A 1981 Graduate, Joe Hipp participated in football and wrestling for the Pirates. He also participated in club boxing in Yakima. A member of the Blackfeet Tribe, he became the first Native American to challenge for a world heavyweight boxing championship. As an amateur boxer, Joe compiled an incredible record of 119 wins and only nine losses. He began his professional career in 1987 and with his hard-hitting, banging style he won 43 of his 50 professional fights. Of those 43 wins, 29 of those were by knockout! His professional success and style earned him the nickname the ‘Boss’. In 1992 in a nationally televised bout, Joe faced Tommy Morrison in Reno, Nevada. In a slugfest that saw Morrison break his jaw and one of his hands, Hipp lost by a 9th-round TKO, resulting in broken cheekbones for Hipp. After recovering from his injuries, Hipp rebounded and went on a professional winning streak. After winning the NABF Heavyweight Title in 1994 he continued with 3 more high level victories that would land him a spot in the history books as the very first Native American to challenge for one of the four recognized heavyweight title belts. On August 19, 1995 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on the undercard of the infamous Mike Tyson v. Peter McNeeley fight, Hipp squared off against Bruce Seldon for the WBA Heavyweight championship. Seldon came away victorious in that fight but Joe had clearly established himself as one of the top heavyweight boxers in the world, the Pride of the Northwest and the Pride of Blackfeet tribe. Joe has been inducted to numerous Hall of Fames including being inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.