Promising light middleweight contender James Kirkland will serve two years in prison after pleading guilty to gun possession. Kirkland was convicted of armed robbery in 2003 and was banned from future gun possession as a result. The felony has curtailed the meteoric rise for the undefeated fighter.
James Kirkland, 25-0 (22 KOs), was being shot up the light middleweight ranks in 2008-09. With backing from Golden Boy Promotions and HBO, Kirkland was on his way to a title shot after scoring a TKO of Joel Julio in March of 2009.
James Kirkland will get credit for the six months he has already served and could see his sentencing reduced for good behavior. He may also get the option of spending the final six months of his sentence in a halfway house. Best case scenario, Kirkland could be out of prison by June of 2010.
