ANDRE `Stone’ Purlette started out the year 2000 in fine style by knocking out American Louis Gallucci in the first round. Gallucci was counted out at one minute 15 seconds of the opening round by Brian Garry. The fight was held at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa, Florida, USA and was one of three Purlette had for the year.
The Guyanese cruiserweight turned professional in December 1992 and had his first fight on American soil on March 26, 1996. Purlette was 22 years old then and needed only two rounds to win by TKO over American Fred Adams.
In February 1995 David Fields became Purlette’s eighth knockout victim. While Leon `King Kong’ O’ Neil, Colin Murray and Ivor `Baba’ Simmons all bowed out by the second round, Fields lasted until midway the third round.
Purlette suffered his first defeat in the professional ranks on December 4, 2002 after being TKOed by Cuban-American Eliester Castillo in Miami, Florida.
The referee was again Brian Garry, and he stopped the contest at two minutes 58 seconds of the fifth round. Purlette last fought in 2009 and has a record of 40 victories in 44 fights. He has boxed 134 rounds and holds a 79 percent knockout average.