How Did the 1976 & 1984 USA Olympians Do As Pro’s?

By Boxing News - 03/01/2023 - Comments

By Ken Hissner: “Big” John Tate, the Silver Medalist, was 50-7 as an amateur from Knoxville, TN, and became the WBA Heavyweight champ in October of 1979, winning the vacant title and defeating Gerrie Coetzee, 22-0, over 15 rounds in South Africa. In his first defense, he was knocked out by Mike “Hercules” Weaver, 21-9, though well ahead in the final round. He was 34-3 with 23 knockouts.

Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs out of Philadelphia, PA, defeated future world champions Lennox “The Lion” Lewis and Francesco Damiani. He claimed a 108-6-4 amateur record. He was 15-0 when he challenged “Iron” Mike Tyson, 31-0, in October of 1987 and was stopped in 7 rounds. He was 30-10 with 20 knockouts.

Light Heavyweight Gold Medalist Leon “Neon” Spinks from St. Louis, MO, was 178-7 with 133 knockouts as an amateur. He was 6-0-1 when he defeated Muhammad Ali, 55-2, by a split decision in February of 1978. He lost in the rematch. He was 26-17-3 with 14 knockouts.

Bronze Medalist Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, from Atlanta, GA, was 160-14 with 75 knockouts as an amateur. In July 1986, he won the WBA World Cruiserweight title defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi 26-2-1. In October 1990, he knocked out Heavyweight champion James “Buster” Douglas, 29-4-1. He defeated former champions “Big” George Foreman, 69-2, Ray “Merciless” Mercer, 23-2-1, and Larry “The Easton Assassin” Holmes, 54-3. In November 1992, he lost to Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, 31-0. In a rematch, he defeated Bowe. He was 44-10-2 with 29 knockouts. He was inducted into the IBHOF.

Middleweight Gold Medalist Michael “Jinx” Spinks, of St. Louis, MO., was 93-7 with 35 knockouts in the amateurs. In July of 1981, he won the WBA Light Heavyweight title defeating Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, 38-5-1. He was the first reigning Light Heavy champ to win the heavyweight title defeating Larry “The Easton Assassin” Holmes, 48-0. After stopping Gerry Cooney, 28-1, he was stopped by Mike Tyson, 34-0, ending his career. He was 31-1 with 21 knockouts. He was inducted into the IBHOF.

Middleweight Silver Medalist Virgil “Quick Silver” Hill from Williston, ND, was 19-4 in the amateurs. In September 1987, he won the WBA Light Heavyweight title, stopping Leslie Stewart 24-1. He lost to Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns, 49-3-1. Two fights later won the WBC title, knocking out Lottie Mwale 42-5. He stopped future world champs Henry Maske, 30-0. In December 2000, he won the WBA World Cruiser title stopping Fabrice Tiozzo 42-1. He was 51-7 with 24 knockouts with 22 defenses. He was inducted into the IBHOF.

Light Middleweight Chuck “White Chocolate” Walker of Mesa, AZ, lost a disputed decision to Poland’s Jerzy Rybicki, who would go on to with the Gold Medal. He won the 1975 AAU title on Wide World of Sports.

He was a professional tap dancer! He was 11-1-1 with three knockouts fighting out of Cut and Shoot, TX. He was a film director and producer in L.A. In Atlantic City, Michael Spinks told me, “I hated to spar with Chuck!”

Light Middleweight Gold Medalist Frank Tate from Detroit, MI, won the IBF Middleweight title in October of 1987 defeating Michael Olajide, 23-0. He lost to Michael Nunn and twice to Virgil Hill. He was 41-5 with 24 knockouts.

Clint “The Sheriff” Jackson from Nashville, TN, was a welterweight quarter-finalist and 99-14 in the amateurs. He lost to Frank “The Animal” Fletcher for the USBA title and future IBF Light Middle champ Buster Drayton. He was 25-7 with nine knockouts.

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Welterweight Gold Medalist Mark Breland had a 110-1 amateur record from New York, NY. In February 1987, he won the WBA Welter title, stopping Harold Volbrecht 39-4-2. He lost to Marlon Starling, 41-4, and later drew with him. He re-won the title defeating Seung Soon Lee, 31-2, in February of 1989. He lost to Aaron Davis, 29-0. He was 35-3-1 with 25 knockouts. He was a trainer for heavyweight champ Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder.

Light Welterweight Gold Medalist “Sugar” Ray Leonard from Palmer Park, MD, was 145-5 with 75 knockouts in the amateurs. In November 1979, he won the WBC World Welterweight title, stopping Wilfred Benitez 38-0-1. He lost to Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, 71-1, in June 1980. In a rematch, he stopped Duran.

In June 1981, he won the WBA Super Welter title, stopping Ayub Kalule 36-0. In his next fight, behind on points, he stopped Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns 32-0. In May of 1982, he discovered he had a detached retina and retired. In May of 1984, he returned to the ring, stopping Kevin Howard, 20-4-1, only to retire again.

In April of 1987, he returned to the ring, winning the WBC World Middleweight title and defeating “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, 62-2-2, by a split decision. In November 1988, he won the vacant WBC Super Middle and the WBC Light Heavy title stopping Donny Lalonde 31-2.

He drew with Hearns, 46-3, in a return match and defeated Duran, 85-7, in December of 1989. He retired for a third time before returning to the ring in February of 1991, losing to Terry Norris, 26-3, for the WBC Super Welter title. In his final fight, he lost to then-IBC Middle champ Hector “Macho” Camacho, 62-3-1. He was 36-3-1 with 25 knockouts and was inducted into the IBHOF.

#139 Gold Medalist Jerry Page from Columbus, OH, lost to contenders Terrence Ali, 36-5-1, and Frankie “The Surgeon” Randall, 39-2-1. He was 11-4 with six knockouts.

The #132 pound Gold Medalist and Val Barker Trophy winner Howard Davis, Jr., of New York, NY, was 125-5 in the amateurs. He was 13-0 when he lost to WBC World Light champ Jim Watt, 36-7, in Glasgow, Scotland, in June of 1980. He lost by split decision to WBC champ Edwin Rosario, 23-0, in June 1984. In July of 1988, he was knocked out by IBF World Super Light champ Buddy McGirt, 37-1-1. He was 36-6-1 with 14 knockouts.

Lightweight Gold Medalist Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker from Norfolk, VA, was 201-14 in the amateurs. In February of 1989, he won the IBF Lightweight title defeating Greg Haugen 23-1. He added the vacant WBC title when he defeated Jose Ramirez, 102-7, in August of 1989. In May of 1990, he defeated Azumah Nelson 31-1.

In July 1992, he won the IBF Super Light title defeating Rafael Pineda 28-1. In March 1993, he won the WBC Welter title defeating Buddy McGirt, 59-2-1.

In his next fight, he had a majority draw with Julio “J.C.” Chavez, 87-0. In April 1997, he lost to Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya, 23-0. In February 1999, he lost to IBF Welter champ Felix “Tito” Trinidad, 33-0. He was 40-4-1 with 17 knockouts and was inducted into the IBHOF.

Two-time Olympian Davey Lee Armstrong from Puyallup, WA, and 92-15 in the amateurs. He was 22-1 when he lost to Greg Coverson, 28-0. He won the NABF lightweight title in June 1983, defeating Nick Furlano 27-6-1. He was 24-3 with 14 knockouts.

Featherweight Gold Medalist Meldrick “The Kid” Taylor from Philadelphia, PA, was 99-4 as an amateur. In September 1988, he stopped Buddy McGirt, 38-1-1, for the IBF Lightweight title.

In September of 1989, he won the IBF Super Light title defeating Courtney Hooper 24-1. In March of 1990, ahead on two of the scorecards, he was stopped by Julio Cesar Chavez, 68-0, at 2:58 of the twelfth and final round.

He took his eye off referee Richard Steele as his trainer Lou Duva was coming up the steps causing Steele to stop the fight. In January of 1991, he won the WBA Welterweight title defeating Aaron Davis 32-0.

In May of 1992, he was stopped by Terry Norris, 31-3, for the WBC World Super Welter title. In September 1994, he lost by stoppage in a rematch to Chavez, 90-1-1. He was 38-8-1 with 20 knockouts.

Silver Medalist Charles Mooney at #119 was a Staff Sergeant never turning pro with a 20-5 amateur record from Washington, DC. He was the trainer for World Heavy champ Bermane Stirverne.

Robert Shannon was the #106 Olympian, while ahead on 4 of the five scorecards, was stopped in the second round. He was from Edmonds, WA, 124-27 in the amateurs. He was 13-0-2 when he lost by majority decision to USBA Super Bantam champ Greg “Flea” Richardson, 20-2. He was 18-6-2 with eight knockouts.

Flyweight Gold Medalist Leo Randolph from Spanaway, WA, was 160-7 in the amateurs. In May 1980, he won the WBA Super Bantamweight title, stopping Ricardo Cardona, 21-4-1. He lost to Sergio Palma, 37-3-4, in Spokane, WA, by stoppage and retired. He was 17-2 with nine knockouts.

Light Flyweight Gold Medalist Steve McCrory was 28-7 in the amateurs from Detroit, MI. He was 11-0-1 when he lost to IBF World Bantam champ Jeff Fenech, 13-0 in Australia. In June 1987, he won the WBC Continental Americas title, defeating Mike Moreno 19-5-2. He lost to future world champ Jesse James Lejia, 20-0-1, in Houston, TX. He was 30-5-1 with 12 knockouts.

Light Flyweight Louis Curtis lost in the first round and was from Washington, DC. He was 22-13 in the amateurs. He was 14-0-1 when he lost to USBA Bantam champ Kevin Seabrooks, 21-13, in March 1987. He lost to former WBA champ Gaby Canizales, 38-4, for the vacant USBA title by majority decision and to future IBF World Bantam champ Orlando Canizales, 18-1-1, for the vacant USBA Super Fly title in April of 1988. In March 1990, he lost to IBF World Fly champ Dave McAuley, 14-4-2, in Belfast, IRE. He was 15-6-1 with seven knockouts.

Light Flyw Gold Medalist Paul Gonzales and winner of the Val Barker Trophy from East L.A., CA, was 23-3 in the amateurs. In his third fight, he won the NABF Fly title defeating Alonzo Gonzales, 19-10-1. In July 1986, he defeated future world champ Orlando Canizales 11-0-1.

In June 1988, he lost to USBA Light Fly champ Ray Medel, 13-3. In a rematch with Canizales, 24-1-1, for his IBF World title, he was stopped. He was 16-4 with three knockouts.