James Tillis

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:BLP sources Template:Infobox boxer

James Tillis (born July 5, 1957) is an American former professional boxer and actor. Known as "Quick", he was known for his remarkably fast hand speed for a man of his size and build.<ref name="ABC Sports" /> A natural southpaw, Tillis turned around to orthodox midway in his amateur career. His left remained the stronger hand and for that reason, he had a powerful jab and left hook, together with the ability to switch stances while fighting.<ref name="ABC Sports" /> Tillis challenged for the WBA world heavyweight title in 1981, but was defeated in a fifteen-round unanimous decision fight against Mike Weaver. Tillis was the first man to go the distance with Mike Tyson in 1986, breaking his knockout-streak and giving him a relatively close fight, nearly a draw, with two of three judges scoring the fight Template:Nobr.<ref name="ABC Sports" /> (in the words of Hall of Fame's Gil Clancy, Tillis was "one punch" away from victory.<ref name="Clancy">SportsNight, Satellite News Channel, June 1988.</ref>) He holds notable wins over Ron Stander by TKO in the 7th round in 1980, and the hard punching Earnie Shavers by ten-round decision in 1982. Tillis fought for the last time in 2001 at the age of 44.

Early years

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was the firstborn son of James Tillis and wife Rose. Tillis attended Mclain High School and grew up in a very religious southern family, with an alcoholic father and a deeply religious mother. His mother would later join First Baptist Mohawk Church under the leadership of Pastor Clint Simmons. He dreamed about being a professional prize fighter and was given the nickname "Quick" by his first cousin Keith Reed.

Amateur career

"Quick" was influenced to begin training to become a boxer after he listened to the 1964 bout between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston on the radio. He enlisted the help of noted trainer Ed Duncan, by becoming involved in the sport at the O'Brien Park recreation center in north Tulsa. Tillis' amateur record of 92–8 led to his being considered for the United States Olympic team. Due to an illness, he was unable to compete in the Olympic trials.

However, his impressive amateur career included three state Golden Gloves and four state AAU titles. He lost to future pro opponent Greg Page at the 1976 National Golden Gloves, and to Charles Singleton at the 1978 National Golden Gloves in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the 1977 USA–USSR Duals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he lost on points to the Soviet light heavyweight David Kvachadze. He also managed to beat future pro contender Renaldo Snipes, who he later turned pro with on the same card in 1978.Template:Citation needed

Professional career

Tillis began his professional boxing career in 1978, with a first-round knockout of Ron Stephany. He won his first 20 fights with 16 knockouts. One of his most impressive early victories was a seventh-round knockout of Ron Stander in 1980. Stander had once challenged Joe Frazier for the world title and was regarded as one of boxing's most durable fighters. Other notable wins included a knockout of the South American champion Domingo D'Elia, and a points win over the sometimes dangerous fringe contender Mike Koranicki. His co-managers were Beau Williford and Gary Bentley.<ref name="ABC Sports" />

Title fight

In 1981, Tillis fought "Hercules" Mike Weaver for the WBA World Heavyweight title. After a strong start, Tillis tired. The fight would become famous for trainer Angelo Dundee imploring Tillis to do something, asking the fighter, "Do you want to be a bum all your life?" Ultimately, Tillis lost a close points decision.

In June 1982, Tillis came off the floor to outpoint the hard-hitting legend Earnie Shavers. He blew that momentum only a few months later, being upset by undefeated contender Pinklon Thomas, who was a late substitute, via an 8th-round knockout loss. In November 1982, Tillis fought former amateur rival Greg Page for the USBA Heavyweight title. He knocked Page down in the 2nd round, but again tired and was the victim of another eighth-round knockout loss. Thomas and Page would go on to win different versions of the world title.

Downward spiral

Having scored four wins, Tillis challenged future two-time world champion Tim Witherspoon in September 1983, for the vacant North American Boxing Federation title. Tillis was shockingly bombed out in one round, apparently slipping on a wet spot in the ring as Witherspoon hit him. After the fight, Tillis' trainer Angelo Dundee left him and advised him to retire, as he had just suffered his third defeat in thirteen months.

Tillis got a new team and put together four wins in 1984, before challenging Carl Williams in a world title eliminator. Having decked Williams twice in the opening round, Tillis tired and was outpointed. In 1985, under the guidance of trainer Drew Bundini Brown, he fought Joe Frazier's son and top contender Marvis Frazier. In a recurring theme, he had Frazier down in the second round, but again ran out of gas and was outpointed. A few months later, he traveled to South Africa to fight hard-hitting ex-champ Gerrie Coetzee. Tillis lost a unanimous decision, but sent Coetzee to hospital with stitches and missing teeth.

Stamina issue

After extensive medical examination, Tillis' strange recurrent fatigue midway through fights was found to derive from a severe allergy to the classic fighter's diet of milk and eggs. A doctor provided Tillis with a more suitable diet, in the training for his upcoming fight with Mike Tyson, a red-hot prospect with a 19–0 (19 KOs) record. Tillis appeared to be a new man, as he exchanged with Tyson and gave the future two-time champion a very tough fight. Although ultimately outpointed, he was the first person to take Iron Mike to the distance. Surprisingly, Tillis' heart and will to fight has been questioned quite frequently by boxing analysts, even his co-manager Beau Williford told to the press the night before the fight considering that James was on a three-times-in-a-row losing streak, that his professional career as a boxer would be ended most likely if stopped by Tyson. Trainer Angelo Dundee, who worked with Tillis for the Weaver fight and some subsequent fights, finally gave up his job, he said: "James had no spirit to fight." In the pre-fight interview he told the ESPN staff that he found that spirit. To prove Dundee was wrong, Tillis violated almost all the Dundee "No-Nos" in the Tyson fight:<ref name="ABC Sports">Template:Cite AV media</ref>

  • Fought out of the squared-up stance, instead of the closed sideway stance.
  • Sometimes fought with both hands down.
  • Switched to southpaw and back to orthodox.
  • Lead with his right hand.
  • "Left-hooked with a hooker."
  • Got tangled in wild exchanges.

Culminative moment of the fight came at 2:45 of the fourth round, when Tillis charged at Tyson with a leaping left hook, missed, and went off-balanced while pivoting on his left foot. Tyson slipped the punch and promptly switched to orthodox, throwing a leaping left hook of his own that landed right to the Tillis' chin, Tillis went down immediately. Tillis got up quickly at the count of "Two." That was the only knockdown during the entire fight, it cost Tillis a point, and subsequently a round on all the three judges' scorecards, and eventually the fight, which otherwise would have been ended a draw.<ref name="Clancy" />

Initially, the crowd was rooting for Tyson, but in the later rounds it turned somewhat against Tyson due to him being unable to knock Tillis out, and after the ring announcer Paul LeFlore announced the judges' decision, pronouncing Tyson as the winner by a unanimous decision, the crowd booed wildly when referee Joe Cortez raised Tyson's hand. Being interviewed by the ABC Sports staff, Tyson himself said he just "fought a guy who was up for this fight, in the greatest shape in his life."<ref name="ABC Sports" />

The new Tillis was short-lived, however, as he traveled to Australia and lost a decision to veteran Joe Bugner. In 1987, he was upset in eight rounds, as underdog (and regular Tyson sparring partner) Michael Williams came off the floor to stop Tillis. Later in the same year, he was stopped in five rounds on cuts by future champ Frank Bruno in London, and then knocked out in 10 rounds by hard-hitting Johnny DuPlooy in South Africa.

Having failed to secure a rematch with Tyson in 1988, this time for the undisputed heavyweight championship, he made one last attempt at the big time. Tillis was brought in to fight reigning cruiserweight world champion Evander Holyfield, who was making a high-profile move into the heavyweight ranks. Holyfield outpunched Tillis in five one-sided rounds.

Tillis resurfaced in 1991. However, his days even as a journeyman appeared over, as hard-hitting (and future WBO World Champion) Tommy Morrison stopped him in the first round.

Semi-retirement

Tillis fought on and off until 2001. Although he still was able to outpoint former top-flight amateur Craig Payne, a 39-year-old Tillis was stopped in six rounds by Cliff Couser in 1996.

Tillis fought his last fight in 2001, losing to clubfighter Rob Calloway when he was 44 years old.

Professional boxing record

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

Template:Abbr Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
66 Template:No2Loss Template:Nowrap Rob Calloway TKO 9 Apr 13, 2001 Template:Small
65 Template:No2Loss 42–21–1 Template:Small Tim Puller UD 10 Oct 16, 1999 Template:Small
64 Template:No2Loss 42–20–1 Template:Small Cliff Couser TKO 6 Aug 30, 1996 Template:Small
63 Template:Yes2Win 42–19–1 Template:Small Craig Payne UD 8 Jun 21, 1996 Template:Small
62 NC 41–19–1 Template:Small Will Hinton NC 3 Dec 7, 1995 Template:Small
61 Template:No2Loss 41–19–1 Alexander Zolkin UD 10 Oct 8, 1995 Template:Small
60 Template:Yes2Win 41–18–1 Stan White Johnson TKO 3 Feb 28, 1992 Template:Small
59 Template:Yes2Win 40–18–1 Danny Blake SD 10 Nov 22, 1991 Template:Small
58 Template:No2Loss 39–18–1 Tommy Morrison TKO 1 Jan 11, 1991 Template:Small
57 Template:Yes2Win 39–17–1 Carlton West TKO 3 Dec 7, 1990 Template:Small
56 Template:No2Loss 38–17–1 Adilson Rodrigues UD 10 Mar 20, 1989 Template:Small
55 Template:No2Loss 38–16–1 Arthel Lawhorne UD 10 Jan 14, 1989 Template:Small
54 Template:No2Loss 38–15–1 Gary Mason TKO 5 Nov 30, 1988 Template:Small
53 Template:No2Loss 38–14–1 Evander Holyfield RTD 5 Jul 16, 1988 Template:Small
52 Template:Yes2Win 38–13–1 Rodney Smith KO 2 Apr 9, 1988 Template:Small
51 Template:Yes2Win 37–13–1 Dennis Jackson KO 5 Oct 16, 1987 Template:Small
50 Template:No2Loss 36–13–1 Johnny DuPlooy TKO 10 Jun 23, 1987 Template:Small
49 Template:No2Loss 36–12–1 Frank Bruno TKO 5 Mar 24, 1987 Template:Small
48 Template:Yes2Win 36–11–1 Ronnie Douglas TKO 5 Mar 6, 1987 Template:Small
47 Template:No2Loss 35–11–1 Mike Williams TKO 8 Jan 8, 1987 Template:Small
46 Template:DrawDraw 35–10–1 Avery Rawls PTS 10 Nov 11, 1986 Template:Small
45 Template:Yes2Win 35–10 Lorenzo Boyd KO 3 Oct 28, 1986 Template:Small
44 Template:Yes2Win 34–10 Eddie Richardson PTS 10 Oct 18, 1986 Template:Small
43 Template:No2Loss 33–10 Joe Bugner PTS 10 Sep 15, 1986 Template:Small
42 Template:Yes2Win 33–9 Art Terry UD 8 Jul 29, 1986 Template:Small
41 Template:Yes2Win 32–9 Mark Young KO 8 Jun 17, 1986 Template:Small
40 Template:No2Loss 31–9 Mike Tyson UD 10 May 3, 1986 Template:Small
39 Template:No2Loss 31–8 Tyrell Biggs UD 8 Jan 25, 1986 Template:Small
38 Template:No2Loss 31–7 Gerrie Coetzee UD 10 Sep 7, 1985 Template:Small
37 Template:No2Loss 31–6 Marvis Frazier UD 10 May 20, 1985 Template:Small
36 Template:Yes2Win 31–5 Bashir Wadud UD 10 Dec 15, 1984 Template:Small
35 Template:No2Loss 30–5 Carl Williams UD 10 Oct 23, 1984 Template:Small
34 Template:Yes2Win 30–4 Michael Bennett KO 1 Aug 20, 1984 Template:Small
33 Template:Yes2Win 29–4 Billy Joe Thomas KO 3 Jul 10, 1984 Template:Small
32 Template:Yes2Win 28–4 Bobby Crabtree KO 3 Apr 26, 1984 Template:Small
31 Template:Yes2Win 27–4 Otis Bates KO 2 Feb 9, 1984 Template:Small
30 Template:No2Loss 26–4 Tim Witherspoon TKO 1 Sep 23, 1983 Template:Small Template:Small
29 Template:Yes2Win 26–3 Lynwood Jones KO 4 Jul 9, 1983 Template:Small
28 Template:Yes2Win 25–3 Larry Givens TKO 2 May 22, 1983 Template:Small
27 Template:Yes2Win 24–3 Grady Daniels TKO 4 Apr 25, 1983 Template:Small
26 Template:Yes2Win 23–3 Leroy Boone PTS 10 Mar 28, 1983 Template:Small
25 Template:No2Loss 22–3 Greg Page TKO 8 Nov 26, 1982 Template:Small Template:Small
24 Template:No2Loss 22–2 Pinklon Thomas TKO 8 Aug 14, 1982 Template:Small
23 Template:Yes2Win 22–1 Earnie Shavers UD 10 Jun 11, 1982 Template:Small
22 Template:Yes2Win 21–1 Jerry Williams KO 3 Mar 13, 1982 Template:Small
21 Template:No2Loss 20–1 Mike Weaver UD 15 Oct 3, 1981 Template:Small Template:Small
20 Template:Yes2Win 20–0 Tom Fischer PTS 10 Mar 9, 1981 Template:Small
19 Template:Yes2Win 19–0 Domingo D'Elia TKO 4 Nov 13, 1980 Template:Small
18 Template:Yes2Win 18–0 Mike Koranicki UD 10 Aug 14, 1980 Template:Small
17 Template:Yes2Win 17–0 Eric Sedillo TKO 4 Jun 12, 1980 Template:Small
16 Template:Yes2Win 16–0 Walter Santemore UD 10 May 15, 1980 Template:Small
15 Template:Yes2Win 15–0 Frank Schram TKO 2 Apr 17, 1980 Template:Small
14 Template:Yes2Win 14–0 Ron Stander TKO 7 Mar 3, 1980 Template:Small
13 Template:Yes2Win 13–0 Roy Wallace UD 10 Feb 1, 1980 Template:Small
12 Template:Yes2Win 12–0 Al Jones KO 4 Dec 13, 1979 Template:Small
11 Template:Yes2Win 11–0 Harry Terrell KO 1 Nov 20, 1979 Template:Small
10 Template:Yes2Win 10–0 Bob Whaley TKO 1 Oct 19, 1979 Template:Small
9 Template:Yes2Win 9–0 Jimmy Cross TKO 2 Sep 7, 1979 Template:Small
8 Template:Yes2Win 8–0 Charles Anderson Atlas TKO 2 Jul 30, 1979 Template:Small
7 Template:Yes2Win 7–0 Henry Porter TKO 6 Jul 20, 1979 Template:Small
6 Template:Yes2Win 6–0 George Gofarth TKO 5 Jun 11, 1979 Template:Small
5 Template:Yes2Win 5–0 Rocky Lane KO 1 Mar 31, 1979 Template:Small
4 Template:Yes2Win 4–0 Sylvester Wilder TKO 3 Feb 28, 1979 Template:Small
3 Template:Yes2Win 3–0 Dave Watkins KO 1 Feb 2, 1979 Template:Small
2 Template:Yes2Win 2–0 Al Bell TKO 1 Dec 15, 1978 Template:Small
1 Template:Yes2Win 1–0 Ron Stephany KO 1 Nov 18, 1978 Template:Small

Exhibition boxing record

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

Template:Abbr Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
2 Template:N/a 0–0 Template:Small Template:Flagicon Larry Holmes Template:N/a 2 Mar 18, 1990 Jakarta, Indonesia Template:Small
1 Template:N/a 0–0 Template:Small Template:Flagicon Mike Tyson Template:N/a 4 Nov 12, 1987 DePaul University Alumni Hall, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Template:Small

Life after boxing

In retirement he wrote an autobiography, Thinkin Big: The Story of James Quick Tillis, the Fightin' Cowboy.

James Tillis received catBOX Entertainment, Inc.’s Lifetime Sports Achievement Award. Tillis, whose fighting prowess named him “quick” and “the fighting cowboy”, was honored with the catBOX Entertainment, Inc.’s Lifetime Sports Achievement Award, before the main event at catBOX’s professional fight card set for February 11, 2010 at Remington Park Casino in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 12, 2010, the State of Oklahoma honored one of its favorite sons, James “Quick” Tillis of Tulsa. Gov. Brad Henry signed a declaration making Feb 12 James “Quick” Tillis Day in Oklahoma.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of 2010 Tillis is living in Tulsa.<ref name="u705">Template:Cite web</ref>

His daughter Iciss played basketball at Duke University as a center, and was on the United States National Team for the 2003 Pan American Games. Iciss was later selected in the first round by the Detroit Shock during 2004 WNBA draft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She later played for the New York Liberty in 2006.

Honorary Sign

On September 22, 2017, Tillis was honored by the city of Tulsa with honorary signs renaming a section of E. Virgin St "Quick Tillis Way" from N. Garrison Ave – N. Frankfort Ave.

Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame induction

On November 5, 2011, James "Quick" Tillis was Inducted into the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame, receiving the "John Mastrella Integrity Award".

Tillis places the priorities in his life as "Serving The Lord Jesus Christ, Cowboy-ing and volunteering with amateur boxing clubs".

Bringing to fruition film adaptation of his autobiography, Thinkin Big: The Story of James Quick Tillis, the Fightin' Cowboy, is his pet project.

References

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