Ten years ago, Darius Fulghum walked the stage as a graduate of the Ellison High School Class of 2015. On Saturday, Nov. 8, inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Fulghum will step into the ring for yet another important fight in his ascending professional boxing career.
Sure, Fulghum has been quite busy in that decade span, but never too consumed with it all to forget his Eagle Pride. In fact, in a bout last year, the super middleweight fighter who’s signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, donned Ellison trunks that had the Eagles logo on the front. He even wore his letterman jacket to a news conference.
“I always represent Killeen because Killeen made me who I am today,” Fulghum said. “I met so many people that have made a lasting impact on my life.”
On that list is Ellison wrestling head coach Michael Christ, whom Fulghum said “was one of the first people who took the extra time and effort to look out for me and actually believe in me during such a pivotal time in my life.”
“I give a lot of thanks to him for being the first person to change my mindset, which helped me to compete at such a high level now,” Fulghum added.
The 29-year-old Fulghum, who now resides and trains in Houston, moved to Killeen in 2000 during a time when his father served in the Army. He attended Cedar Valley Elementary School for one year before sliding over to newly opened Timber Ridge, and then went to Liberty Hill Middle School.
While at Ellison, Fulghum was a two-time wrestling state qualifier as a junior and senior, played football and carried a class load full of higher-level and dual-credit classes, Christ said.
“Darius was always a good student. His parents instilled that part in him,” Christ said. “Athletes who are internally motivated to be better, carry a certain mentality into every aspect of their lives, classroom included. He stayed true to the ‘how you do anything, is how you do everything’ concept.”
Christ, a 2003 Ellison grad who was an assistant coach when Fulghum was on the team, said he noticed Fulghum fully commit to excellence heading into his junior year and isn’t surprised that he’s continued to strive to be the best in everything that he does.
“I knew then, through his actions, that if he wanted to continue an athletic career, he would have no problem doing it,” Christ said. “Darius remains hungry and is never satisfied. He is always leaning on people for new information and constantly looking for ways to improve. Getting to watch him grow, dominate and live out his dreams make me extremely proud as someone who played a small part in that journey.”
Ellison principal David Dominguez said Fulghum always had a smile while at EHS and “always got along with his peers and school staff.”
“He was a student who had a very positive presence on campus and took seriously our message to get connected,” Dominguez said. “We are so proud of him and his success.”
Fulghum, a graduate of Prairie View A&M who holds a nursing degree and is a registered nurse, picked up boxing after high school and quickly found stardom. An impressive amateur stint –– during which he was ranked as the United States’ No. 1 heavyweight –– included the 2018 National Golden Gloves heavyweight title. He also qualified for Team USA for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed because of COVID. That led to a decision to turn pro in 2021.
Since his professional debut that year, he’s 14-1 with 12 knockouts and currently is ranked sixth in his weight class by the World Boxing Association.
Fulghum’s lone defeat was May 30 of this year via unanimous decision after 12 rounds against fellow Golden Boy boxer and No. 2-ranked super middleweight Bektemir Melikuziev. Golden Boy described Fulghum’s showing that night as one that “showed heart, composure and skill beyond his experience. It was a performance that proved he belongs on the big stage, and his stock only continues to rise.”
With his focus on bouncing back, Fulghum faces David Stevens (15-2) in the Nov. 8 clash. And he certainly appreciates the outpouring of support from his alma mater and the surrounding area ahead of the fight.
“I feel so much love from Killeen because the people there genuinely want to see me succeed, and that is such a blessing,” he said.
Photo credit: Golden Boy Promotions