James Kirkland will fight December 11 with temporary trainer
Junior middleweight prospect James Kirkland, recently released from prison, will make a return to the ring on December 11 against Delray Raines, ESPN confirmed. He’ll also return with a new trainer, co-manager Cameron Dunkin has said.
After an internal rift, Kirkland (25-0, 22 KOs) and longtime trainer Ann Wolfe have decided to part ways, and Kirkland will continue temporarily with Richard Lord in her place.
Dunkin said: “Richard is just training him for this fight. They have a one-fight agreement. There's no commitment past this fight, but James needed a gym in Austin and a place to train. We needed somebody for one fight, and they know each other. James
has sparred at his gym before."
Lord brings with him the experience of training two-division titlist Jesus Chavez.
Kirkland was released from a Texas prison three weeks ago after serving 17 months for being in possession of a gun as a convicted felon. The conviction originally caused a falling out with Wolfe, for whom Kirkland dedicated his training for most of his
career.
Presently Kirkland resides at a halfway house in Austin, Texas. He is allowed to leave the premises to train for his upcoming bout.
Dunkin confirmed that the bout with Raines (18-8, 13 KOs) has been formally agreed upon, but that a weight has yet to be determined.
"We left the exact weight out of the contract because we need to see where James is at," Dunkin suggested.
It is expected that after requisite training Kirkland will return to the 154 pound division, but that the fight with Raines will be either a middleweight (160 pounds) or a super middleweight bout (168 pounds).
HBO will be airing the fight, which will be on the Amir Khan-Marcos Maidana undercard at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Kirkland said: “I can't wait to get back in the ring and pick up where I left off. I apologize to all my friends, family, team members and fans for everything that happened, but I promise that I will make everybody proud in the coming months and years."
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