Anthony Dirrell is a Michigan-born professional boxer who is renowned for his tenacity and grit. The 6’2″ boxer widely known by his nickname “The Dog” has exerted championship traits from his early days which has seen him record 32 wins and 2 losses over 20 years of his career. He has also emerged twice as a WBC super middleweight champion and is reportedly worth $25 million.
Away from his wins, Anthony is a cancer survivor and fatal accident victim who uses his near-death experiences to encourage others. He is married to Shondrika Dirrell and together they have three children.
Here are 12 Intriguing Facts About Anthony Dirrell
1. He Grew up in Michigan and was Trained by His Grandfather
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Anthony Dirrell also nicknamed “the dog” was born to his parents Willie Dirrell and Lola Dirrell. on October 14, 1984, in Flint, Michigan. He grew up alongside his younger brother Andre Dirrell.
The boxer lost his father at an early age and was trained by his grandfather Leon Bumper Lawson. It is reported in many quarters that Anthony was a bully who partnered with his younger brother, Andre to terrorize other children.
It was these traits that made his grandfather spot the champion in him. Consequently, he was exposed to tough training at the age of 8 and later enrolled at the Joe Byrd Boxing Academy.
2. Anthony Dirrell Started His Professional Boxing Career at the age of 20
Anthony Dirrell made his professional debut in 2005 when he was only 20. His first fight was against Henry Dukes on January 27, 2005, which he won in the first round. The following month, he took up against Dewayne Warren and won by a Technical knockout.
Within that year, he fought and won against the Larry Brothers, Mike Walther, Gabriel Rivera, Kevin Butts, Chris Grays, and Juan Carlos Ramos.
3. The Boxer has Won Two World Title in his Career
As of this writing, Dirrell has recorded 38 fights from which he had 2 draws and 2 losses. Impressively, he has also won two world titles out of three fights.
He earned his first WBA middleweight title on August 16, 2014, after emerging the winner against Sakio Bika at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. He held the title until 2015 when he lost to Badou Jack in a title defense fight at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Moving on, he won his second title in 2019 after winning the vacant WBC belt in a technical split decision over Avni Yildirim but also lost it during a defense fight against David Benavidez.
4. His Younger Brother is Also a Professional Boxer
Dirrell is not the one who is passionate about boxing. His younger brother Andre Dirrell also enjoys fist battles. He is a professional boxer who previously won a bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Just like Anthony, Andre has also suffered a few career hardships. He sustained head injuries during one of his fights with Arthur Abraham in 2010. As a result, he was away from the ring for a long time. Nonetheless, he returned to the ring in 2017 and won the fight for his first world title against James DeGale. Andre held the IBF interim super middleweight title from 2017 to 2018.
Since then he has remained active in the ring and is getting ready for the world championship.
5. Anthony Dirrell is Married with Three Children
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Though a celebrity, Dirrell has been tight-lipped about his lovelife. Nonetheless, we garnered that he is married to Shondrika Dirrell. Information about how and when the pair met is elusive to the media. What is known however is that they tied the knot sometime in 2014 in a ceremony which was witnessed by their friends and families.
Anthony and Shondrilla will be celebrating their 9th anniversary come 2023. The pair are also parents of three boys namely; Dirrell Jr., Noah, and Nash.
Read Also: Dmitry Bivol- Is The Boxer Married? Meet His Parents And Family Members
6. He is a Cancer Survivor
Dirrell’s professional career paused for two years as a result of his struggles with cancer. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2006 and struggled through the symptoms until his surgeries which were not also easy. He reportedly underwent 6 hours of surgeries followed by chemotherapy for 8 months.
Fortunately, he was declared cancer free in 2008 and returned to the boxing ring. In an interview, he revealed he has been through the toughest times in his career and doesn’t think anything can ever stop him.
7. The Michigan-born was Once Arrested For Arm Robbery
A few months after Anthony’s cancer recovery, he was arrested by the Flint City police in Michigan on suspicion of armed robbery in 2008. As the story goes, he was driving the same vehicle as that of the criminals who had robbed Franklin Bank that day. To further fuel this suspicion, a handgun was found inside the vehicle.
Although all that happened behind bars were not disclosed, Dirrell’s grandfather Leon Lawson stated that he was released. According to him, they thought they had the right guy but discovered it was a mistake.
8. He Suffered a Fatal Accident that Left him with a Broken Arm and Leg
It’s unfortunate that Dirrell’s life has been plagued with a number of mishaps since he started his career. Nonetheless, he has exerted grit in his career which makes him unbeatable.
In 2012, he was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident that left him with major injuries on his arm and leg. However, he soon recovered and managed to continue his career. Though he still has a rod in his left leg which was inserted from his knee downwards, the boxer is still active in the ring.
9. Anthony Dirrell is a Philanthropist
Giving back to society is what most celebrities are drawn to and for Dirrell, this is what he lives for. He founded the Dirrell Chances Foundation for the people in his hometown, Flint, Michigan. Anthony uses this medium to provide scholarships, mentoring programs, cancer research funds, awareness through public speaking, and even holiday tours.
10. He Stands at 6 feet 2 Inches and Weighs 76 kg
Height and weight according to research give many boxers an advantage over others. It’s been said that the taller and heavier opponent hits harder and in turn, withstands strikes easily. This is likely the case of Dirrell who stands at 6 feet 4 inches (1.84 m) and weighs 76.36 kg (168 Ibs).
He stands in the same height category as boxers like John Ruiz, Dmitry Bivol, and Jai Opetaia. Howbeit, the likes of Myke Tyson, Rocky Marciano, and Manny Pacquiao are not as tall as he is.
11. His Net Worth is Estimated at $25 Million
Anthony’s finances can be linked to his career as a boxer. As earlier stated, he has been part of the ring since 2005 which has seen him record over 30 wins. From our findings, he receives a salary of at least $2 million.
Given that, it’s not hard to believe that his net worth sums up to $25 million. Also, a part of this wealth can also be linked to his endeavors as an entrepreneur.
12. Would Anthony Dirrell’s Next Fight Be his Last?
After being away from the boxing ring for over a year, Anthony Dirrell’s next fight has been scheduled for October 15, 2022. He will be fighting against the American boxer Caleb Plant at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
While Caleb plant has promised to send Anthony to early retirement, Anthony stated that he would only step out of the boxing ring if he can’t defeat the renowned boxer, Canelo Alvarez. Given that, he added that he is just too much for Caleb to handle and doesn’t see him as a match.
From defeating cancer to surviving a near-death accident, Dirrell, “The Dog” has been renowned as one of the toughest boxers over the years. While his next fight on October 15 2022 would likely close the curtains to his boxing career, a win could also give him a chance to contend for the world title and a fight against Canelo Alverez. If this happens, then Anthony would remain an undisputed champion and a terror to many boxers. Nonetheless, his defeat would likely leave his name in the mud for a long time.
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