Maurice Watkins (boxer)
Template:Short description Maurice Watkins (born August 29, 1956) is a former boxer from Houston, Texas. Nicknamed Termite, he was born into a family that was in the insect killing business, and he is a professional fumigator.
Professional Boxing Career
Watkins turned professional as a boxer on May 21, 1974, beating Cesar Cortez by knockout in round one at Houston. Through his career, Watkins fought some of the best fighters in the Lightweight and Jr. Welterweight divisions. He beat Marion Thomas by a knockout in round seven, Rocky Ramon by a decision in twelve, Arturo Leon by decision in ten, Bruce Strauss by knockout in three, Bobby Rodriguez by knockout in one, and others. His fight with former United States Lightweight champion Norman Goins resulted in a three-round no contest. He also lost to Olympic gold medalist Howard Davis Jr. and Alfredo Escalera. On October 2 of 1980, at the Caesars Palace hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, he got his only world title shot, losing to Saoul Mamby by a fifteen-round decision for the WBC's world Jr. Welterweight title. He retired with 61 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws (tie), one no contest and 48 wins by knockout.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
Professional boxing record
Template:S-start |- |align="center" colspan=8|61 Wins (42 knockouts, 19 decisions), 5 Losses (0 knockouts, 5 decisions), 2 Draws, 1 No Contest [1] |- | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Result | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Round | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes |-align=center |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Yaqui Hernandez |PTS |6 |16/03/1990 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Phoenix, Arizona, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Robert "The Line" Dixon |TKO |2 |17/02/1990 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Conroe, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Joe "Attorney" Garcia |PTS |10 |11/12/1989 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Moses "Governor" Robinson |KO |2 |05/10/1989 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon "Candlelight" Virgil Green |KO |3 |10/08/1989 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Billings, Montana, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Raymundo Lopez |KO |2 |20/07/1989 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Tucson Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Carlos "Rocky" Gonzalez |KO |1 |01/06/1989 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Phoenix, Arizona, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Anthony "Two Gun" Williams |PTS |6 |30/04/1989 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Galveston, Texas, United States |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:No2Loss |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Alfredo Escalera |UD |10 |12/11/1982 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orange Bowl, Miami, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Paul Gentry |KO |4 |22/09/1982 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jose "J-Rod" Rodriguez |KO |10 |27/08/1982 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bruce Strauss |KO |3 |17/08/1982 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, Louisiana, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Billy "The Kid" Smith |KO |3 |21/07/1982 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Shreveport, Louisiana, United States |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Saoul Mamby |UD |15 |02/10/1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Larry "Legend" Moore |KO |3 |22/05/1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Holland, Michigan, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Sammy Rookard |KO |4 |06/04/1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Astro Arena, Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Nathan "Famous" Davis |KO |3 |22/03/1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jimmy "Wakeboard" Martinez |KO |1 |09/01/1980 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Holland, Michigan, United States |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Howard Davis, Jr. |UD |10 |14/09/1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston Summit, Houston, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Roberto "Baby" Perez |KO |7 |15/08/1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Draw |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Teodoro Osuna |PTS |10 |09/03/1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Richie Lee Roberts |KO |3 |16/01/1979 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Arthur "Space Odyssey" Clarke |KO |7 |09/12/1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Gary "Black" Smith |KO |5 |02/11/1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Rick Craney |KO |1 |15/08/1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Joe Medrano |KO |7 |16/05/1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon John "Wolf" Morgan |KO |4 |20/04/1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Hilbert Stevenson |PTS |10 |11/04/1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Benny Marquez |PTS |10 |19/01/1978 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Steve "Hammer" Homan |PTS |10 |01/12/1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Freddie "Stepper" Harris |PTS |10 |25/10/1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left| Cuyo Mendoza |TKO |3 |27/09/1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Paulino Garcia |TKO |5 |22/09/1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Ernesto Ortega |KO |7 |26/07/1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |No Contest |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon "Stormin" Norman Goins |ND |10 |22/03/1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Jose "Speedy" Gonzalez |PTS |10 |16/02/1977 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Augustin Estrada |UD |10 |17/11/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, United States |align=left|Template:Small |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Otto Breeding |KO |3 |26/10/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Arturo Leon |UD |10 |21/09/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Rocky Ramon |PTS |12 |31/08/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Agustin Estrada |TKO |7 |09/08/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Richie Puentes |KO |6 |24/07/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Biloxi, Mississippi, United States |align=left| |- |Template:No2Loss |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Adriano Marrero |SD |10 |16/03/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Valente Ramos |KO |3 |09/03/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Lamar Baskin |KO |2 |24/02/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Albuquerque Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Chamaco Cuenca |KO |5 |10/02/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Juan "and Only" Hidalgo |UD |10 |20/01/1976 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bobby Flores |TKO |6 |18/11/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Larry Peterson |KO |5 |19/08/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Gene Prado |UD |10 |29/07/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Circle Star Theater, San Carlos, California, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Marion "Tiger" Thomas |KO |7 |16/07/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Victor de la Cruz |UD |10 |17/06/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Leroy Walker |TKO |8 |21/05/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Circle Star Theater, San Carlos, California, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Rudy Gonzalez |PTS |10 |06/05/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon San Jose, California, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Otis Locklear |KO |3 |22/04/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Mike Whymms |PTS |8 |15/04/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Gilbert "Machete" Galvan |PTS |10 |17/02/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Dave Kibby |UD |8 |29/01/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Cow Palace, San Francisco, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Vicente Hernandez |PTS |10 |17/01/1975 |align=left|Template:Flagicon San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon "Sugar" Ray Sears |PTS |6 |17/12/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Robert "Baby" Perez |KO |1 |10/11/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Bobby Rodriguez |KO |1 |13/10/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Ricky Ramos |KO |4 |26/08/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Nick Alfaro |PTS |8 |18/08/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Arturo Cirillos |KO |3 |05/08/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Harvey "Candyman" Wilson |KO |6 |16/07/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Arturo Cirillos |TKO |4 |02/07/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Template:Flagicon Lupe Cantù |KO |3 |04/06/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |- |Template:Yes2Win |Template:Small |align=left|Cesar Cortez |KO |1 |21/05/1974 |align=left|Template:Flagicon Houston, United States |align=left| |}
After Boxing
After retiring, Watkins went back to Texas to work as a fumigator. In 2003, the American military, needing personnel to work rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure, contracted him as a fumigator to work on Iraqi homes that had been decaying and infected with insects during Saddam Hussein's presidency.
In 2008, writer Suzy Pepper, a former neighbor of Maurice Watkins, released "Termite", a biographical book about Watkins.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> Also in 2008, a movie based on the book was announced.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref>
In Iraq
After the IOC announced that Iraq would be allowed to compete in seven sports at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, including boxing, the United States military set about to find a new boxing coach for the Iraqi national boxing team. With research, they found out about Watkins' background, and invited him to coach a team of young hopefuls in Baghdad. Realizing he needed to train the team in a setting different from Baghdad, he moved his team to a city close to Baghdad, but much quieter than the capital city. He trained nine Iraqi boxers who hoped to reach the Olympics, but only Najah Ali was able to qualify for the games.
Notes
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