IN THE RED CORNER

CHARLES
"DUKE"
TANNER

Gary, Indiana
Light heavyweight
19-0 · ESPN-televised
Trained by Angelo Dundee

MAIN
EVENT

20·26 SEASON · LIVE NOW

IN THE BLACK CORNER

A SYSTEM
THAT BURIED
FIRST-TIMERS

Two life sentences
Non-violent · first offense
16y 6m 21d served
Pardoned · 28·05·2025

BOOK DUKE TO SPEAK READ THE BOOK SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION

· THE STORY ·

WHO DUKE IS NOW.

Charles "Duke" Tanner went 19-0 as a professional boxer before a 2004 sting handed him two life sentences for a first, non-violent offense. He served 16 years, 6 months, and 21 days in maximum security — and never stopped writing letters.

President Trump commuted his sentence in October 2020. In May 2025, Duke received a full presidential pardon. Today he speaks, writes, advises, and runs the Tanner 2nd Foundation — turning the second chance he received into seconds for everybody else.

FULL BIO & PRESS KIT →
19-0
PRO RECORD
16+ YRS
SERVED
MAY 2025
PARDONED
1
BOOK · DUKE GOT LIFE
7+
ROLES TODAY
2,700+
SPOKEN TO IN 2025

· THE FIGHT, ROUND BY ROUND ·

FIVE ROUNDS, ONE LIFE

R1
1986–2003
Gloves on at 6. Junior Olympic bronze. 19-0 as a pro.
R2
2004–2006
Sting at 24. Tried, convicted. Two life terms.
R3
2007–2018
Sixteen years inside. Faith. Letters. A dream.
R4
21·10·2020
Clemency. The first call from the White House.
R5
28·05·2025
Full pardon. The fight is now everybody else’s.

"DEFEAT IS A LIFE EXPERIENCE.
FAILURE IS A LIFE CHOICE."

— DUKE

· UNDERCARD ·

WHAT'S NEXT

The pardon was the bell. Here's where Duke is fighting now.

01
SPEAK
Bring Duke to your stage.
CHURCH · CORPORATE · CAMPUS · POLICY →
02
READ
Duke Got Life. Out now.
AMAZON · B&N · AUDIO →
03
BUILD
Foundation grants & advocacy.
YOUTH · HOUSING · CLEMENCY · REENTRY →
04
REFORM
Policy work & expert testimony.
REFORM ALLIANCE · CAN-DO · STATE →
05
ADVISE
Capital & culture consulting.
IMPACT GROWTH CAPITAL · ADVISORY →
06
PRESS
Coverage, kits, downloads.
BIO · PHOTOS · LOGOS · FACT SHEET →

· AS SEEN IN ·

RECENT COVERAGE

ALL PRESS →
FOX NEWS
CBS CHICAGO
BLACK ENTERPRISE
THEGRIO
THE LOU HOLTZ SHOW
REFORM ALLIANCE

· BOOK ·

Speaking, keynotes, & pulpit.

BOOK DUKE →

· SUPPORT ·

Foundation work in Gary, IN.

DONATE →

· CONTACT ·

Press, advisory, & general.

GET IN TOUCH →