Born January 18, 1964 in Clinton, MO, Hill grew up in Grand Forks and Williston, ND. An accomplished amateur, he compiled a 288-11 record and won a middleweight silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Fighting out of North Dakota, Hill turned pro at Madison Square Garden later that year, scoring a 2nd round TKO. In only his 19th bout, he defeated WBA light heavyweight king Leslie Stewart (TKO 4) to win the title in 1987. Ten successful defenses followed, including wins over Bobby Czyz (W 12), James Kinchen (TKO 1) and Tyrone Frazier (W 12), before losing the crown to Thomas Hearns (L 12) in 1991. He rebounded to win the vacant WBA strap from Frank Tate (W 12) in 1992 and registered ten more successful defenses over Fabrice Tiozzo (W 12), Tate (W 12), Lou Del Valle (W 12) and IBF champion Henry Maske (W 12) among others. In 1997 he met WBO champion Dariusz Michalczewski (L 12) in a unification bout. In 2000 “Quicksilver” scored a first round TKO over Tiozzo for the WBA cruiserweight crown to become a two-division champion. He lost the title to Jean Marc Mormeck (TKO by 9) but recaptured the vacant WBA belt from Valery Brudov (W 12) in 2006. After two bouts in 2007, a rematch with Maske (L 12) and Firat Arslan (L 12), Hill hung up the gloves with a pro record of 50-7 (23 KOs).
With exceptional hand speed and an excellent jab, the converted southpaw was beloved in North Dakota where raucous crowds regularly turned out to support their champion.
Born: Jan. 18, 1964
Bouts: 57
Won: 50
Lost: 7
KOs: 23
Induction: 2013
Virgil Hill
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