Andre Dirrell is a professional boxer, born September 7, 1983, in the beautiful and populous Flint, Michigan. Dirrell's parents are Willie Dirrell and Lola Dirrell. He and his younger brother Anthony, who is also a professional boxer, started their careers early beginning boxing while still in elementary school. The brothers were trained by their uncle Leon Jr. and grandfather Leon "Bumper" Lawson Sr., a former partner of Muhammad Ali.
Andre had an exceptional amateur career winning the 2003 National Amateur Championship. He also competed at the 2003 Pan American Games but came up short of Cuban boxer, Yordanis Despaigne. In 2004, at 165 pounds, Dirrell won the bronze medal for his U.S. Olympics team, defeating Despaigne, but again came up short. This time to Gennady Golovkin.
Shortly after the Olympics, finishing his amateur career with 231 wins, Andre made his pro debut on January 27, 2005.
