The all-time record for most consecutive first-round knockouts, Philadelphia junior middleweight Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson (21-1-1, 20 KOs), has signed an exclusive promotional contract with Boxing 360. “We’re thrilled to add a talented knockout artist such as Tyrone to our growing stable of future champions,” Boxing 360 Founder and CEO Mario Yagobi said. “We plan on getting him back in the ring in the early part of 2011 and to keep him busy.”
A Philadelphia native who has been living in Las Vegas, the 25-year-old Brunson will soon be joined in his adopted Nevada home by his new trainer, former world champion Livingstone Bramble.
“I moved to Las Vegas to better my career and now I’m adding Livingstone Bramble to my corner,” Brunson said. “I guess it’s the politics of the game but, after my only loss (Dev. 4, 2009), I didn’t fight. I was still under contract with Gary Shaw and six months ago he was good enough to grant my release. Mario had been at a few of my most recent fights. I signed with Boxing 360 because Mario gave me a chance when nobody believed in me.
“I’m real patient but it’s been hard, not being part of the boxing scene, when my friends and other junior middleweights were fighting. After a year off, I’m hungry for this sport. I was 21-0 and a ‘hood celebrity, but my loss humbled me. I’m back with Boxing 360. I have all of the tools and I’m going to be knocking out contenders to get to any of the champions in my division.”
Brunson made his pro debut April 22, 2006, knocking out Kevin Casey in the first round, and Tyrone broke the record for opening-round stoppages — 18 held by the late Edwin Valero — March 29, 2008 versus Francis McKechnai.
His 19 in a row record streak was snapped in his next fight when Antonio Soriano took him six rounds for a majority draw. Bounce back victories against always tough Marcos Primera (DEC8) and game Jose Medina (KO3) set the stage of Brunson’s last fight, in which Carson Jones knocked out Tyrone in the third round a little more than a year ago.
“The record was good and bad,” Brunson explained. “It helped me get notoriety but it also hurt my chances to grow as a pro. I learned that it’s just a record and I want to be known as world champion. I’m starting fresh with Boxing 360 and I’m going to prove to the world that I can fight. People are going to see my punching power and speed, but I have better ring generalship and I learned the hard way that I have to keep my left hand up at all times.
“I’m a Philly fighter. There’s no added pressure being a fighter from Philly but coming from there you learn quickly how to be a tough fighter. Hey, there’s nothing else to do growing up there but box or play basketball, or you get caught-up in poverty and drugs. I’ve got all the tools and I’m coming back with a vengeance.”
