Welcome to Downtown!

Who is Boom Boom? 

Daniel Victor “Boone” Kirkman is a former amateur and professional heavyweight boxer.  Also fighting under the nickname of “Boom Boom,” he fought during the same era of George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, and Joe Frasier, which is often credited as one of the greatest heavyweight eras of all time.  Kirkman moved to Renton, where his grandfather originally settled, at a young age and stills lives here.  His family owned a local pub, the Melrose Tavern, which is now the Melrose Grill and located a half block south of the mural location.

Some of Kirkman’s boxing career highlights include:

  • Won the AAU Heavyweight Boxing national title in 1965.
  • Finished his professional boxing career with a record of 36-6 (1966-1978).
  • Significant opponents during his career included George Foreman, Jack O’Halloran, and Ken Norton.

Kirkman’s post-boxing career life has included working for the Boeing company and enjoying hiking and mountaineering. He has scaled all of Washington’s most famous mountain peaks:  Rainier, Baker, Adams and Saint Helens.

Location:  The mural location is the south wall of a building that fronts the southwest corner of S. 3rd Street and Wells Avenue.  The south wall is prominently located just north of the Post Office, just south of S. 3rd Street (Downtown’s main street), and adjacent to numerous popular cafes including Melrose Grill, Marianna Ristorante, Cedar River Smokehouse Barbecue, and Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes.  At the foot of the wall is a recent landscape art installation by the Arts Commission, completed as part of its award-winning Galvanizing Arts Project.

Read more about the project in this article by the Renton Reporter.