By Jackie Kallen
With all the emphasis on police brutality today and the troubled relations between law enforcement and the public, I can’t help reflecting on a wonderful heavyweight boxer I worked with in the early 1990’s. As we mourn the loss of Michael Brown, I want to take a second to tell people about Kermit Fitzpatrick.
Back in 1990, when James Toney was training at the Livonia Boxing Club, there was a big guy training there named Kermit. Naturally the other guys called him “Kermit the Frog” good-naturedly and teased him affectionately. He was a sweet guy and took it all in stride. He sparred fairly, helped everyone, and always had a smile for whoever walked into the gym.
In April 1990, Kermit turned pro on a card at The Palace of Auburn Hills. James fought Toby Tyler on the card and Kermit fought Eli Dixon, winning a 4-round decision. He fought again in June, scoring a first-round KO. I promoted a show in August and he racked up another 1st round TKO. He won again in September before running up against Marcellus Brown in November. That fight was Fitzpatrick’s first (and only) loss.
After regrouping, Kermit climbed back into the ring on June 11, 1991. He fought a game Robert Smith and had to settle for a draw. But he was back on track. He felt good and was looking forward to fighting more frequently. But it was not to be.
Kermit had a day job. He was a Michigan State Trooper. He was well-respected, had a good record, and was by all accounts–a wonderful officer. On July 7, 2011, it was business as usual. He pulled over a car for a routine traffic violation. As he approached the car, the driver (a white kid) pulled out a gun and fired 6 times. It was quick, unexpected, and Kermit never had a chance. He was hit in the jaw, the leg, twice in the chest, and two shots hit the bullet-proof vest.
There were no protests, no public outcry, no celebrities speaking at the funeral. But Kermit deserves to be remembered. He took his job and his career seriously. He took his marriage seriously. He was one of the good guys.
We’ll never know if Kermit Fitzpatrick would have gone on to fight for a world title. We’ll never know if he would have had a lot of kids. But one thing I do know is that he left a lifetime impression on those who knew him.
R.I.P. Kermit.
droversointeru
11/04/2024 at 12:22 pm
I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site :).
orgone
11/23/2024 at 6:02 am
مرحبًا، أعتقد أن هذه مدونة ممتازة. لقد عثرت عليها بالصدفة ;
reborn
11/23/2024 at 11:05 am
buď vytvořil sám, nebo zadal externí firmě, ale vypadá to.
bambola artigianale
11/24/2024 at 7:54 am
مرحبًا، أعتقد أن هذه مدونة ممتازة. لقد عثرت عليها بالصدفة ;
segno dello scorpione
11/27/2024 at 5:18 am
O conteúdo existente nesta página é realmente notável para a experiência das pessoas,
ciondolo orgonite
11/28/2024 at 6:34 am
nogensinde løbe ind i problemer med plagorisme eller krænkelse af ophavsretten? Mit websted har en masse unikt indhold, jeg har
orgonite
11/28/2024 at 2:28 pm
que eu mesmo criei ou terceirizei, mas parece que
ciondolo orgonite
11/29/2024 at 11:23 am
meget af det dukker op overalt på internettet uden min aftale.
bambola
12/02/2024 at 6:45 am
Tak skal du have!|Olá, creio que este é um excelente blogue. Tropecei nele;
segno zodiacale del leone
12/02/2024 at 12:19 pm
الاستمرار في توجيه الآخرين.|Ahoj, věřím, že je to vynikající blog. Narazil jsem na něj;
orgonite
12/04/2024 at 7:47 am
råb ud og sig, at jeg virkelig nyder at læse gennem dine blogindlæg.
segno zodiacale del leone
12/06/2024 at 12:13 pm
det. Denne side har bestemt alle de oplysninger, jeg ønskede om dette emne, og vidste ikke, hvem jeg skulle spørge. Dette er min 1. kommentar her, så jeg ville bare give en hurtig
ciondolo orgonite
12/07/2024 at 2:43 pm
information.|My family members every time say that I am killing my time here
segno dello scorpione
12/08/2024 at 3:41 pm
fortsæt det gode arbejde stipendiater. Med at have så meget indhold og artikler gør du det
segno dello scorpione
12/09/2024 at 10:36 am
Fiquei muito feliz em descobrir este site. Preciso de agradecer pelo vosso tempo
pendente
12/10/2024 at 9:31 am
|Tato stránka má rozhodně všechny informace, které jsem o tomto tématu chtěl a nevěděl jsem, koho se zeptat.|Dobrý den! Tohle je můj 1. komentář tady, takže jsem chtěl jen dát rychlý
segno zodiacale del leone
12/11/2024 at 11:19 am
Kan du anbefale andre blogs / websteder / fora, der beskæftiger sig med de samme emner?
albero della vita
12/12/2024 at 1:52 pm
på grund af denne vidunderlige læsning !!! Jeg kunne bestemt virkelig godt lide hver eneste lille smule af det, og jeg
cancerino segno
12/14/2024 at 3:01 pm
Tak skal du have!|Olá, creio que este é um excelente blogue. Tropecei nele;
albero della vita
12/15/2024 at 9:29 am
Podem recomendar outros blogues/sites/fóruns que tratem dos mesmos temas?
bambola artigianale
12/15/2024 at 2:32 pm
) Jeg vil besøge igen, da jeg har bogmærket det. Penge og frihed er den bedste måde at ændre sig på, må du være rig og
https://www.vinted.it/member/214968271
12/21/2024 at 4:51 pm
Com tanto conteúdo e artigos, vocês já se depararam com algum problema de plágio?
ciondolo orgonite
12/25/2024 at 7:50 am
Můžete mi doporučit nějaké další blogy / webové stránky / fóra, které se zabývají stejnými tématy?
ciondolo orgonite
12/25/2024 at 4:45 pm
It contains fastidious material.|I think the admin of this website is actually working hard in favor of his site,
ciondolo orgonite
12/26/2024 at 6:57 am
Tak Hej der til alle, det indhold, der findes på denne
sagittario segno
12/27/2024 at 2:25 pm
apreciariam o seu conteúdo. Por favor, me avise.
Piramide orgonite ametista poteri
12/29/2024 at 10:41 am
Kender du nogen metoder, der kan hjælpe med at forhindre, at indholdet bliver stjålet? Det ville jeg sætte stor pris på.
orgone
12/31/2024 at 2:23 pm
vykřiknout a říct, že mě opravdu baví číst vaše příspěvky na blogu.
orgone
01/01/2025 at 11:29 am
nogensinde løbe ind i problemer med plagorisme eller krænkelse af ophavsretten? Mit websted har en masse unikt indhold, jeg har
Drop Balls Game
01/01/2025 at 11:35 pm
GG na agad, mga kaibigan! Master mode activated! Drop Balls Game
orgone
01/04/2025 at 3:19 pm
It contains fastidious material.|I think the admin of this website is actually working hard in favor of his site,
ciondolo orgonite
01/05/2025 at 8:21 am
الاستمرار في توجيه الآخرين.|Ahoj, věřím, že je to vynikající blog. Narazil jsem na něj;
calvin klein aluspesu meestele
01/05/2025 at 2:53 pm
) Znovu ho navštívím, protože jsem si ho poznamenal. Peníze a svoboda je nejlepší způsob, jak se změnit, ať jste bohatí a