By James Slater: Unbeaten heavyweight contender Amir Mansour is no way near as well known as Floyd Mayweather Junior, but the 39-year-old southpaw known as “Hardcore” is, like Mayweather, going to prison. In fact, Mansour is going back to prison.
As has been reported on Delawareonline.com, Mansour received a 14-month sentence this past Friday, for three violations of his probation. Mansour served time in prison from 2001 to 2010 for a drug possession felony. Upon being released, the amazingly well-conditioned heavyweight got back in the ring and proceeded to scored seven straight wins, improving his record to 16-0(12).
A lot of the hard work has now been undone due to the latest illegal activity of Mansour. According to the news piece, Mansour thrice violated his probation by: illegally leaving the district he lives in without permission, possessing a controlled substance, and associating with a person who has been convicted of a felony.
According to the article, Mansour was living in a house where another felon was residing and drugs as well as ammunition were found there.
“He plans to work hard to try for the earliest possible release, the earliest possible return to training and the earliest possible return to his family and his boxing career,” Mansour’s manager Keith Stoffer said.
With time not on his side (Amir will turn 40 next July), Mansour’s chances of achieving his goal of becoming world champion look a slim. 14-months is a long time for a boxer, and the new jail time will likely convince many fans that Mansour is finished at anything like top level.
Last fighting on the 2nd of this month, with a 6th-round TKO over Epfiano Mendoza, Mansour was steadily working his way up the world rankings. Now, however, it is possible the heavyweight will not fight again until 2013.