Peter McNeeley

Peter McNeeley (born 6 October 1968) is an American former heavyweight boxer best known for his 1995 fight with Mike Tyson, Tyson’s first fight after being released from prison. McNeeley was disqualified after his manager Vinnie Vecchione stepped into the ring to stop his fighter from taking any more punishment after the second knockdown.

Peter McNeeley
Born	Peter Smith McNeeley (1968-10-06) 6 October 1968 (age 56) Medfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Other names	Hurricane
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach	77 in (196 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights	54
Wins	47
Wins by KO	36
Losses	7
Medal record Men's amateur boxing New England Golden Gloves 1989 Lowell Heavyweight

Early life

John Peter Smith McNeeley was born on 6 October 1968 in Medfield, Massachusetts, U.S.; the child of Nancy McNeeley, (née Gray) (1944–2018) and Tom McNeeley (1937–2011).^[2] His father was a former heavyweight contender who challenged Floyd Patterson for the world heavyweight championship, and later served eight years as the boxing commissioner of the Massachusetts State Boxing Commission.^[2] His mother, Nancy, was a former Miss America contestant from New Hampshire. His youngest brother was referred to as “Snubby.”^[3] McNeeley's grandfather, Thomas McNeeley Sr. was a New England boxing champion and fought on the 1928 Olympic boxing team.^[4]

Amateur boxing career

McNeeley had 21 amateur fights, finishing his amateur career with the record 15–6.^[5] Albeit a brief amateur career, he successfully represented the United States, wherein he defeated Wayne Bernard, the world Maritime heavyweight champion; and the first round knockout of No. 1 ranked US amateur James Johnson.^[6] He won the New England Golden Gloves in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1989 and the New England Diamond Belt Tournament later that year.^[6]

Tyson fight

McNeeley is best known for his 1995 fight with Mike Tyson, Tyson’s first fight after being released from prison, before which McNeeley had said he would wrap Tyson in a "cocoon of horror."^[7][8] McNeeley fought aggressively but was knocked down twice within the first two minutes. McNeeley was disqualified after his manager Vinnie Vecchione stepped into the ring to stop his fighter from taking any more punishment after the second knockdown. TV Guide included the fight in their list of the 50 Great TV Sports Moments of All Time in 1998.^[9]

Personal life

In 1995, McNeeley was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.^[10] In March 2006, McNeeley was arrested in Norwood, Massachusetts, after he punched a man and stole his wallet containing $200.^[11] In June 2006, McNeeley was arrested for driving the getaway car used in a robbery of a Walgreens in Stoughton, Massachusetts. After searching the car, police recovered $180 in cash and a black fanny pack which had also been stolen from the store.^[12] The charges were later reduced to larceny.

Professional boxing record

54 fights	47 wins	7 losses
By knockout	36	6
By decision	9	0
By disqualification	2	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
54	Loss	47–7	Mike Bernardo	TKO	1 (12), 0:41	8 Jun 2001	Grand West Casino, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa	For WBF heavyweight title
53	Loss	47–6	Henry Akinwande	KO	2 (12), 2:05	17 Mar 2001	The Moon, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.	For WBC International heavyweight title
52	Win	47–5	Joe Siciliano	TKO	1 (4), 2:57	17 Jun 2000	Leominster Armory, Leominster, Massachusetts, U.S.
51	Win	46–5	Jeff Jones	TKO	1 (10), 1:05	18 Nov 1999	Gold Strike Tunica, Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, U.S.
50	Loss	45–5	Eric Esch	TKO	1 (4), 2:59	26 Jun 1999	Mandalay Bay, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
49	Loss	45–4	Brian Nielsen	KO	3 (8), 1:54	12 Feb 1999	Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
48	Win	45–3	Harry Funmaker	UD	6	8 Oct 1998	Harrah's North Kansas City, North Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
47	Win	44–3	Dan Kosmicki	UD	6	17 Apr 1998	Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S.
46	Win	43–3	Larry Menefee	DQ	8 (8), 2:19	10 Jan 1998	Sportsmen's Lodge, Studio City, California, U.S.
45	Win	42–3	Doug Davis	UD	6	5 Dec 1997	The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
44	Win	41–3	Domingo Monroe	DQ	4 (10), 1:03	12 Aug 1996	Saratoga City Center, Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
43	Loss	40–3	Louis Monaco	TKO	5 (6), 2:57	13 Jul 1996	Mammoth Events Center, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
42	Win	40–2	Marc Machain	TKO	1 (6)	22 Jun 1996	Whitman Armory, Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
41	Win	39–2	Juan Quintana	KO	2 (6), 0:46	27 Apr 1996	Whitman Armory, Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
40	Win	38–2	Harold Reitman	TKO	1 (10), 2:32	12 Dec 1995	Charlotte Memorial Auditorium, Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S.
39	Win	37–2	Mike Sams	KO	2 (12), 1:43	27 Oct 1995	TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.	Won USBF heavyweight title
38	Loss	36–2	Mike Tyson	DQ	1 (10), 1:29	19 Aug 1995	MGM Grand Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	McNeeley was disqualified after his manager entered the ring
37	Win	36–1	Frankie Hines	TKO	1 (10), 0:06	22 Apr 1995	Hot Springs Convention Auditorium, Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
36	Win	35–1	Danny Wofford	RTD	1 (10), 3:00	17 Mar 1995	Worcester Memorial Auditorium, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
35	Win	34–1	Jerry Barnes	KO	1 (8), 2:38	10 Feb 1995	Fort Smith Convention Center, Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
34	Win	33–1	Kevin Wyrick	TKO	1 (8), 1:22	20 Jan 1995	Foxboro Raceway, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
33	Win	32–1	Lorenzo Boyd	TKO	1 (8), 1:22	11 Nov 1994	Foxborough Raceway, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
32	Win	31–1	J.B. Williamson	TKO	1 (8), 1:01	8 Oct 1994	Whitman Armory, Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
31	Win	30–1	Quinton Hardy	KO	1 (8), 2:50	29 Aug 1994	Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
30	Win	29–1	Dwayne Hall	TKO	1 (8), 2:25	22 Jul 1994	Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
29	Win	28–1	J.B. Williamson	RTD	2 (10), 3:00	24 Jun 1994	Foxborough Raceway, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
28	Win	27–1	Wayne Perdue	TKO	1 (6), 1:20	30 Apr 1994	Whitman Armory, Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
27	Win	26–1	Lopez McGee	TKO	1 (8)	13 Apr 1994	The Ritz, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
26	Win	25–1	Herman Jackson	TKO	2 (8)	8 Apr 1994	Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
25	Loss	24–1	Stanley Wright	TKO	8 (10), 1:49	18 Feb 1994	Westin Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.	For vacant USA New England heavyweight title
24	Win	24–0	Larry Davis	TKO	1 (8), 1:40	21 Jan 1994	Sheraton Inn, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
23	Win	23–0	Howard Kelly	UD	8	24 Nov 1993	Robarts Arena, Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
22	Win	22–0	Dwayne Hall	UD	6	6 Nov 1993	Foxborough Raceway, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
21	Win	21–0	Juan Quintana	UD	8	10 Sep 1993	Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
20	Win	20–0	Robert Pagan Perez	RTD	2 (6)	14 Aug 1993	Whitman Armory, Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
19	Win	19–0	Miguel Rosa	TKO	2 (8), 1:55	7 Jun 1993	Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Marc Machain	KO	7 (8), 1:40	8 May 1993	Foxborough Raceway, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
17	Win	17–0	Phil Prince	TKO	1 (6)	9 Apr 1993	Whitman Armory, Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
16	Win	16–0	John Basil Jackson	TKO	5 (6), 2:55	5 Mar 1993	Whitman Armory, Whitman, Massachusetts, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	Jesus Rohena	TKO	2 (6), 1:11	20 Feb 1993	Foxborough Raceway, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Ron Drinkwater	TKO	1 (8), 2:08	30 Jan 1993	National Guard Armory, Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Jimmy Harrison	UD	6	10 Dec 1992	Teachers Union Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Lorenzo Poole	KO	2 (6)	13 Nov 1992	Foxborough Raceway, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Shawn Bryant	TKO	1 (6)	21 Oct 1992	Westin Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Van Dorsey	TKO	1 (5), 1:02	28 Sep 1992	Vista International Hotel, Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Jimmy Harrison	TKO	3 (6)	12 Sep 1992	Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Jimmy Harrison	UD	4	19 Jun 1992	Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	John Basil Jackson	PTS	4	13 Jun 1992	Mount Carmel Recreation Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Jerry Arentzen	TKO	1 (4), 2:15	23 Apr 1992	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Jesus Rohena	TKO	1 (4), 0:40	28 Feb 1992	Westin Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Phil Prince	TKO	1 (4), 2:39	15 Feb 1992	Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Kevin Chisolm	TKO	1 (4), 1:51	7 Dec 1991	Bank Street Armory, Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Fabian Arroyo	TKO	1 (4), 0:24	24 Oct 1991	DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Van Dorsey	KO	1 (4), 0:50	23 Aug 1991	Nickerson Field, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.