Tony Tubbs (born February 15, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2006, and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1985 to 1986.

Amateur career As an amateur, Tony Tubbs competed in 253 bouts, compiling a record of 240 wins and 13 losses—primarily in the heavyweight division. In a 1976 match between the USSR and the United States, Tubbs lost by knockout in the second round to future Soviet Heavyweight Champion Igor Vysotsky.

In 1978 Tubbs lost in the quarterfinals of the world Cup to Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson. Tubbs was the only opponent who managed to go the distance with Stevenson. Tubbs trained with the Muhammad Ali Amateur Boxing Team in Santa Monica, CA. In 1979, Tubbs became the National AAU Heavyweight Champion by defeating Mitch Green and Greg Page, both contests were rematches of previous defeats. In the match-up meetings USSR versus the United States Tubbs defeated the two-time amateur European champion Yevgeni Gorstkov and the future silver medalist of the Olympic games Pyotr Zayev. In 1979 Tubbs won the AIBA Boxing World Cup, defeating Khoren Indzhyan, and finally avenged his loss to Marvis Frazier, who prior to that upset went unbeaten with a 42–0 (21 KOs) record.Frazier sees self in son, Lansing State Journal, December 9, 1979, p. 53. Tony fought as a member of the Muhammad Ali Amateur Boxing Team.

By 1980 the conclusion of Tubbs's amateur career was the Olympic Games, but Tubbs was unable compete due to the US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Among his other notable Amateur victories were defeating James Broad and Jimmy Clark, and 1980 Olympic bronze medalist Stephen Left. As an amateur, Tubbs worked as a sparring partner to Muhammad Ali, helping the former to prepare for his rematch with Leon Spinks for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Highlights

1976: USA–USSR Duals, Sahara Hotel Space Center, Las Vegas, Nevada (Heavyweight) Lost to Igor Vysotsky (Soviet Union) RSC 2 1977: USA–USSR Duals, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Heavyweight) Defeated Pyotr Zayev (Soviet Union) by decision 1977: National Golden Gloves, Honolulu, Hawaii (Heavyweight) 1/2: Lost to Jimmy Clark by decision 1978: National Sports Festival, Fort Carson (Heavyweight) Finals: Lost to Mitch Green by decision 1978: United States National Championships, Biloxi, Mississippi (Heavyweight) 1/2: Defeated Woody Clark by decision Finals: Lost to Greg Page by decision 1978: World Championships, Belgrade, Yugoslavia (Heavyweight): 1/8: Defeated Istvan Levai (Hungary) by unanimous decision, 5–0 1/4: Lost to Teófilo Stevenson (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 0–5

1979: USA–USSR Duals, Las Vegas, Nevada (Heavyweight) Defeated Yevgeniy Gorstkov (Soviet Union) by decision 1979: National Golden Gloves (Heavyweight) (no data available) 1979: United States National Championships, Lake Charles, Louisiana (Heavyweight) Finals: Defeated Phillip Brown 1979: Frazier–Ali teams match-up, Atlantic City, New Jersey Lost to Marvis Frazier by decision 1979: World Cup, Madison Square Garden, New York City (Heavyweight): 1/4: Defeated Narciso Maldonado (Puerto Rico) KO 1 1/2: Defeated Luk Tchoula (Gabon) KO 3 Finals: Defeated Khoren Indzhyan (USSR) by unanimous decision, 5–0 1980: Frazier–Ali teams match-up, Houston, Texas (Heavyweight): Defeated Marvis Frazier by decision

Tubbs finished his career having 253 fights, with a record of 240 wins, 13 losses.Tony Tubbs Career Record at BoxingRecords.com. Last updated: March 1, 2006.

Professional career Early years Tubbs made his professional debut on June 14, 1980, with a first-round knockout of Bruce Scott. After 11 fights, he fought fellow undefeated prospect Clarence Hill on August 7, 1982, and won by a ten-round unanimous decision. After out-pointing Jimmy Young (who had defeated George Foreman) on April 10, 1983, he was signed by Don King and began rising up the rankings while appearing on several King undercards. On March 15, 1985, he faced future WBA heavyweight champion James "Bonecrusher" Smith in a WBA title eliminator. Tubbs won by a unanimous decision, taking his record to 20–0 (15 KOs).

World heavyweight title fights

On April 29, 1985, Tubbs challenged Greg Page for the WBA heavyweight world title. Page and Tubbs fought seven times as amateurs, with Page winning six of them, but for their only meeting as professionals, Tubbs won by a fifteen-round unanimous decision. On January 17, 1986, Tubbs made his first title defense against former WBC heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon. Tubbs weighed-in at , 15 more than he weighed for the Page fight, and lost the title by a fifteen-round majority decision.

Tubbs and Witherspoon had a rematch scheduled for December 12, 1986, but Tubbs pulled out of the fight and was replaced by Bonecrusher Smith, who knocked Witherspoon out in the first round. Tubbs said he had an injured shoulder, but promoter Don King accused Tubbs of trying to get more money. On March 21, 1988, Tubbs challenged Mike Tyson for the undisputed world heavyweight championship; after out-boxing Tyson in the first round, Tubbs was knocked out in the second.

On November 21, 1989, Tubbs out-pointed top contender Orlin Norris, winning the North American Boxing Federation title. However, Tubbs failed two post-fight drugs tests, testing positive for cocaine. Tubbs was stripped of the title and the victory was changed to a no contest.

On April 20, 1991, a 34-year-old Tubbs lost a highly controversial ten-round decision to future undisputed world heavyweight Champion, Riddick Bowe. The general consensus in the media was that Tubbs had easily outboxed Bowe. On August 8, 1992, Tubbs was upset by Lionel Butler in a first-round knockout. Tubbs came back to out-point future WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, knocking him down in the 1st round, and beating undefeated Alexander Zolkin by unanimous decision, but then suffered another first-round knockout—this one to clubfighter Jimmy Ellis.

People's Choice Heavyweight Tournament In December 1993, Tubbs took part in the one-night People's Choice Heavyweight Tournament in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. He knocked out Willie Jackson in the first round and won three-round decisions over 1984 Olympic gold medalist Tyrell Biggs, Jose Ribalta, and Daniel Dăncuţă to win the tournament. Depending on pay-per-view revenue, he had a chance to win $1 million. He was paid $170,000.

Late career From 1994 to 1997, Tubbs went 3–3 with one no-contest. He retired but came back in 2002. He lost two of his first three comeback fights, but then won his next five, including a win over 18–0 Brian Minto. His last fight was a six-round unanimous decision over clubfighter Adam Smith on November 4, 2006.

California Boxing Hall of Fame Tubbs was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on June 25, 2011, in Studio City, CA. Tubbs attended the induction with his family, mother and children.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes59WinAdam SmithUD6Nov 4, 200658Win46–10 Jason WallerTKO7 (8), Aug 6, 200657Win45–10 Danny WoffordUD6Feb 25, 200556Win44–10 Brian Minto10Dec 30, 200455Win43–10 Brian SargentTKO1 (6), Oct 29, 200454Loss42–10 Abraham OkineTKO8 (10), Jul 25, 200353Loss42–9 Gilbert MartinezUD10Jan 17, 200352Win42–8 Michael ShanksTKO2 (4), Mar 26, 200251Win41–8 Mario Oscar MeloKO5 (10)Aug 30, 199750Loss40–8 Brian NielsenRTD3 (10)Oct 20, 199549Loss40–7 Alexander ZolkinMD12Aug 25, 199548Win40–6 Andre CrowderKO1 (10), Mar 29, 199547Loss39–6 Jimmy ThunderPTS12Dec 6, 199446NC39–5 William MorrisUD10Oct 4, 199445Win39–5 Everett MartinUD10Feb 22, 199444Win38–5 Willie JacksonUD3Dec 3, 199343Win37–5 Tyrell BiggsUD3Dec 3, 199342Win36–5 Jose RibaltaUD3Dec 3, 199341Win35–5 Daniel DăncuțăUD3Dec 3, 199340Loss34–5 Jimmy EllisKO1Aug 16, 199339Win34–4 Melton BowenUD10Apr 27, 199338Win33–4 Alexander ZolkinUD10Feb 2, 199337Win32–4 Jesse FergusonUD10Nov 24, 199236Win31–4 Bruce SeldonUD10Oct 14, 199235Loss30–4 Lionel ButlerKO1 (10), Aug 18, 199234Win30–3 Leon TaylorTKO8 (10), Feb 16, 199233Loss29–3 Riddick BoweUD10Apr 20, 199132Win29–2 Lawrence CarterRTD6 (10)Oct 20, 199031Win28–2 Mike CohenTKO6 (10), Jul 28, 19903027–2 Orlin NorrisMD12Nov 21, 198929Win27–2Ladislao MijangosTKO3 (10)Jun 24, 198928Win26–2Eddie Richardson8 (10), May 6, 198927Win25–2Mike EvansUD10Apr 20, 198926Loss24–2Mike TysonTKO2 (12), Mar 21, 198825Win24–1Eddie GonzalesRTD3 (10), Sep 29, 198724Win23–1Jerry HalsteadUD10May 30, 198723Win22–1Mike JamesonUD10Apr 20, 198722Loss21–1Tim Witherspoon15Jan 17, 198621Win21–0Greg PageUD15Apr 29, 198520Win20–0James SmithUD10Mar 15, 198519Win19–0Tim MillerTKO2 (10)Jan 16, 198518Win18–0Jerry WilliamsTKO7 (10), Nov 9, 198417Win17–0Tom TrimmTKO2 (10)Mar 18, 198416Win16–0Gordon RacetteUD10Sep 9, 198315Win15–0Jimmy YoungUD10Apr 10, 198314Win14–0Larry GivensTKO7 (10), Feb 25, 198313Win13–0Steve ZouskiTKO5 (10)Sep 18, 198212Win12–0Clarence HillUD10Aug 7, 198211Win11–0Clayman ParkerTKO1, Jun 12, 198210Win10–0Baker Tinsley3, Apr 11, 19829Win9–0Don Halpin8Dec 18, 19818Win8–0Jesse BrownTKO1, Nov 21, 19817Win7–0Dennis WimberlyTKO2, Aug 21, 19816Win6–0Mike Creel3 (8), Nov 29, 19805Win5–0Larry SimsTKO3 (6)Nov 22, 19804Win4–0John L JohnsonTKO1 (6), Nov 14, 19803Win3–0Ron Draper6Nov 7, 19802Win2–0Ron DraperTKO4 (6), Aug 2, 19801Win1–0Bruce Scott1 (6), Jun 14, 1980

References

Sources Toledo Blade February 3, 1980 The Pittsburgh Press April 7, 1983 Gettysburg Times April 30, 1985 Philadelphia Inquirer January 18, 1986 Daily News December 5, 1986 Los Angeles Times March 22, 1988 Sports Illustrated March 29, 1988 New York Times July 22, 1992 Philadelphia Inquirer December 8, 1993

External links

BoxingRecords