, King, David Telesco, Lloyd Bryanm, and Richard Hall, along with his title fight.

(Just as an aside) - People often complain about fighters not being active enough or cherry-picking competition. After the incredible slugfest with Gonzalez in February of 2004, he would go on to fight 5 more times over the course of the year with 3 being against former world title challengers and 1 being a world title fight. Again, this was how he finished off the year after the toughest fight of his career. He clearly wasn’t looking for an easy road back to contention.

Julian had his last fight in 2004.

Sadly, 10 months later, Letterlough was shot, and killed, walking to his car with his wife after leaving a nightclub after an argument with a man earlier in the evening.

Julian wasn’t counted among boxing’s very best fighters in the time he fought. But, don’t get me wrong, he was very good. And, he gave you his very best every time he fought. That was more than enough to gain the respect of every fighter he faced, earn a world title shot, beat some good fighters and build a popular following among boxing fans.

Thanks for the memories, Julian. Gone but not forgotten.

Rest in peace, Champ!