Tony Tucker

Tony Tucker

Born: December 27, 1958
Age: 65
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Biography

Tony Craig Tucker (born December 27, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who fought at heavyweight from 1980 to 1998. He is a former IBF world heavyweight champion, but holds the unenviable distinction of having been the shortest-reigning world heavyweight champion in history, at only 64 days.

Tucker had a notable amateur career, winning the 1979 National AAU Light Heavyweight Championship and a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games. He also lost a decision to Lee Roy Murphy in the finals of the 1977 Ohio State Fair tournament, and was upset at the Western Olympic trials in 1980 by Alex DeLucia.

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Professional career

After turning pro in 1980, Tucker's early fights were often shown on NBC, as part of a collection known as "Tomorrow's Champions".

Tucker's progress in the professional ranks was slow. He was injury prone, and he changed managers and trainers several times. Eventually his father Bob Tucker performed both roles. After enjoying a high profile upon his professional debut, Tucker spent the majority of the 1980s boxing in off-TV bouts. In addition, he injured his knee in a bout against Danny Sutton, which caused him to miss a little over a year.

In June 1984, he scored a win by knocking out Eddie "The Animal" Lopez in 9 rounds on the undercard of the Tommy Hearns-Roberto Duran fight. It was the first time Lopez had ever been knocked down. In September 1984, he followed it up by outpointing Jimmy Young .

In September 1986, Tucker finally landed a big fight, against 242 lb James "Broad-Axe" Broad, for the USBA belt and a world title eliminator. Tucker won by unanimous decision.

Home Box Office and Don King Productions orchestrated a Heavyweight unification series for 1987, planning among its bouts a match between reigning IBF champion Michael Spinks and Tucker. Spinks refused to face Tucker, opting instead for a more lucrative bout with Gerry Cooney. The IBF withdraw its championship recognition of Spinks on February 19, mandating that Tucker (as the IBF's number 1-ranked contender) face its number 2 contender, Buster Douglas. Tucker won the bout, and the vacant IBF crown, via 10th-round technical knockout.

Tucker, as the winner of the IBF title, was obliged to immediately defend his title in a unification bout with World Boxing Association (WBA) and WBC champion Mike Tyson, in what would be the tournament final. Despite having a broken right hand, Tucker faced Tyson on August 1, 1987. Tyson defeated Tucker by unanimous decision to unify the three championship titles, in the process giving Tucker the distinction of having the shortest championship reign in the history of the Heavyweight division (64 days).

Coincidentally, eight years later this exact scenario would unfold to give Tucker another title shot, as the WBA would withdraw its championship recognition of George Foreman on March 4, 1995 after Foreman refused to face Tucker (who was its designated #1 contender). Unlike the 1987 scenario, this time Tucker would not earn a championship, as he would lose the match mandated by the WBA, against #2-ranked contender Bruce Seldon.

Comeback

Tucker returned to boxing in 1990, and by 1992 was back in Don King's stable. He won the NABF belt with a split decision over the highly ranked Orlin Norris, and successfully defended it against future world champion Oliver McCall, winning another 12-round decision. He finished 1992 with a 6th-round TKO of Frankie Swindell and set himself up for another world title shot.

By 1993, Tucker had run his record up to 49-1 and in May of that year he challenged Lennox Lewis for the WBC world heavyweight title. Lewis won a 12-round unanimous decision, knocking down Tucker twice. It was the first time in 34-year-old Tucker's career that he had been off his feet.

In 1995, George Foreman refused to defend his WBA world heavyweight title against Tucker, choosing to fight German Axel Schulz. Tucker and Bruce Seldon fought for the vacant WBA belt in April 1995. Seldon won by TKO after 7 rounds when doctors stopped the fight due to Tucker's eye closing shut.

Tucker lost his shot at a rematch when later that year he was outpointed by a newly signed Don King heavyweight, British-Nigerian boxer Henry Akinwande, over ten rounds.

In 1996 he was outpointed by old rival Orlin Norris. He scored two low-key wins in California, and in 1997 traveled to the U.K. to challenge Herbie Hide for the vacant WBO title. Tucker was dropped three times and knocked out in round 2.

In 1998 Tucker challenged John Ruiz for his NABF belt. Despite a big 6th round where he had Ruiz in trouble, Tucker was eventually stopped in the 11th round.

He came back in May to knock out journeyman Billy Wright in one round, but later had his license revoked due to medical concerns about Tucker's vision.

Professional boxing record

57 wins (47 knockouts, 10 decisions), 7 losses (3 knockouts, 4 decisions), 0 draws, 1 no-contest
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win 57-7
Billy Wright KO 1 07/05/1998 Sam's Town Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Loss 56-7
John Ruiz TKO 11 31/01/1998 Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 56-6
Jerry Haynes TKO 3 16/12/1997 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win 55-6
Abdul Muhaymin UD 10 18/11/1997 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Loss 54-6
Herbie Hide TKO 2 28/06/1997 Sports Village, Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
Win 54-5
Tyrone Campbell KO 3 16/12/1996 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States
Win 53-5
David Dixon KO 1 29/06/1996 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States
Loss 52-5
Orlin Norris SD 10 24/02/1996 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, United States
Loss 52-4
Henry Akinwande UD 10 16/12/1995 Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss 52-3
Bruce Seldon RTD 7 08/04/1995 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 52-2
Dan Murphy TKO 3 10/12/1994 Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Win 51-2
Cecil Coffee TKO 2 02/07/1994 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 50-2
George Stephens TKO 1 19/02/1994 Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Win 49-2
David Graves TKO 2 18/12/1993 Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Loss 48-2
Lennox Lewis UD 12 08/05/1993 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 48-1
Frankie Swindell TKO 6 13/12/1992 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 47-1
Paul Poirier TKO 4 07/11/1992 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win 46-1
Everett Martin PTS 10 12/09/1992 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 45-1
Oliver McCall SD 10 26/06/1992 CSU Convention Centre, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Win 44-1
Jesus Contreras TKO 6 22/04/1992 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Win 43-1
Mike Faulkner KO 2 10/04/1992 El Toreo, Mexico City, Mexico
Win 42-1
Kimmuel Odum TKO 2 15/02/1992 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 41-1
Orlin Norris SD 12 03/06/1991 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 40-1
James Ray Thomas KO 1 29/04/1991 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 39-1
Lionel Washington KO 1 28/01/1991 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 38-1
Mike Rouse TKO 5 19/07/1990 Kingdome, Seattle, Washington, United States
Win 37-1
Mike Evans UD 10 08/03/1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 36-1
Calvin Jones TKO 5 08/01/1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 35-1
Dino Homsey KO 3 12/12/1989 Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States
Loss 34-1
Mike Tyson UD 12 01/08/1987 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 34-0
Buster Douglas TKO 10 30/05/1987 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 32-0
James Broad UD 12 26/09/1986 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 31-0
Otis Bates KO 2 07/08/1986 Houston, Texas, United States
Win 30-0
Eddie Richardson KO 4 10/07/1986 Houston, Texas, United States
Win 29-0
Eddie Richardson UD 10 27/02/1986 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win 28-0
David Jaco TKO 3 19/10/1985 Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Win 27-0
Bobby Crabtree TKO 4 28/06/1985 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 26-0
Danny Sutton UD 10 02/11/1984 Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 25-0
O T Davis KO 1 02/11/1984 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win 24-0
Jimmy Young UD 10 22/09/1984 Gerald R Ford Fieldhouse, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Win 23-0
Eddie Lopez KO 9 15/06/1984 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 22-0
Dave Johnson TKO 2 09/05/1984 Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 21-0
Walter Santemore TKO 1 19/04/1984 Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win 20-0
Sam Jeter KO 1 15/03/1984 Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 19-0
Larry Givens KO 4 24/02/1984 Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 19-0
James Dixon TKO 6 20/12/1983 Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 18-0
Lynwood Jones KO 5 01/12/1983 DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 17-0
James Holly TKO 1 07/11/1983 Chicago, Illinois, United States
NC 16-0
Danny Sutton NC 3 12/08/1982 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win 16-0 Richard Cade TKO 7 08/07/1982 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 15-0 Lupe Guerra TKO 2 30/06/1982 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, United States
Win 14-0 James Dixon PTS 8 15/06/1982 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 13-0 Charles Atlas TKO 1 05/06/1982 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, United States
Win 12-0 Grady Daniels TKO 5 18/05/1982 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 11-0 Frank Farmer KO 1 17/10/1981 Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Win 10-0 Harvey Steichen TKO 3 16/09/1981 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 9-0 Jerry Hunter KO 1 22/08/1981 Glacier Arena, Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Win 8-0 Chip Tyler TKO 7 30/04/1981 Hacienda Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 7-0 Memphis Al Jones TKO 1 09/04/1981 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win 6-0 Robert Evans TKO 6 23/02/1981 Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 5-0 Willie Kents KO 1 29/01/1981 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win 4-0 Victor Rodriguez TKO 2 16/01/1981 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 3-0 Max Smith KO 5 11/12/1980 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 2-0 Jesse Clark KO 1 02/12/1980 Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, United States
Win 1-0 Chuck Gardner KO 3 01/11/1980 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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