James Scott (boxer)

James Scott (born October 17, 1947) is an American former boxer and former prison inmate. He is best known for having become a contender in the World Boxing Association's light heavyweight division while incarcerated at Rahway State Prison in Avenel, New Jersey.

Scott, originally from Newark, New Jersey, spent much of his time behind bars starting at the age of 13, when he was sent to a reformatory for truancy. He first took up boxing while serving time at Trenton State Prison and was released in 1968, but only pursued the sport seriously after a subsequent robbery conviction and being incarcerated again.

As part of its rehabilitation system, the New Jersey prison system offered inmates a variety of job training programs—including training in boxing, whether as a fighter, a trainer, or a cutman. Scott became the light heavyweight champion of the New Jersey prison system.

In 1974, Scott was released on parole to pursue a professional boxing career. Fighting out of Miami Beach, Florida, he won 10 bouts and had one draw between January 1974 and February 1975. However, Scott returned to New Jersey where he was convicted of robbery. An additional charge of murder resulted in a hung jury.

From then to the end of his career, all of Scott's professional fights were held in Rahway State Prison. In Scott's third professional bout after returning to prison, he defeated Eddie Gregory, who was then the WBA's No. 1 light heavyweight contender. (Gregory later changed his name to Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and gained the WBA light heavyweight championship in 1980.)

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