Tony Tucker
Born
Tony Craig Tucker

(1958-12-27) December 27, 1958
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesTNT
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Reach82 in (208 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights65
Wins57
Wins by KO47
Losses7
No contests1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1979 San Juan Light heavyweight
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1979 New York Light heavyweight

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.[1] 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.[1] 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).[2]

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.”[3] 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."[4]

Highlights

International Duals

1980 Olympics

Since 1979 Tony Tucker anticipated participating in the Moscow Olympics.[5][6] 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.[7][1][8]

Tucker finished his amateur career having 121 fights under his belt, with a record of 115–6.[9][10]

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

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.[1] 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%)[11]

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.[12] 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 (811⁄2" to 71").[1]

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."[1]

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.

"They tried to force me to fight Tony Tucker. And I remember looking at Tony Tucker, and saying, 'Mama didn't raise no fools. I'm not fighting him.' And they took the titles. Some people I'm not gonna fight. That's the good reason. I didn't want to fight him. Too tough."

—George Foreman, on his refusal to fight Tucker.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15]

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

65 fights 57 wins 7 losses
By knockout 47 3
By decision 10 4
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
65 Win 57–7 (1) Billy Wright KO 1 (10), 2:08 May 7, 1998 Sam's Town Hotel & Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
64 Loss 56–7 (1) John Ruiz TKO 11 (12), 0:58 Jan 31, 1998 Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, U.S. For NABF heavyweight title
63 Win 56–6 (1) Jerry Haynes TKO 3 (10) Dec 16, 1997 Music City Mix Factory, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
62 Win 55–6 (1) Abdul Muhaymin UD 10 Nov 18, 1997 Music City Mix Factory, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
61 Loss 54–6 (1) Herbie Hide TKO 2 (12), 2:45 Jun 28, 1997 Sports Village, Norwich, England For vacant WBO heavyweight title
60 Win 54–5 (1) Tyrone Campbell KO 3 (10), 2:16 Dec 16, 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
59 Win 53–5 (1) David Dixon KO 1 (12), 2:24 Jun 29, 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. Won vacant NABF heavyweight title
58 Loss 52–5 (1) Orlin Norris MD 10 Feb 24, 1996 Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
57 Loss 52–4 (1) Henry Akinwande UD 10 Dec 16, 1995 CoreStates Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
56 Loss 52–3 (1) Bruce Seldon RTD 7 (12), 3:00 Apr 8, 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For vacant WBA heavyweight title
55 Win 52–2 (1) Dan Murphy TKO 3 Dec 10, 1994 Estadio de Béisbol, Monterrey, Mexico
54 Win 51–2 (1) Cecil Coffee TKO 2 (10) Jul 2, 1994 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
53 Win 50–2 (1) George Stephens TKO 1 (10) Feb 19, 1994 Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
52 Win 49–2 (1) David Graves TKO 2 Dec 18, 1993 Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla City, Mexico
51 Loss 48–2 (1) Lennox Lewis UD 12 May 8, 1993 Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For WBC heavyweight title
50 Win 48–1 (1) Frankie Swindell RTD 6 (10), 3:00 Dec 13, 1992 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
49 Win 47–1 (1) Paul Poirier TKO 4 (10) Nov 7, 1992 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
48 Win 46–1 (1) Everett Martin PTS 10 Sep 12, 1992 Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
47 Win 45–1 (1) Oliver McCall SD 10 Jun 26, 1992 CSU Convocation Center, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. Retained NABF heavyweight title
46 Win 44–1 (1) Jesus Contreras TKO 6 (10), 1:27 Apr 22, 1992 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
45 Win 43–1 (1) Mike Faulkner KO 2 Apr 10, 1992 Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Mexico
44 Win 42–1 (1) Kimmuel Odum TKO 2 (10), 1:40 Feb 15, 1992 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
43 Win 41–1 (1) Orlin Norris SD 12 Jun 3, 1991 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won NABF heavyweight title
42 Win 40–1 (1) James Ray Thomas KO 1 (10), 1:43 Apr 29, 1991 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
41 Win 39–1 (1) Lionel Washington KO 1 (12), 1:11 Jan 28, 1991 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Won California State heavyweight title
40 Win 38–1 (1) Mike Rouse TKO 5 (10), 2:27 Jul 19, 1990 Kingdome, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
39 Win 37–1 (1) Mike Evans UD 10 Mar 8, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
38 Win 36–1 (1) Calvin Jones KO 5 (10), 2:09 Jan 8, 1990 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
37 Win 35–1 (1) Dino Homsey KO 3 (10), 1:37 Dec 12, 1989 Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
36 Loss 34–1 (1) Mike Tyson UD 12 Aug 1, 1987 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. Lost IBF heavyweight title;
For WBA and WBC heavyweight titles
35 Win 34–0 (1) Buster Douglas TKO 10 (15), 1:36 May 30, 1987 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. Won vacant IBF heavyweight title
34 Win 33–0 (1) James Broad UD 12 Sep 26, 1986 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won vacant USBA heavyweight title
33 Win 32–0 (1) Otis Bates KO 2 Aug 7, 1986 Houston, Texas, U.S.
32 Win 31–0 (1) Eddie Richardson KO 4 (10) Jul 10, 1986 Houston, Texas, U.S.
31 Win 30–0 (1) Eddie Richardson UD 10 Feb 27, 1986 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
30 Win 29–0 (1) David Jaco TKO 3 Oct 19, 1985 Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco
29 Win 28–0 (1) Bobby Crabtree TKO 4 (10) Jun 28, 1985 Hammond, Indiana, U.S.
28 Win 27–0 (1) Danny Sutton UD 10 Nov 2, 1984 Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
27 Win 26–0 (1) O. T. Davis KO 1 (10), 1:58 Nov 2, 1984 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
26 Win 25–0 (1) Jimmy Young UD 10 Sep 22, 1984 Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
25 Win 24–0 (1) Eddie Lopez KO 9 (10), 1:26 Jun 15, 1984 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24 Win 23–0 (1) Dave Johnson TKO 2 (10), 1:16 May 9, 1984 Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
23 Win 22–0 (1) Walter Santemore TKO 1, 2:29 Apr 19, 1984 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
22 Win 21–0 (1) Sam Jeter KO 1 (10), 1:29 Mar 15, 1984 Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
21 Win 20–0 (1) Larry Givens KO 4 (10), 2:30 Feb 24, 1984 Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
20 Win 19–0 (1) James Dixon TKO 6 (10), 2:58 Dec 20, 1983 Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
19 Win 18–0 (1) Lynwood Jones KO 5 (10), 2:12 Dec 1, 1983 Da Vinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
18 Win 17–0 (1) James Holly TKO 1 (4) Nov 7, 1983 Da Vinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
17 NC 16–0 (1) Danny Sutton TKO 3 (10) Aug 12, 1982 Hyatt Regency, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Originally TKO win for Sutton after Tucker was unable to continue from an accidental clash of knees, later ruled NC
16 Win 16–0 Richard Cade TKO 7 Jul 8, 1982 Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Lupe Guerra TKO 2, 1:36 Jun 30, 1982 War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 James Dixon PTS 8 Jun 15, 1982 Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Charles Atlas TKO 1 (10), 2:05 Jun 5, 1982 War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Grady Daniels TKO 5 May 18, 1982 Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Frank Farmer KO 1 Oct 17, 1981 Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Harvey Steichen TKO 3 (8), 0:50 Sep 16, 1981 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Jerry Hunter KO 1 Aug 22, 1981 Glacier Arena, Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Chip Tyler TKO 7 (8) Apr 30, 1981 Hacienda Resort Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Al Jones TKO 1 (10) Apr 9, 1981 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Robert Evans TKO 6 (6) Feb 23, 1981 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Willie Kents KO 1 (6) Jan 29, 1981 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Victor Rodriguez TKO 2 (6), 2:17 Jan 16, 1981 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Max Smith KO 5 (6) Dec 11, 1980 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Jesse Clark KO 1 (6), 2:04 Dec 2, 1980 Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Chuck Gardner KO 3 (6), 2:58 Nov 1, 1980 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.

References

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