Dr. J's son scores a knockout in his boxing debut
9:04 AM Wed, Nov 12, 2008 | Permalink
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By Bernard Fernandez PHILADELPHIA - The phenomenon of children of celebrities trying their hand at professional boxing probably peaked some years back, but it clearly hasn't died out entirely. Music producer and fledgling cruiserweight Julius "J" Erving III, 34, son of the 76ers' Hall of Fame forward, made his pro debut in Atlanta on Friday night with a one-round knockout of fellow first-timer Kantrell Cameron. Doctor J was at ringside, taking in all the action, or at least the 2 minutes, 59 seconds that elapsed before his kid clobbered Cameron. Not that cruiserweight champions Steve Cunningham and Guillermo Jones have anything to fear just yet, but Erving's trainer, Johnny "Yahya" McClain thinks the younger Erving can slam-dunk a few more opponents if he chooses to continue his ring career. "'J' has been a fan of boxing forever," said McClain, 41, himself a former cruiserweight who posted a 23-7-2 record from 1990 to '99. "He loves boxing. He's always wanted to fight, but he never took it serious until we met. "He's got a bammer-whammer of a right hand. I wasn't surprised (he knocked out Cameron). He can take anybody out if he catches him with that big right." If anyone knows about the marketability of boxing's celebrity offspring, it's McClain, the former husband/promoter of Muhammad Ali's fighting daughter, Laila Ali. 
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