Terry Ray (born April 10, 1963) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 2001. He held the WBF cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2000 and challenged once for the WBA cruiserweight title in 1998. As an amateur, he defeated 95 of 104 opponents, winning several state and national championships, and earning himself a spot on Team USA to compete against Scandinavia

During his professional career, Ray was trained by distinguished trainers Kevin Rooney (1991–1992) and Angelo Dundee (1993–1998). Since retiring from boxing in 2001, Ray has remained active in the sport as a trainer to both professional and amateur fighters.

Early life Terry Ray was born on April 10, 1963, in Terre Haute, Indiana. Ray is the grandson of former five-term mayor of Terre Haute, Ralph Tucker. Ray began boxing in Indiana at a young age to gain an amateur record of 95-9 and going on to win the Indiana Golden Gloves multiple times. In 1985, Ray defeated Melton Bowen in the finals to win the National Police Athletic League Tournament. Also as an amateur after training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Ray earned himself a spot on team USA vs. Scandinavia. Ray is a graduate of Indiana State University.

Professional career

Ray began his professional boxing career in 1986, debuting his first two fights on ESPN. In 1991–1992, Ray trained in Catskill, New York under Kevin Rooney, winning 12 fights on the east coast. From 1993 to 1998, Ray trained with Angelo Dundee in Hollywood, Florida. In 1994, Ray fought on CBS against WBF Champion Kenny Keene. The fight between Keene on October 8 ended in a decision loss for Ray.

In 1997, Ray fought former WBA champion Robert Daniels on USA Tuesday Night Fights withRay losing a split decision. Announcer Sean O'Grady had Ray winning the bout 7–3. In 1998, Ray challenged for the WBA cruiserweight title against Fabrice Tiozzo in Lyon, France. He lost to Tiozzo by first-round knockout. Ray went on to win the WBF title in 1999 and defended it three times before losing it to Bash Ali in Lagos, Nigeria. Ray was inducted into the 2020 class of the Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame.

Outside of boxing In 2012, Ray was convicted of sexual battery involving a 14-year-old girl, receiving an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes50Win41–9 Brian YatesTKO4 (6), Feb 27, 200049Loss40–9 Bash AliTD7 (12)Sep 11, 200048Win40–8 Rod BensonhaverUD12Jan 29, 200047Loss39–8 Vincenzo CantatoreKO3 (12)May 15, 199946Win39–7 Rod BensonhaverTD9 (12)Apr 24, 199945Win38–7 Samson CohenKO2 (12), Jan 23, 199944Win37–7 Ken BentleyDQ7 (8)Nov 28, 199843Loss36–7 Brian Nielsen TKO5 (8)Sep 18, 199842Loss36–6 Fabrice TiozzoTKO1 (12), May 2, 199841Win36–5 Tim KnightUD8Dec 13, 199740Win35–5 Paul GarnerTKO1 (6), Sep 25, 199739Loss34–5 Don Diego PoederTKO10 (12), Jun 15, 199738Win34–4 Bobby CrabtreeTKO3 (12), Mar 2, 199737Loss33–4 Robert Daniels SD10Oct 1, 199636Win33–3 Duane SmithTKO3 (?)Jul 13, 199635Win32–3 Steve BrewerTKO2 (?)Jun 25, 199634Win31–3 Robert ClevengerUD10Feb 27, 199633Win30–3 Lopez McGeeTKO4 (10)Feb 10, 199632Win29–3 Marc HansTKO2 (6)Dec 9, 199531Loss28–3 Kenny KeeneTD5 (12)Jul 9, 199530Win28–2 Keith WilliamsTKO7 (10)May 24, 199529Win27–2 Robert StrawTKO5 (10)Feb 28, 199528Win26–2 Tim JohnsonTKO12 (12)Jan 20, 199527Loss25–2 Kenny KeeneMD12Oct 8, 199426Win25–1 Roy BedwellKO3 (10)Aug 5, 199425Win24–1 Keven WyrickTKO2 (12)May 6, 199424Win23–1 Paul FordPTS6Dec 6, 199323Win22–1 Terrence WrightTKO4 (8)Sep 14, 199322Win21–1 Billy PrestonKO2 (?)Jun 25, 199321Win20–1 Carl AlbertTKO2 (?)Apr 21, 199320Win19–1 Wendell StaffordTKO1 (8)Mar 23, 199319Win18–1 Donnie PeneltonPTS8Mar 16, 199318Win17–1 Willie PerryPTS8Jan 5, 199317Win16–1 Randy McGaughPTS8Nov 24, 199216Win15–1 Roosevelt WilliamsSD8Sep 25, 199215Win14–1 Fabian Garcia MD6Aug 20, 199214Win13–1 David RobinsonKO3 (?)Apr 28, 199213Win12–1 Wade WilliamsTKO1 (?), Nov 27, 199112Win11–1 Calvin SimonKO1 (?)Oct 15, 199111Win10–1 Riddick BakerTKO1 (?)Oct 1, 199110Win9–1 Willie KempPTS4Aug 9, 19919Win8–1 Edwin NewbyTKO4 (8), May 29, 19918Win7–1 Derrick BrownSD4Mar 20, 19907Win6–1 Donald JohnsonPTS6Feb 6, 19906Win5–1 Jerry HarrisPTS4Sep 26, 19895Loss4–1 Mike PeakUD8Jan 13, 19874Win4–0 Gerald MooreKO1 (?), Dec 13, 19863Win3–0 John FornaraTKO1 (4), Oct 31, 19862Win2–0 Leon McCullumKO1 (8), Sep 20, 19861Win1–0 Tim KnightUD4Jun 27, 1986

References