Monday, August 29, 2016

HOMER GIBBINS


Nickname: "The Nature Boy"

   Homer Gibbins amassed an incredible amateur record of 226 wins, 23 losses with over 100 knockouts.  Multiple Georgia state Golden Gloves & Silver Gloves titles, a bronze medal at the 1988 Eastern Olympic trials, and many other titles and awards.  No doubt one of the great amateurs ever produced from the state of Georgia.

   He turned professional on 8/11/1990 and was shockingly stopped in the 3rd round of his professional debut by California's Peter Waswa.

   Homer returned to the ring and put together a fast tracked 10-0, 9 ko streak before taking his 2nd defeat by split decision against Paul Denard.

   He did not lose another bout for nearly 2 1/2 years.  In that stretch he won 15 straight, 13 by knockout and 9 of those in the first round before taking his 25-2, 22 ko record into a WBF Jr. Welter Title challenge against highly respected contender Kenny Vice (29-7, 24 ko).  It was a great night for Gibbins who stopped Vice in round 7 to win his first title.  He never defended that title.

   He continued the winning streak with 6 straight victories before challenging undefeated George Scott (21-0, 12 ko) for the WBC Continental Americas Jr. Welter championship.  It was a great fight that ended with Scott's unbeaten record intact via close majority decision.


   He bounced back from that loss with an impressive victory over world ranked Todd Foster (32-2, 28 ko) via 7th round Technical Decision in Biloxi, MS.

   Two more wins later, including a 10 round unanimous decision win over Wayne Boudreaux (20-5), Gibbins was named as the opponent for the IBC Welterweight Title Belt against defending champion - Hector "Macho" Camacho (50-3, 24 ko).  Homer dropped a hard fought 12 round decision against the elusive champion.

   His performance was impressive enough to earn him another world title fight in his next bout.  Sept. 15, 1995 was the night that Gibbins was ko'd in round 8 against defending champion Jake Rodriguez (27-3-2) for the WBU Jr. Welterweight Title.

   He went 4-1 in his next 5 fights, and traveled to Denmark to face defending champion Frank Olsen (30-1) for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Welterweight title.  Olsen scored the 7th round technical knockout to win the vacant title.

   Gibbins returned to Atlanta Georgia, and scored a big win against Carlos Alberto Martinez (12-2, 3 ko) by decision over 10 rounds.  He followed that big win going 2-5 against some very high caliber boxers including - Matt Vanda (26-0), Grover Wiley (24-3-1), Jimmy Lange (20-1-1), and then taking a fight way out of his weight division - traveling to Quebec, Canada to face unbeaten prospect and future world champion - Jean Pascal (4-0, 3 ko).

   Three fights later, Homer would face world ranked "Bad" Chad Broussard (53-4) for the vacant IBU Welterweight Title.  Gibbins dropped a unanimous decision on scores of 111-116 on all 3 judges cards.  He was granted an immediate rematch and made the most of it knocking out the champion to claim his IBU Welterweight Title belt and add it to his collection.

   Gibbins would fight just two more times, dropping a 3rd round tko loss to Roberto Garcia (20-2), and then losing the rubber match to Chad Broussard (55-5) via a hard fought very close split decision over 10 rounds.

   It was an incredible odyssey for a very talented fighter.   He finished with a pro record of: 44 wins, 16 losses, winning 31 by knockout.  A glorious amateur career, an excellent Pro career, fighting for and  winning title belts along the way.  Georgia's favorite Son brought plenty of excitement and pride to boxing fans.

Click here to see Homer Gibbins complete pro ledger on: BOXREC.COM


If you would like to see Homer Gibbins in action between the ropes, I have the following bouts available on DVD:

TODD FOSTER                                  [Tech-w-7]
WAYNE BOUDREAUX                    [w-10]
HECTOR "Macho" CAMACHO        [L-12] {IBC Welter Title}   
JAKE RODRIGUEZ                           [ko-by-8] {WBU Jr. Welter Title}
JIMMY LANGE                                 [tko-by-3]

Contact me for information: The Boxing Guru's Hall-of-Fame

Pick up your copy of:










Available on Amazon:

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY!

8 comments:

  1. Tremendous fighter, all around awesome guy.

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  2. He was my first grade Sunday school teacher and has been my life long friend. Can't find a nicer, more loving guy who would give you the shirt off his back in a heartbeat.

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  3. There like all stories, is a story beyond the surface of his story. The tale of the tape: He was born twenty one inch long but weighed inn at only four pounds eleven ounces. With his frail form he was assumed destined for a meager existence. Despite all obstacles he achieved success in the most unlikeliest of places, as a professional fighter. Some would say he was a fighter from birth. I didn't at the time know him as such.

    I met Homer in 1997 as he was working to regain the ability to fight again. I knew him as a poet and artist, not what others knew him to be. I can say until that point in my life I never knew him the boxer before I knew him as a talented artisan that he was. I did how ever have the chance to witness and watched him perfect his skills as an actor. Now on a screen or in a play but as he masterfully learned to respond to probing doctors about a congenital condition.

    I will say I think the world of Homer but I won't lie to you, he is a very talented liar. All actors are you know. He was a character playing the role of his life. I am thankful now that he has earned his name in writing because he always wanted to insure that his father's name went down in history. Homer you are deserving of being among those that you admired. I wish you well in the future. I know you will always find away to make a way for yourself.

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  4. Homer Gibbins appears to be a very popular and beloved star of the ring. An amazing story, an amazing person!

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  5. Sir, I am greatly appreciative of the acknowledgement of a long arduous career. My Pop kept pressing me to be better and better by doing the hard work. I owe it all to him for certain. I had the opportunity to be managed by amateur team mate and 5 time World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield, that in some ways helped and also hindered my career. I fought who ever they put in front of me. As all fighters do, we fight when we shouldn't, always believing that we can overcome whatever is thrown at us. Kerry helped in the early years of our career, Brandon is one of the youth I had the pleasure of working with, and Stephan is a sports agent he is correct as well. I did in fact lie to be able to box again in 1998 after my career ended in 1995. My marriage was deteriorated from lack of neglect on my part, so I needed boxing to release that anger! It's funny how some people remember details that i have long forgotten. I had an amazing career that I'm paying for these days. I have been graced by God to be able to walk away knowing that I gave Boxing everything I had. I cherish the experience and have NO REGRETS!

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    Replies
    1. Honored to have a great professional boxer added to this hall.

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  6. The Homer Gibbins story:
    Montage:
    https://vimeo.com/259314666

    The story:
    https://vimeo.com/289170515


    http://www.aworldofboxing.com/Boxers-Pages/Homer-Gibbins/Homer-Gibbins.html

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