Tony Tucker

Tony Craig Tucker (born December 27, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 1998. He won the IBF heavyweight title in 1987, and was the shortest-reigning world heavyweight champion at just 64 days. In an interview with Barry Tompkins, he referred to himself as the "invisible champion," due to the press and general public largely neglecting him.<ref name="HBO-Ultimate" /> He is best known for giving Mike Tyson in his prime a relatively close fight, in which he, in the words of Larry Merchant, "rocked Tyson" in the first round.<ref name="HBO-Ultimate" /> However, Tyson went on to win a unanimous decision. As an amateur, he won the 1979 United States national championships, the 1979 World Cup, and a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games, all in the light heavyweight division.

Amateur career

Tony Tucker became a boxer under influence of his father Bob Tucker, also a former amateur boxer, who became his trainer and manager, put all his wealth into the development of his son's boxing career. Tony fought out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, competing almost his entire amateur career in the light heavyweight division with his billed weight at the 1979 Pan American Games exactly matching the weight limit of the division (178 lbs).<ref>Felt Forum Features Cup Boxing Tonight. New York Times, October 11, 1979.</ref>

Robert Surkein, the national boxing chairman for the Amateur Athletic Union, said of Tucker: “Believe me, he's better than Leon Spinks. Spinks couldn't hold this kid's gloves at a comparable stage.”<ref>American Boxers Striking Gold. New York Times, July 16, 1979.</ref> Rollie Schwartz, past national chairman of the AAU Boxing Commission, said of Tucker prior to the Olympics, "Tucker is a combination boxer and puncher, much akin to Joe Louis. He comes right at you. I'd take him tomorrow over the two so-called light Heavyweight champs."<ref>Schwartz: Sugar Ray Will Feast on Duran by Pat Rushton, Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1980, p. 29.</ref>

Highlights

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 United States National Championships, Biloxi, Mississippi, April 1978:

• 1/8: Defeated Jerry Bennett by decision
• 1/2: Lost to Charles Singleton by decision

U.S. National Sports Festival, Fort Carson, Colorado, July 1978:

• Finals: Lost to Elmer Martin by decision

Template:Gold1 United States National Championships, Lake Charles, Louisiana, May 1979:

• 1/2: Defeated Kelvin Anderson by decision
• Finals: Defeated Andre McCoy by decision

Pan Am Trials, Toledo, Ohio, May–June 1979:

• 1/2: Defeated Elliott Chavis by decision
• Finals: Defeated Andre McCoy by decision

Template:Col-2 Template:Gold1 Pan American Games, Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 1979:

• 1/4: Defeated Sixto Soria (Cuba) by majority decision, 4–1 Template:Small
• 1/2: Defeated Patrick Fennel (Canada) RSC 3
• Finals: Defeated Dennis Jackson (Puerto Rico) by unanimous decision, 5–0 Template:Small

Template:Gold1 World Cup, Felt Forum, New York City, October 1979:

• 1/4: Defeated Benny Pike (Australia) by unanimous decision, 5–0
• 1/2: Defeated Kurt Seiler (West Germany) by unanimous decision, 5–0
• Finals: Defeated Albert Nikolyan (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0

International Duals

• February 1, 1979, Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, Louisiana: Lost to Nikolay Yerofeyev (Soviet Union) by decision
• February 11, 1979, Estadio Latinamericano, Havana, Cuba: Lost to Hermenegildo Báez (Cuba) by decision
• February 24, 1979, Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, Louisiana: Defeated Jacek Kucharczyk (Poland) by split decision, 2–1
• February 10, 1980, Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina: Defeated Orestes Pedroso (Cuba)
• February 25, 1980, Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii: Defeated Ene Saipaia (Hawaii)
• March 1980, Schwerin, East Germany: Lost to Herbert Bauch (East Germany) by walkover
• March 1980, Schwerin, East Germany: Lost to Werner Kohnert (East Germany) by split decision, 1–2
• March 1980, Rostock, East Germany: Lost to Jürgen Fanghänel (East Germany) DQ 1

1980 Olympics

Since 1979 Tony Tucker anticipated participating in the Moscow Olympics.<ref>U.S. Athletes Look to Moscow: Optimism but Apprehension. New York Times, August 13, 1979.</ref><ref>Amateur boxing strong enough to survive boycott by Ed Schuyler (Associated Press), The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 21, 1980, p. 25.</ref> Tucker was an alternate for the United States Olympic Team for the 1980 Summer Olympics (Lee Roy Murphy qualified as the prime.) President Jimmy Carter ordered to boycott the Olympics, which led the U.S. Team to cancel its participation in the Olympics, instead it embarked on a series of exhibitions in Europe. On March 14, 1980, en route to Poland, their plane Polish Airlines IL-62 crashed near Warsaw, with the U.S. boxing team aboard, consisting of 22 boxers, there were no survivors. Several people, including Tony Tucker, missed the flight and stayed in the United States due to various reasons, in Tucker's case an injury sustained just prior to the accident. At that point Tucker became religious, believing that God spared his life for a purpose, in order for him to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Shortly thereafter Tucker turned pro.<ref>A Shaken Tony Tucker Thanks God For His Life.</ref><ref name="HBO-Ultimate" /><ref>The Dead Boxers by Ronnie Shields, Elyria Chronicle Telegram, March 15, 1980, p. 3.</ref>

Tucker finished his amateur career having 121 fights under his belt, with a record of 115–6.<ref>Tony Tucker Amateur Record at the BoxingRecords. Last updated : March 1, 2006.</ref><ref>Unbeaten Tucker is 10-1 underdog, Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, July 31, 1987, p. 26.</ref>

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, missing more than a year with a knee injury suffered in a bout against Danny Sutton. Tucker also changed managers and trainers several times; his father, Bob Tucker, eventually performed both roles. After enjoying a high profile upon his professional debut, Tucker boxed in non-televised bouts for the majority of the 1980s.

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

IBF heavyweight champion

Tucker vs Douglas

Home Box Office and Don King Productions orchestrated a heavyweight unification series for 1987, planning among its bouts a match between Tucker and reigning IBF champion Michael Spinks. Spinks refused to face Tucker, opting instead for a more lucrative bout with Gerry Cooney. The IBF stripped Spinks of the championship on February 19, mandating that Tucker (as its #1-ranked contender) face its number-two contender, Buster Douglas, the very man who would eventually dethrone Tyson. As the co-feature of reining unified champion Mike Tyson and ex-champ Pinklon Thomas, Tucker won the bout and the vacant IBF crown via tenth-round technical knockout.

Tucker vs. Tyson

Template:Main article Tucker, as the winner of the IBF title, was obliged to immediately defend his title in a unification bout with WBA and WBC champion Mike Tyson 64 days after winning the title, in what would be the tournament final, where Tucker was a 10-to-1 underdog.<ref name="HBO-Ultimate" /> Before Tucker was managed by Emmanuel Steward, who received a negotiated percent of each payday. By that time for that same purpose a joint venture named Tucker Inc. was formed by his promoters Cedric Kushner (18% of total share), and Josephine Abercrombie with Jeff Levine (also 18%), partnering with Dennis Rappaport and Alan Kornberg (13%,) and lastly Emmanuel Steward (6%). His father Bob Tucker also secured a share in Tucker Inc. (12%)<ref>A Ringside Affair: Boxing’s Last Golden Age, p. 110.</ref>

Before the fight versus Tyson, Tucker had been on an eight-year-long winning streak, his last defeat was in 1979, while competing in amateurs.

Despite having a broken right hand, Tucker faced Tyson on August 1, 1987.<ref>Gustkey, Earl (January 5, 1990). "For One Moment, Tucker Had It All : Boxing: He came closest to beating Tyson in 1987 and now yearns for another shot at title.". Los Angeles Times. tronc. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref> Tyson defeated Tucker by unanimous decision to unify the three championship titles, leaving Tucker with the shortest world championship reign in the history of the heavyweight division (64 days). According to the HBO Punch Statistics, Tucker landed 174 of 452 punches thrown, while Tyson landed 216 of 412, and in fact outjabbed Tucker, who had more than a 10-inch reach advantage (81Template:Frac" to 71").<ref name="HBO-Ultimate" />

HBO host and boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard said: "What Tucker displayed tonight was the fact that he is a non-conformist. He did what a lot of us thought he couldn't do, and that's why I respect him so much, because he boxed, he clinched, he was very strategic, very tactical, very intelligent fighter."<ref name="HBO-Ultimate">Mike Tyson vs Tony Tucker 31st of 58 - Aug. 1987 "The Ultimate"</ref>

Coincidentally, this exact scenario would unfold again eight years later to give Tucker another title shot.

Comeback

Tucker returned to boxing in 1989 and was back in Don King's stable by 1992. He won the NABF belt with a 12-round split decision over highly-ranked Orlin Norris and successfully defended it against future world champion Oliver McCall, winning another 12-round split decision. He finished 1992 with a sixth-round TKO of Frankie Swindell and set himself up for another world title shot.

Tucker had run his record up to 48–1 and challenged Lennox Lewis for the WBC world heavyweight title in May 1993. Lewis won a 12-round unanimous decision, knocking the challenger down twice in the process. The 34-year-old Tucker had never been off his feet in his pro career until this bout.

Template:Quote box After beating Michael Moorer in November 1994 to become the oldest world heavyweight champion in history, George Foreman began negotiations in early 1995 to make the first defense of his WBA and IBF titles against German mid-level prospect Axel Schulz.<ref>"Schulz of Germany Looks to Foreman", The New York Times, 1995-01-04, Retrieved 2013-10-15.</ref> As Schulz was not ranked by either organization, Foreman could not defend their championships against Schulz without their permission.

The IBF granted Foreman permission to face Schulz, which Foreman ultimately did. However, the WBA refused, insisting that Foreman instead face Tucker, their organization's #1-ranked contender.<ref>"W.B.A. Says No to Foreman", The New York Times, 1995-01-28, Retrieved on 2013-10-15.</ref>

The situation in which Tucker had found himself in 1987 now played out again: the WBA vacated the title due to Foreman's non-compliance, setting up an April 1995 title bout between Tucker and number-two contender Bruce Seldon. Seldon won by TKO after seven rounds when doctors stopped the fight due to Tucker's eye closing shut.

Tucker lost his chance at a rematch later that year when he lost a ten-round decision to a newly-signed Don King heavyweight, British-Nigerian boxer Henry Akinwande.

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 en route to a second-round knockout.

In 1998 Tucker challenged John Ruiz for his NABF belt. Despite a big sixth round in which 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

Template:Abbr	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
65	Template:Yes2Win	Template:Nowrap	Billy Wright	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	May 7, 1998	Template:Small
64	Template:No2Loss	56–7 Template:Small	John Ruiz	TKO	11 (12), Template:Small	Jan 31, 1998	Template:Small	Template:Small
63	Template:Yes2Win	56–6 Template:Small	Jerry Haynes	TKO	3 (10)	Dec 16, 1997	Template:Small
62	Template:Yes2Win	55–6 Template:Small	Abdul Muhaymin	UD	10	Nov 18, 1997	Template:Small
61	Template:No2Loss	54–6 Template:Small	Herbie Hide	TKO	2 (12), Template:Small	Jun 28, 1997	Template:Small	Template:Small
60	Template:Yes2Win	54–5 Template:Small	Tyrone Campbell	KO	3 (10), Template:Small	Dec 16, 1996	Template:Small
59	Template:Yes2Win	53–5 Template:Small	David Dixon	KO	1 (12), Template:Small	Jun 29, 1996	Template:Small	Template:Small
58	Template:No2Loss	52–5 Template:Small	Orlin Norris	Template:Abbr	10	Feb 24, 1996	Template:Small
57	Template:No2Loss	52–4 Template:Small	Henry Akinwande	UD	10	Dec 16, 1995	Template:Small
56	Template:No2Loss	52–3 Template:Small	Bruce Seldon	RTD	7 (12), Template:Small	Apr 8, 1995	Template:Small	Template:Small
55	Template:Yes2Win	52–2 Template:Small	Dan Murphy	TKO	3	Dec 10, 1994	Template:Small
54	Template:Yes2Win	51–2 Template:Small	Cecil Coffee	TKO	2 (10)	Jul 2, 1994	Template:Small
53	Template:Yes2Win	50–2 Template:Small	George Stephens	TKO	1 (10)	Feb 19, 1994	Template:Small
52	Template:Yes2Win	49–2 Template:Small	David Graves	TKO	2	Dec 18, 1993	Template:Small
51	Template:No2Loss	48–2 Template:Small	Lennox Lewis	UD	12	May 8, 1993	Template:Small	Template:Small
50	Template:Yes2Win	48–1 Template:Small	Frankie Swindell	Template:Abbr	6 (10), Template:Small	Dec 13, 1992	Template:Small
49	Template:Yes2Win	47–1 Template:Small	Paul Poirier	TKO	4 (10)	Nov 7, 1992	Template:Small
48	Template:Yes2Win	46–1 Template:Small	Everett Martin	PTS	10	Sep 12, 1992	Template:Small
47	Template:Yes2Win	45–1 Template:Small	Oliver McCall	SD	10	Jun 26, 1992	Template:Small	Template:Small
46	Template:Yes2Win	44–1 Template:Small	Jesus Contreras	TKO	6 (10), Template:Small	Apr 22, 1992	Template:Small
45	Template:Yes2Win	43–1 Template:Small	Mike Faulkner	KO	2	Apr 10, 1992	Template:Small
44	Template:Yes2Win	42–1 Template:Small	Kimmuel Odum	TKO	2 (10), Template:Small	Feb 15, 1992	Template:Small
43	Template:Yes2Win	41–1 Template:Small	Orlin Norris	Template:Abbr	12	Jun 3, 1991	Template:Small	Template:Small
42	Template:Yes2Win	40–1 Template:Small	James Ray Thomas	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Apr 29, 1991	Template:Small
41	Template:Yes2Win	39–1 Template:Small	Lionel Washington	KO	1 (12), Template:Small	Jan 28, 1991	Template:Small	Template:Small
40	Template:Yes2Win	38–1 Template:Small	Mike Rouse	TKO	5 (10), Template:Small	Jul 19, 1990	Template:Small
39	Template:Yes2Win	37–1 Template:Small	Mike Evans	UD	10	Mar 8, 1990	Template:Small
38	Template:Yes2Win	36–1 Template:Small	Calvin Jones	KO	5 (10), Template:Small	Jan 8, 1990	Template:Small
37	Template:Yes2Win	35–1 Template:Small	Dino Homsey	KO	3 (10), Template:Small	Dec 12, 1989	Template:Small
36	Template:No2Loss	34–1 Template:Small	Mike Tyson	UD	12	Aug 1, 1987	Template:Small	Template:Small
35	Template:Yes2Win	34–0 Template:Small	Buster Douglas	TKO	10 (15), Template:Small	May 30, 1987	Template:Small	Template:Small
34	Template:Yes2Win	33–0 Template:Small	James Broad	UD	12	Sep 26, 1986	Template:Small	Template:Small
33	Template:Yes2Win	32–0 Template:Small	Otis Bates	KO	2	Aug 7, 1986	Template:Small
32	Template:Yes2Win	31–0 Template:Small	Eddie Richardson	KO	4 (10)	Jul 10, 1986	Template:Small
31	Template:Yes2Win	30–0 Template:Small	Eddie Richardson	UD	10	Feb 27, 1986	Template:Small
30	Template:Yes2Win	29–0 Template:Small	David Jaco	TKO	3	Oct 19, 1985	Template:Small
29	Template:Yes2Win	28–0 Template:Small	Bobby Crabtree	TKO	4 (10)	Jun 28, 1985	Template:Small
28	Template:Yes2Win	27–0 Template:Small	Danny Sutton	UD	10	Nov 2, 1984	Template:Small
27	Template:Yes2Win	26–0 Template:Small	O. T. Davis	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Nov 2, 1984	Template:Small
26	Template:Yes2Win	25–0 Template:Small	Jimmy Young	Template:Abbr	10	Sep 22, 1984	Template:Small
25	Template:Yes2Win	24–0 Template:Small	Eddie Lopez	KO	9 (10), Template:Small	Jun 15, 1984	Template:Small
24	Template:Yes2Win	23–0 Template:Small	Dave Johnson	TKO	2 (10), Template:Small	May 9, 1984	Template:Small
23	Template:Yes2Win	22–0 Template:Small	Walter Santemore	TKO	1, Template:Small	Apr 19, 1984	Template:Small
22	Template:Yes2Win	21–0 Template:Small	Sam Jeter	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Mar 15, 1984	Template:Small
21	Template:Yes2Win	20–0 Template:Small	Larry Givens	KO	4 (10), Template:Small	Feb 24, 1984	Template:Small
20	Template:Yes2Win	19–0 Template:Small	James Dixon	TKO	6 (10), Template:Small	Dec 20, 1983	Template:Small
19	Template:Yes2Win	18–0 Template:Small	Lynwood Jones	KO	5 (10), Template:Small	Dec 1, 1983	Template:Small
18	Template:Yes2Win	17–0 Template:Small	James Holly	TKO	1 (4)	Nov 7, 1983	Template:Small
17	Template:Abbr	16–0 Template:Small	Danny Sutton	TKO	3 (10)	Aug 12, 1982	Template:Small	Template:Small
16	Template:Yes2Win	16–0	Richard Cade	TKO	7	Jul 8, 1982	Template:Small
15	Template:Yes2Win	15–0	Lupe Guerra	TKO	2, Template:Small	Jun 30, 1982	Template:Small
14	Template:Yes2Win	14–0	James Dixon	Template:Abbr	8	Jun 15, 1982	Template:Small
13	Template:Yes2Win	13–0	Charles Atlas	TKO	1 (10), Template:Small	Jun 5, 1982	Template:Small
12	Template:Yes2Win	12–0	Grady Daniels	TKO	5	May 18, 1982	Template:Small
11	Template:Yes2Win	11–0	Frank Farmer	KO	1	Oct 17, 1981	Template:Small
10	Template:Yes2Win	10–0	Harvey Steichen	TKO	3 (8), Template:Small	Sep 16, 1981	Template:Small
9	Template:Yes2Win	9–0	Jerry Hunter	KO	1	Aug 22, 1981	Template:Small
8	Template:Yes2Win	8–0	Chip Tyler	TKO	7 (8)	Apr 30, 1981	Template:Small
7	Template:Yes2Win	7–0	Al Jones	TKO	1 (10)	Apr 9, 1981	Template:Small
6	Template:Yes2Win	6–0	Robert Evans	TKO	6 (6)	Feb 23, 1981	Template:Small
5	Template:Yes2Win	5–0	Willie Kents	KO	1 (6)	Jan 29, 1981	Template:Small
4	Template:Yes2Win	4–0	Victor Rodriguez	Template:Abbr	2 (6), Template:Small	Jan 16, 1981	Template:Small
3	Template:Yes2Win	3–0	Max Smith	KO	5 (6)	Dec 11, 1980	Template:Small
2	Template:Yes2Win	2–0	Jesse Clark	KO	1 (6), Template:Small	Dec 2, 1980	Template:Small
1	Template:Yes2Win	1–0	Chuck Gardner	Template:Abbr	3 (6), Template:Small	Nov 1, 1980	Template:Small

External links

• Template:Boxrec