Bryce Connors

Infobox_Boxer


name = Bryce Connors
nickname = BCC
weight = Cruiserweight
height = height|ft=6|in=0
reach =in to cm|num=76|abbr=yes|spell=American|precision=0|wiki=no
nationality = flagicon|USA American
birth_date = birth date and age|1986|12|14
death_date =
birth_place = Uniontown, Pennsylvania
home = Republic, Pennsylvania
style = Orthodox
total = 46
wins = 43
KO = 31
losses = 3
draws = 0
no contests = 0

Bryce Connors is an American light-heavyweight boxer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his time as an amateur boxer, he recorded a 43-3 record. Connors is the 2007 Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves Champion and the National runner-up in the Heavyweight Division. He was selected as a alternate for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Other accomplishments include: second place in the Pan-Am Games in 2006, losing to fellow American Mike Wilson, and recording a string of 13 straight knockout victories starting in the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Tournament in 2007 and ending when he was defeated by future Olympian Deontay Wilder on points (http://www.pagoldengloves.com/). The award of Amateur Knockout of the Year from Ring Magazine went to Connors in 2007 for his brutal first round knockout victory over Pedro Martinez in the PA Golden Gloves Finals. Ring Magazine also gave Connors the coveted Amateur Pound-for-Pound #1 ranking at the end of 2007.Connors turned professional in February 2008. Connors was appraoched by ESPN to be a participant on season 4 of "The Contender" which will feature cruiserweights. Connors had agreed to be a participant until the rights of the show were sold to the Versus Network. An agreement could not be reached between the two sides and Connors told the network he would find his own replacement. Connors asked former sparring partner and USBA cruiserweight champion B.J. Flores to fill in for him and Flores agreed.

Mixed Martial Arts

Connors has also received training in Muay Tai and Brazilian Jui Jitsu. A black belt in BJJ was awarded to Connors in May 2008. Sherdog.com reported that Connors had requested so much money from Versus because he had been given such large offers from different MMA promotion companies. Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC and WEC, started to negotiate with Connors about training shortly before he was asked to be on "The Contender". Public Relations for Zuffa, in August 2008, stated that Connors will begin to train as an MMA fighter, but that his first official fight wouldn't be for at least 16 months. Connors insisted that he'd take on low level competition with small organizations until June 2009.

Mixed Martial Arts Record

* 2 wins
* 0 losses

Date D-M-Y	Opponent	Result	Detail	Weight Class
3-6-2008	flagicon|Russia Sergei Mirkovic	W	Knockout (Strikes) 1R 1:58	Light Heavyweight (205lbs)
15-8-2008	flagicon|USA Paul Orson	W	Submission (Armbar - Bottom) 1R 2:16	Light Heavyweight (205lbs)

Education

Connors is a full-time student at Temple University, where he studies political science and philosophy. He plans to attend law school following the completion of his undergraduate studies at Temple.

Heath concerns

In 2008, Connors was diagnosed with lumbar stenosis. It was recommended by physicians that he give up boxing because it is felt that his lower back will not be able to stand the rigors of professional training. Another unnecessary health risk that professionals fear Connors is taking comes when he is cutting weight in the last days leading up to a bout. Connors routinely drops anywhere from 12-20 pounds in a 40 hour period.

Cyborg

Bryce was labeled a "Cyborg" by trainer Marvis Frazier during an interview with Sherdog's Josh Gross. "He gets to the gym emotionless. We ride to the venue, he remains emotionless. At the weigh-in he is emotionless. In the locker room he is still emotionless. As the refereee gives the instructions right before the bell rings, he'll gaze back at his opponent emotionless. When the bell finally rings though, he destroys what ever comes out of the other corner. He is just like a cyborg. I thought he just got nervous before fights at first. After working with him for a few fights though, I realized that it is really just the calm before the storm". Connors was given a pair of black trunks from welterweight Demetrius Andrade at Olympic Trials in 2008 with the letters "BCC" embroidered on the waist, standing for Bryce Cyborg Connors. The two roomed together at World Amateur Championships in Chicago a year earlier.