Undefeated prospect James Kirkland out of prison
Junior middleweight prospect James Kirkland has been released from Prison outside of Austin, Texas, and plans to resume training immediately, co-manager Cameron Dunkin says.
Kirkland (25-0, 22 KOs) is obliged to remain at a halfway house for the next few months but will be allowed to leave the premises to train. The fighter will also reportedly be looking for a part-time job.
Dunkin said: "He's out. He's very happy and had a chance to see his two kids.”
Commenting on Kirkland’s situation at the halfway house, he said: “He'll go through the week-long orientation process. He's going to look for a job to start earning a check. But he'll be able to go and train as long as he's back by the curfew. […] He's unbelievably
happy to be out [of prison], as you can imagine. He doesn't want to go back there ever again."
Kirkland was incarcerated in April of last year after he pleaded guilty to gun possession by a convicted felon. Originally he was to be released September 17, but the date was delayed as the halfway house was full at the time. Before his incarceration,
Kirkland was one of the most talked about 154-pound rising stars.
Co-manager Michael Miller said that he has “never seen him this happy, this jovial, this talkative. […] I'm telling you, he's saying all the right things. He said, 'Michael, I understand my past and my mistakes. I can't wait to get back in the gym. I missed
it and I can't wait.'"
Kirkland was planned to be on the November 6 undercard of Zab Judah’s HBO bout with Lucas Matthysse, but because of his postponed release will pass on the opportunity and look for something towards the end of the November or December.
Kirkland is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. The company, as well as Kirkland’s close management and training team see no reason to push him. "We're not going to push him," Dunkin explained. "There's no reason to push it. We'll go ahead and have him
fight in December and make sure he's right. There's no reason to rush it."
On many people’s minds is whether or not Kirkland will remain under the guidance of trainer Ann Wolfe. The two had a falling out before Kirkland arrest. Should she opt not to continue with Kirkland, Wolfe will still be entitled to her 7.5 per cent interest
in his management contract.
Kirkland was scheduled to appear on the Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao undercard in May 2009, but was arrested shortly before on gun possession. A previous conviction for armed robbery in 2003 made the possession unlawful and resulted in jail time.
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