The Story So Far: Travis Kauffman
Published March 30, 2009 by Martin Bean
Travis Kauffman was born on August 21, 1985 in the small but rugged city of Reading, Pennsylvania. He was raised by his father Marshall, a self-employed single parent of two boys. Marshall Kauffman had a short boxing career, consisting of 7 amateur fights and 1 pro fight, but was forced to give up boxing to focus on his business and take care of his two sons.
"My dad and I are so much alike, it is tough at times working together because we clash every now and then but he is pretty much always right," said Kauffman. "I love my father, he taught me everything I know and he will always be in my corner."
When Travis was nine, his father opened KING's Gym (Kids In Need of Guidance) with the intent to keep inner city youth out of trouble. Travis would go to the gym and mess around, which eventually led to his first amateur fight at 9 years old against his brother Jason. Although the fight was considered an exhibition, this was his introduction to competitive boxing. He and his brother went on to fight 5 or 6 times after that.
In 1995, following the death of his grandmother—who was like a mother to him—Travis quit boxing. Kauffman began getting in trouble and became a frequent visitor to the local juvenile detention centers. His run-ins with local troublemakers led to a severe beating at the hands of a group of thugs. This would prove to be a pivotal turning point in his life.
One of the kids who jumped him was a boxer and Travis vowed to get back at all of them, one by one. Around that time his father was hosting the regional Golden Gloves and told his son that one of the kids who jumped him was entering the tournament. Travis entered the regional tournament, fighting and beating the kid to exact his revenge.
Afterwards he continued to box, winning the Middle Atlantic tournament at 15. He was also picked to go to the 2001 Junior Olympics.
Tragedy struck Travis on June 7, 2001 when his mother died one week before the tournament was to begin. Travis was devastated but insisted on winning the Junior Olympics for his mother. Although he did not win, Travis placed third and was very impressive in defeat.
Unfortunately, when he returned home after the Junior Olympics, he was arrested for failure to inform his probation officer that he was out of town. While in juvenile detention center, he made a choice that boxing was his calling in life. Upon his release he moved into the open class of the amateurs.
At age 17 he made it to the 2003 National Golden Gloves, reaching the semifinals only to lose to the 23-year-old Travis Walker. Walker went on to win the tournament, scoring all of his wins by knockout except for the close fight with Travis.
Kauffman received a full scholarship to Northern Michigan University for boxing, but after 2 months he realized the boxing program wasn't for him. At the time he was ranked number 3 in the USA Boxing rankings in the Open class. He was gaining valuable experience fighting the best amateurs from all over the world.
One of his brightest moments came in 2004 when he won a Gold Medal at the Police Athletic League Nationals. Travis had one of the best performances of all-time in that tournament, scoring an :18 knockout against Nagy Aguilera.
"He jumped right on him, caught him with an overhand right and stretched him," said Marshall Kauffman. "The rest was history."
In 2005 he was undefeated in international tournaments, winning the gold medal at the Jose Cheo' Aponte tournament in Puerto Rico and the USA -vs- Azerbaijan duel in Harvey, Illinois.
In the USA -vs- Azerbaijan finals, Kauffman faced off with 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Vugar Alakbarov. Nursing an ailing right wrist, Kauffman fought the entire fight as a southpaw to great effect. Kauffman won every round on the scorecards.
Following that spectacular performance, Kauffman felt his time in the amateurs was over and decided to pursue the glories of professional boxing. In only four years of competition, Kauffman compiled a 52-12 record and was ranked number one in the country.
Travis made his pro debut on January 26, 2006 against Jerome Boyer in Glen Burnie, Maryland, stopping him in the second round.
On December 5, 2008, Kauffman made his national TV debut with a third round knockout of once-beaten Malachy Farrell on ShoBox: The Next Generation. Despite giving up 60 pounds in size, Kauffman was able to floor Farrell for the first time in his career in round one and remained in control for the duration of the fight.
"I really didn't expect a knockout," Marshall Kauffman told The Reading Eagle. "The guy was durable, a big Irish kid. The plan was to box him, but Travis wanted to go to war. Showtime loved him."
Kauffman followed that performance up with a pair of early knockouts against trial-horses Ken Murphy and Cliff Couser.
Away from the ring Travis is a loving father of four—two biological sons Travis Jr. and Christian Anthony, as well as two step-children Julius and Nevaeh Torres.
"Being a father is one of the best things in the world. It makes me a very strong person. I love my kids, I spoil them to the death. It's a blessing that has made me grow up and be a man."
Kauffman's father has been there the whole way watching over his son's progression through the sport, as well as in life. With his priorities now in the proper perspective, he feels his son is now on the right track to success.
"He's come along way. I knew he always had the skills to become a heavyweight champion but his maturity has finally reached the levels where he can accomplish everything he has set out for. He's more disciplined now. He knows that he has to take his conditioning and weight seriously. How he eats, how he lives, he's really focused on becoming the best fighter he can possibly be."
"I am not done growing," said Travis. "I am very young and still have a long era ahead of me so I am going to take my time. I am always learning and I will be champ one day. I am the next big thing in the heavyweight division and I will prove it."
His record now stands at 16-0, with 13 knockouts.
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