ED DONALDSON

   Mobile Alabama Police Officer Ed Donaldson turned professional in May of 1992 with an impressive 1st round knockout over fellow Alabama boxer Ben Green.

   Donaldson was then stepped up to a tougher opponent in Michigan's Warren Williams who came in with an impressive record of 6-1, with 4 wins by knockout.  It was a tough battle, but Donaldson got the split decision win over 4 rounds to move to 2-0, and gain a little attention from boxing insiders.

   

  The "Fighting Policeman" from Mobile, Alabama was then put in against a highly regarded boxer named James Gaines (1-0).  Although Gaines appeared overweight and not to be in great shape, he was in fact a very highly skilled boxer who would go on to fight some big names, score some upsets, and fight for a minor title belt.  Gaines came through and handed Donaldson his first loss in this battle of young fringe prospects.  It was a split decision loss for Donaldson that put his record at 2-1.

   They eased back on his level of competition, and Donaldson performed well running off a 4 knockout win streak, again finding his self in a battle of contenders, this time against Canadian amateur standout Kirk Johnson who was 2-0 and the favorite, but expected to be tested against Ed Donaldson.  The bout was on the undercard of Tommy Morrison vs Tim Tomashek at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO. It was Kirk Johnson scoring the 5th round stoppage of Donaldson, and while Donaldson took his 2nd loss, his reputation was solid in giving a top prospect a good test.

   Ed returned to the friendly confines of Mobile, Alabama and blasted out Florida's David Farnham in 2 rounds to get back on the winning track, and securing an April 14, 1994 showdown fight with undefeated Quinn Navarre (10-0-1) of Slidell, Louisiana.  The fight was a co-feature along with Bert Cooper vs Larry Donald.  Donaldson not only "tested" the unbeaten Navarre, but scored a shocking 2nd round knockout over the favored undefeated fighter!  It was a huge win for Ed Donaldson who moved his record to 8-2 and now was considered more than just a "test" for the bigger named contenders, but he was now an actual "threat" to these prospects, and was now a bit of a prospect his self!

   Donaldson scored two more easy knockouts over unheralded opponents, and brought his 10-2 record into a pretty big showdown fight with former NABF Heavyweight Champion, and world ranked contender - "The San Fernando Hammer" Alex Garcia (35-4-1, 26 KO).  The evening was a "Night of Heavyweights" in Albuquerque, New Mexico that featured Garcia/Donaldson in the main event along with Tim Puller, Marion Wilson, Mike "The Bounty" Hunter, Jimmy Thunder, Sean McClain, and some other contending heavyweights.  Garcia was coming off of his rematch win over Mike Dixon, which had avenged Garcia's first loss, and was looking for a big win over the respected Donaldson, to get back into title contention.  The fight went the full 10 rounds, and was a very close fight.  When the final bell rang, and the judges scorecards were tallied up, it was Garcia getting the unanimous decision nod on scores of: Rocky Burke 98-94, Albert Gutierrez 96-95, and my own scorecard also 96-95 for Garcia.

  

Donaldson battles Alex Garcia in a 10-round main event

   Less than a month later, Donaldson stepped right back into the ring against another world ranked contender, as he was stopped in round 2 by heavy handed James Thunder in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in a nationally televised bout.  Donaldson probably came back a little too soon after the greuling bout with Garcia, but losing to some bigger names in the division didn't hurt his popularity with fans or promoters.

   Just 5 months later, Donaldson returned to the ring in front of his Mobile, Alabama fans, and scored what would be his final victory with a 10 round decision win over Memphis Tennessee's Mike Faulkner.

   The popular fighter from Mobile would end his career with 3 losses, against top names in the heavyweight division.  Larry Holmes, Michael Grant, and Keith McKnight had a combined record of 108-6, and they were the final trio that Ed Donaldson would face.  He was stopped in the 3rd round

Ed Donaldson's final bout against Keith McKnight

against red-hot unbeaten contender Michael Grant (18-0), and took both legendary former champion Larry Holmes (61-5), and top prospect Keith McKnight (29-1) - the full 10-round distance.

   Eddie Donaldson finished his pro campaign with a record of 11-7 scoring 9 knockouts. He never fought for a title belt, but took on some big names in the heavyweight division, and became a respected journeyman professional boxer that was loved by his fans in Mobile, Alabama, and picked up quite a few fans around the world in his wars with some pretty big names in the heavyweight division!

Check out Ed Donaldson's complete record on Boxrec: ED DONALDSON'S complete record

Contact "The Boxing Guru" via E-Mail: The Boxing Guru

DELMAR PAISAN

   Venezuela's Idelmar Jose Paisan opened his pro boxing career on March 5, 1979 with a decision victory over undefeated (4-0) Luis Godoy.
   He was moved along quickly and was put into a 6-rounder in his 3rd fight, an 8-rounder in his 4th fight, and by his 5th pro fight he was fighting in a scheduled 10-round fight!
   Paisan was staying busy on the venezuelan pro boxing circuit, and by Sept. of 1982 he held a record of 15-3, 13 wins by knockout, and was coming off of a 10-fight knockout win streak when he was put in against popular fellow Venezuelan Felix Mendez (17-3-4) in a 10-round showdown.  Paisan won by decision victory, and was becoming the talk of the Venezuelan boxing world.
   His winning streak continued and on Nov. 7, 1993 he got a shot at the Venezuelan national Lightweight title belt against defending champ Ramon Cotua (20-1, 17 KO). The battle of sluggers was expected to end in a knockout by either man, but instead, Paisan earned a decision win over 12 tough rounds to win the national title.
   Delmar then fought a pair of bouts against Venezuelan new-comer Junel Rodriguez, winning a 12 rounder and then losing the rematch in 12 rounds both by decision. Those 2 fights were both defenses of his Venezuelan national Lightweight title belt.  His record now stood at 22-4-1, 15 by ko. He was battle tested, and looked like it was time to step up, way up, in class.
   It was Jan. 12, 1985 when Paisan fought for the first time outside of his home country, he traveled to the island nation of Aruba to square off against a talented up-and-coming contender from Detroit, Michigan USA.  Jimmy "The Ringmaster" Paul was 20-1, with 17 knockouts and he would go 10 rounds against Paisan.  It was a unanimous decision win for the American rising star, but Paisan gave him all he could handle and proved that he was ready to contend.
   Paisan bounced back with a 5th round tko victory over Orlando Orozco to win the Venezuelan national Jr. Welterweight title belt. Having won 2 national titles, Paisan set his eyes on a bigger prize, and in his next fight he moved up in weight and challenged another popular countryman in Juan Rondon (21-3-2) for his  WBA Fedalatin Welterweight title belt.  That bout ended in the 9th round as a "No Contest" and even though Paisan was denied a 3rd title belt, his reputation as a warrior remained intact, and his ranking wasn't diminished.
   He then won the rematch with Orlando Orozco who was better prepared, but still lost by decision over 10 rounds to Paisan.
   Just 1 month later, Paisan really stepped things up and accepted the challenge of Panama's undefeated and world ranked contender - Rodolfo Aguilar (15-0).  The fight took place in Turmero, Venezuela, and after 10 rounds of war, the fight ended in a draw!  6 fights later, Aguilar would get a WBA world title shot against legendary Juilio Cesar Chavez, and 3 fights later Paisan would face another undefeated contender in Colombia's Rafael Pineda (12-0, 12 ko).  Delmar traveled to the undefeated hot-shot's home town, and was the first fighter to go the distance, albeit in a losing effort, over 10 blood-and-guts rounds.
   His showings against top level opposition raised his value, and from then on, his level of opponents was top-of-the-line prospects, contenders, or champions only.
   His next 5 fights included: Jose Barboza (11-1), Tracy Spann (23-0), Darryl Tyson (30-4), and a meeting with former WBC Jr. Welterweight World Champion "The Black Mamba" - Roger Mayweather (35-6) for Mayweather's WBA Americas Jr. Welter Championship.  Paisan went 1-4 in that murderous stretch (taking a 10-round decision over Barboza), but again, showed his skill and remained a viable contender.

   Delmar Paisan continued his campaign for nearly 10 more years after the Mayweather fight.  Becoming a popular "gate-keeper" against some of the top names in the divisions.  Vinny Burgese, Ricky Meyers, Wilfredo Rivera, Pedro Sanchez (twice), Alberto Cortes, Otilio Villareal, Juan Martin Coggi, and others, before finishing with his final fight in April of 2000 in Spain for the TWBA Jr. Middleweight Championship against undefeated Spaniard Jorge Araujo (9-0-1).  Paisan lost that final match by decision over 12 rounds.
   It was an amazing journey that spanned nearly 21 years of fighting! Delmar Paisan ended his pro boxing career with a record of 29 wins, 18 losses, and 3 draws. Winning 19 of those by knockout, and picking up 2 national titles.

Check out his complete record on Boxrec: IDELMAR "Delmar" PAISAN

Checkout Paisan's fight vs Tracy Spann:
DELMAR PAISAN vs TRACY SPANN