OCTAVIUS C. JAMES
PRESIDENT & C.E.O.
Octavius C. James is President & CEO of Big Bear, California based One In A Million, Inc. Developing the multiple entities of the Corporation James pursued his personal passion and in June of 2000 created the One In A Million Boxing entity, a Professional Boxing company that had it’s roots established in the Northwest Indiana & Chicagoland area, which is the original home of James.
The Northwest Indiana region had once produced numerous icons to the Boxing World like Former World Middleweight Champion Tony Zale, Legendary Cornerman Chuck Bodak, local icons Marty Jakubowski, Mike Landini, Carlos Tite, Gary Kirkland, and most recent former contender Angel Manfredy.
By 2000, the production of World Class talent in the Midwest region had dwindled, the formerly great boxing scene had diminished some, almost to a point where local boxing was gone to Northwest Indiana fans. It was when boxing was at its lowest when James established a foundation of what is now the most successful boxing series in the State of Indiana. With James’ efforts he has single handedly reestablished the Midwest boxing scene creating World Class contenders right from the region, as well as displaying the current longest running boxing series in the State of Indiana.
Debuting with his first professional event in June of 2003 at the Radisson Hotel @ Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN, James and One In A Million Boxing were up and running and over the last six years have continued to produce top flight Las Vegas Style Events in the Midwest reigniting the flame of Professional Boxing in the region. This Radisson Hotel series has continued to deliver sellout crowds time and time again, which has opened the doors of expansion to various venues in the region.
Over the years James has expanded his series throughout the region to host numerous events at venues like the Resorts East Chicago Casino, Majestic Star Casino, Caesar’s Casino Indiana, Star Plaza Theatre, Hudson & Campbell Sports Center, Railcats Baseball Stadium, Omega Sports Complex, The Ho Chunk Sports Arena, Adam’s Mark Hotel, and he returned Championship Boxing to the historical Hammond Civic Center.
He has brought nationally televised events to the region with ESPN2 Friday Night Fights in 2005 and most recently in June of 2007 when James brought the first internationally televised Telefutura “Solo Boxeo” Boxing Series to the state of Indiana as well as the City of Gary, he gave the television debut to the first Professional female fighter from Gary, IN, and current NABC Lightweight World Champion Mary McGee at that event. In August of 2008 James made history again as he presented a Championship Boxing Event to be held in the Chicagoland area at an outdoor Professional Baseball Stadium for the first time in nearly 45 years when One In A Million presented the “Steel Yard Brawl” at the US Steel Yard/ Railcats Stadium in Gary, IN.
James’ dedication to hosting the regions best boxing had also diversified his interest in developing the regions best talent. In the last six years he has molded numerous fighters to a level of being top contenders in their divisions such as fighters like top middleweight prospect Michael Walker, Derrick Findley, #4 rated in the World Mary McGee (NABC Women’s World Lightweight Champion), Jimmy Holmes, Johnny Novak, Jermaine White, and the list continues to grow with prospects like Ed Ochoa, Josh Crouch, Michael Parker, Orphius Waite, and Evette Collazo to name a few of the continuously growing pool of talent from the Midwest.
With the continuing growth and recognition James had brought back to the region he was also able to draw in a larger pool of recognizable talent. Some of boxing’ elite fighters and World Champions like Former World Champion David Diaz, Female World Champion and Former Playboy Model Mia St. John, current WBC Bantamweight World Champion Israel Vasquez, and Antwun Echols have all graced the Boxing Ring for One In A Million events as well as some of boxing’ hottest up and coming talent like Mike Alvarado and Giovanni Segura.
As the years continue to add up, the accolades and achievements of James’ Dream One In A Million Boxing also grow exponentially. Six years ago James had a vision to bring Las Vegas style boxing to the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland area. 6 years later his vision has become a reality. Never fearing raising the bar for Professional Boxing James has taken his entrepreneurial and business mindset to developing a World Class Boxing Company and has continued to find success with his hard work and dedication towards the sport of boxing.
