It’s being reported by several sources, including local-area newspapers, that beloved journeyman boxer, Emanuel Augustus is on life support and battling for his life after being shot in the back of the head Monday night. The incident reportedly took place just a few blocks away from the Baton Rouge, LA gym where he occasionally sparred.
According to friend and sparring partner, Chris Singleton, Augustus “got shot in the back of the head…And he’s on life support right now.”
It’s currently being reported that the 39-year-old fighter is breathing with the assistance of a machine and has the bullet still lodged in the back of his head.
Although Augustus’ career came to an end in 2011 with a most unimpressive 38-34-6 mark with 20 KOs, the true story of Augustus’ career can be found in his 2001 Fight of the Year performance against Micky Ward as well as, literally, dozens of entertaining clashes with many of the best fighters to roam the junior welterweight/welterweight divisions in the late-1990s to about 2007. When fully in “performance” mode, Augustus’ “Drunken Master” boxing style was both entertaining to fans and perplexing to opponents.
Many of his losses, such as his 2004 defeat to Courtney Burton on Friday Night Fights (which set off a classic Teddy Atlas on-air tirade), were controversial in nature, at least until the very end of his career when situations forced him fully into the journeyman role.
To this day, five-division world champ and pound-for-pound top fighter, Floyd Mayweather, still regards Augustus, then fighting as Emanuel Burton, as his toughest opponent.
Leave a Reply