Howard Grant (boxer)

Howard Grant
Personal information
Full nameHoward Grant
NicknameThe Snake
NationalityCanadian
Born (1966-06-22) June 22, 1966 (age 58)
Saint Ann's Bay, Jamaica
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
SportBoxing
Weight classLight Welterweight
ClubRing 83 Boxing Club
Medal record
World Amateur Championships
Silver medal – second place 1986 Reno Light Welterweight
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1986 Edinburgh Light Welterweight

Howard Grant (born June 22, 1966, in Saint Ann, Jamaica) is a retired male Canadian boxer, competing in the light-welterweight (– 63.5 kg) division. A resident of Montréal, Quebec, he represented Canada at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, where he was defeated in the round of 16 by Sweden's Lars Myrberg.

Grant won the gold medal in the same weight division, two years earlier, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games Howard is renowned for training top UFC Fighters and Professional Boxers. He and his brother Otis have their own gym on the West Island in Montreal, Grant Brothers Boxing, where they train professional athletes and many amateurs.

Not only coaching, Howard is involved in developing boxing product with several brands such as Grant Boxing and GBB.

Howard has trained former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in boxing for a few years now.

Amateur career

Howard Grant's journey into boxing started in 1979 in Montreal. Progressing slowly, Howard caught the eye of Pierre Gauthier from the Saint Laurent Boxing Club. As Howard fine tuned his style over the months, and leading into his path into amateur boxing, Howard was eventually coached by Russ Anber leading into his first amateur boxing tournaments.

As a Junior at 15 years old, Howard Grant captured the gold medal in the Bantamweight division at a Tournament in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1981.

One year later, he captured the gold medal in the Featherweight division at a Tournament in Montreal, Quebec in 1982.

Representing Quebec, Howard Grant defeated Ontario's James Hope to capture the gold medal in the 1983 Canada Games in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean in the Lightweight division.

Captured the bronze medal in the Lightweight Division. He lost to the eventual gold medalist, Angel Esponosa, in the semi-finals. Howard Grant considers Angel Esponosa as one of his toughest opponents.

1984 Canadian Nationals in Nova Scotia

Captured the gold medal in the Lightweight Division.

1984-1986

From 84 to 86 Howard Grant participated in many European tournaments representing Canada including the Stockholm Boxing Open in Sweden and the Tammer Tournament in Finland – capturing the silver medal in both tournaments.

Captured the silver medal in the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Reno, Nevada. Howard was defeated by Vasily Shisov.

In his biggest tournament victory in his young career, Howard Grant defeated David Clencie by point decision to capture Gold for Canada in the Light-Welterweight Division. Along with Howard Grant, other notable boxers that participated in this tournament were former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, Lennox Lewis, who also captured Gold in his division.

Captured the gold medal in Light welterweight division during the 1987 International Tournament in Albena, Bulgaria

1987 President's Cup in Indonesia

Captured the President's Cup in the Light-welterweight division

After defeating Andreas Otto of East Germany in his first bout, Howard was defeated in the Round of 16 by the eventual bronze medal winner, Lars Myrberg of Sweden by split decision.

  • Round of 64: bye
  • Round of 32: defeated Andreas Otto (East Germany) referee stopped contest in the first round
  • Round of 16: lost to Lars Myberg (Sweden) by decision, 1-4

Professional career

After concluding the amateur portion of his career, Howard Grant turned pro after the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games winning his first 6 professional boxing bouts and going undefeated in his first 17 fights. Howard compiled a professional record of 16-2-1. Howard's most notable opponents at the professional level included champions Stevie Johnston, Jake Rodriguez and Billy Schwer.

Date Opponent Location Result
1995-05-02 Stevie Johnston Arizona Charlie's, Las Vegas
NABF Lightweight Title 
L by TKO
1995-02-24 Clarence Barnes Palais des Sports, Jonquiere W by TKO
1994-05-11 Billy Schwer Ice Bowl, Stevenage

Commonwealth (British Empire) Lightweight Title

L by KO
1994-01-29 Nedrick Simmons Charlottetown

Canada Lightweight Title

W by TKO
1993-06-18 Clifford Hicks Hotel Le Roussillon, Jonquiere W by UD
1993-03-30 Alex Perez Auditorium, Verdun W by TKO
1992-11-03 Mark Smith St-Leonard W by UD
1992-05-02 Greg Gayle Orillia

vacant Canada Lightweight Title

W by UD
1991-12-10 Jeff Trimble Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal W by KO
1991-09-10 Jeff Hanna The Palace, Laval W by TKO
1990-12-11 John Kalbhenn The Palace, Laval W by TKO
1990-08-01 Nedrick Simmons Copps Coliseum, Hamilton W by SD
1990-05-03 Jake Rodriguez Quality Inn Hotel, Newark Draw
1990-04-11 Eugene McCully Albany W by PTS
1989-09-29 Ray Bright Civic Center, Hartford W by KO
1989-06-27 Eddie Correa Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal W by KO
1989-06-16 Greg Cadiz Sheraton Hotel, Hartford W by PTS
1989-05-05 Jose Soto Civic Center, Hartford W by TKO
1988-11-29 Albert Dumas Forum, Montreal W by UD

Post-Boxing Career

Howard Grant's love of the sport never wavered once his in-ring career came to a close. Howard has spent his post-professional career training the next crop of in-ring gladiators.

Howard Grant along with his Brother, former WBO Middleweight Champion, Otis “Magic” Grant started the Grant Brothers Boxing Gym in 2003. With his experience and skill, Howard has trained many notable pugilists over the years including his brother Otis, former Canadian Champion, Tony Pep, former IBF super-middleweight champion, Lucien Bute, 1998 Commonwealth games silver medalist, Herman Ngoudjo, former WBA light middleweight world champion, Joachim Alcine, current NABA super bantamweight champion, Olivier Lontchi, former Olympian, Dale Brown, former super middleweight contender, Librado Andrade, former World Boxing Organisation NABO Middleweight Champion, Francis Lafreniere, former Canadian middleweight title holder and IBF International middleweight title contender, Walid Smichet, former World Boxing Council World Super Lightweight champion, Leonard Dorin.

Howard has also trained many accomplished mixed martial artists including future UFC Hall of Famer and decorated champion, Georges St. Pierre, current Bellator Welterweight World Champion, Rory MacDonald, former top UFC middleweight contender, Patrick Côté, former TKO Middleweight Champion, David L’Oiseau, former UFC fighter, Mike Ricci, current UFC Lightweight competitor, Irish Joe Duffy, former UFC contender, Zack Makovsky, former UFC fighter and current TKO competitor, Xavier Alaoui, former UFC and current Bellator top contender, Valerie Letourneau, current TKO competitor, Jamie Mancini, and up-and-coming female MMA fighter and current TKO competitor, Corinne Laframboise.

  • Canadian Olympic Committee
  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Howard Grant". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06.