Wilford “The Scorpion” Scypion was born in Port Arthur, Texas, and rose to prominence in the late 1970s as one of the most feared punchers in American boxing. In 1978, he captured the National Golden Gloves Middleweight Championship, establishing himself as one of the country’s top amateur fighters. Two years earlier, he had tried out for the 1976 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, narrowly missing selection but gaining national recognition for his raw power and determination.

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After his Golden Gloves triumph, Scypion turned professional in 1979 and quickly built a reputation for his aggressive fighting style and devastating punching power. Over the course of his professional career, he amassed a record of 32 wins, 9 losses, with an impressive 24 victories by knockout—a knockout rate of nearly 75%. His explosive offense and relentless style earned him the nickname “The Scorpion.”

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On February 3, 1983, Scypion achieved one of his most significant victories when he defeated Frank “The Animal” Fletcher by knockout in the 12th round to claim the United States Boxing Association (USBA) Middleweight Title. The victory set the stage for the biggest fight of his career—a world title bout against “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler for the undisputed middleweight championship, including the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles (the first unification bout of its kind in boxing history). The fight took place on May 27, 1983, in Providence, Rhode Island. Despite a valiant effort, Scypion was stopped in the fourth round by the legendary champion.

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Following the Hagler fight, Scypion continued to compete but never again reached world-title contention. He went on to face several ranked opponents and retired from professional boxing in 1991, closing a hard-fought career marked by power, courage, and determination.

 

In recognition of his achievements, Port Arthur’s mayor presented him with the Key to the City in 1983, honoring his success and the pride he brought to his hometown. Though he never captured a world title, Scypion remains remembered as one of the toughest and most respected middleweights of his era—a relentless competitor who stood toe-to-toe with one of the greatest champions in boxing history.