Boxer Convicted of Felony Assault
Paul Dalrymple
By Fred Girard / The Detroit News
8/10/01
DETROIT -- Damon McCreary's plans to win the world super-middleweight
boxing title were put on hold Thursday when he was convicted of a felony for
striking a woman.
Visiting Recorder's Court Judge Michael Callahan revoked McCreary's bond
and sent him to jail to await sentencing Aug. 22. The maximum penalty for
his crime -- assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder --
is 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The victim, Amy Dozier of Madison Heights, said the incident occurred at
Fishbone's Rhythm Kitchen Cafe in Greektown last August.
"I'm just thankful it's over," Dozier said, but declined to answer
questions.
Dozier testified her eye socket was shattered by a punch thrown by
McCreary after a squabble among several women and their dates. She said she
has undergone two reconstructive surgeries.
McCreary's attorney, Kerry Leon Jackson of Detroit, said Thursday that
McCreary was nowhere near Fishbone's on the night in question.
"Today I had a client convicted of something he didn't do, and the judge
snatched his bond and put him in jail -- a man with seven kids," Jackson
said.
Jackson said no surveillance cameras in or around the restaurant showed
McCreary before or after the fight. Dozier originally told police her
assailant was a 58-year-old man.
Jackson said McCreary was arrested after a friend of Dozier's who had
been present at the fight, Tammy Orr of Madison Heights, told police someone
she knew had overheard McCreary bragging about "knocking out a white woman
at Fishbone's."
"And now an innocent man is sitting in jail," Jackson said.
McCreary, 28, who attended Detroit Kettering, was the Motor City
light-heavy amateur champion before turning pro in 1998. He has fought 11
times professionally and won them all, eight by knockout. His last fight, a
third-round TKO over Etienne Whitaker, was broadcast on ESPN2.
McCreary, who frequently ends workouts with a prayer session, hoped to
fight Joe Calzaghe of Wales for the World Boxing Association
super-middleweight crown sometime next year.