Marvin Camel
| Marvin Camel | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Rated at | Cruiserweight |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Reach | 79" |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
December 24, 1951 Ronan, Montana, USA |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 58 |
| Wins | 45 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 13 |
| Draws | 4 |
Marvin Camel (born December 24, 1951) is a boxer and member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Northwestern Montana. He was born in Ronan and fought out of Missoula. He holds the distinction of being the first person recognized as Cruiserweight boxing champion of the world by two different professional sanctioning bodies.
Camel fought Mate Parlov in Yugoslavia to a draw in the first ever cruiserweight world title bout. In the rematch, in Las Vegas, Camel beat Mate Parlov for the vacant WBC world Cruiserweight title in 1980, losing the title in his first defense, to Carlos De León. After losing in a rematch to De Leon, he became, in 1983, the IBF's first world champion, beating Roddy McDonald, by becoming world Cruiserweight champion for the second time when he claimed that organization's title. He lost the title to Lee Roy Murphy.
He lost his final bout in June 1990 against Eddie “Young Joe Louis” Taylor in Minneapolis. The 10-round decision left his lifetime mark at 45-13-5.
Camel's pro career took him from Ronan to 13 states and seven foreign nations on three continents.
“I’ve had a good life, as far as boxing is concerned, winning two world titles, losing world titles, seeing the world,” Camel said in 2015. “Some things people only dream about having, I did it. I’ve been there. I’ve been to the top of the mountain. But I feel there’s still something out there that I’ve got to have, and I don’t know what it is.”
He is the subject of a biography released in December 2014, titled 'Warrior in the Ring' by Brian D'Ambrosio,. The book was nominated for the High Plains Book Award and several other awards. "Boxer Marvin Camel’s life story is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of," said Big Sky Journal.
Born on the Flathead Reservation to a Native American mother and African American father, Camel’s physical talents became obvious early in his life — and point to a path that could take him away from the poverty and isolation and racism that shape his childhood. D’Ambrosio looks at Camel’s early life, the departure of his father, and the place the Camel children had as mixed-race residents on the reservation. He examines the constructs of identity and takes them as a starting point for his story, built from years of interviews with Camel, his friends and family, and members of the boxing community.
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