By Ryan ******** - Undefeated heavyweight prospect Travis Kauffman quietly returned to the ring on June 26 in Rochester, NY, making quick work of Octavius Smith in 45 seconds of the first round. Not much of a ring-rust shaking performance after a 14-month layoff.
What should have been nothing more than a record padding win became took on a greater significance. After all, Kauffman had every reason to believe that he might never fight again.
Kauffman's promising ring career was put on hold in June of last year when he pleaded guilty to charges that he'd had sexual relations with a 12-year-old girl. Kauffman was 19 at the time of the alleged incident.
His then-lawyer had advised Kauffman that, facing the possibility of 8-16 years for marijuana distribution he was already under the gun for, walking with the 5-to-10 year mandatory sentence would be the lesser of two poisons. Kauffman was told that the evidence against him was overwhelming. [details]
What should have been nothing more than a record padding win became took on a greater significance. After all, Kauffman had every reason to believe that he might never fight again.
Kauffman's promising ring career was put on hold in June of last year when he pleaded guilty to charges that he'd had sexual relations with a 12-year-old girl. Kauffman was 19 at the time of the alleged incident.
His then-lawyer had advised Kauffman that, facing the possibility of 8-16 years for marijuana distribution he was already under the gun for, walking with the 5-to-10 year mandatory sentence would be the lesser of two poisons. Kauffman was told that the evidence against him was overwhelming. [details]
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