Tony Tubbs


Tony Tubbs 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. 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 record.
By 1980 the conclusion of Tubbs' 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
1977: USA–USSR Duals, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1977: National Golden Gloves, Honolulu, Hawaii
1978: National Sports Festival, Fort Carson
1978: United States National Championships, Biloxi, Mississippi
1978: World Championships, Belgrade, Yugoslavia :
1979: USA–USSR Duals, Las Vegas, Nevada
1979: National Golden Gloves
1979: United States National Championships, Lake Charles, Louisiana
1979: Frazier–Ali teams match-up, Atlantic City, New Jersey
1979: World Cup, Madison Square Garden, New York City :
1980: Frazier–Ali teams match-up, Houston, Texas :
Tubbs finished his career having 253 fights, with a record of 240 wins, 13 losses.

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 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 Champ James "Bonecrusher" Smith in a WBA title eliminator. Tubbs won by a unanimous decision, taking his record to 20-0.

World heavyweight title fights

On April 29, 1985, Tubbs challenged Greg Page for the WBA Heavyweight Championship. 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 tested 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 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 and the undefeated Alexander Zolkin, 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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
59Win47–10 Adam SmithUD6Nov 4, 2006 Waterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
58Win46–10 Jason WallerTKO7, 2:05Aug 6, 2006 Grand Victoria Casino & Resort, Rising Sun, Indiana, U.S.
57Win45–10 Danny WoffordUD6Feb 25, 2005 Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
56Win44–10 Brian Minto10Dec 30, 2004 Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S.Won West Virginia heavyweight title
55Win43–10 Brian SargentTKO1, 1:25Oct 29, 2004 Civic Arena, St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.
54Loss42–10 Abraham OkineTKO8, 2:20Jul 25, 2003 Lakeview Resort, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
53Loss42–9 Gilbert MartinezUD10Jan 17, 2003 Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, U.S.
52Win42–8 Michael ShanksTKO2, 0:52Mar 26, 2002 Cumberland Place Exhibition Center, West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.
51Win41–8 Mario Oscar MeloKO5 Aug 30, 1997 Estadio Polideportivo Islas Malvinas, Mar del Plata, Argentina
50Loss40–8 Brian NielsenRTD3 Oct 20, 1995 Circus Building, Copenhagen, Denmark
49Loss40–7 Alexander ZolkinMD12Aug 25, 1995 Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For NABF heavyweight title
48Win40–6 Andre CrowderKO1, 2:48Mar 29, 1995 Myrl H. Shoemaker Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
47Loss39–6 Jimmy ThunderPTS12Dec 6, 1994 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.For IBO heavyweight title
46NC39–5 William MorrisUD10Oct 4, 1994 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.Originally a UD win for Tubbs, later ruled an NC
45Win39–5 Everett MartinUD10Feb 22, 1994 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
44Win38–5 Willie JacksonUD3Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
43Win37–5 Tyrell BiggsUD3Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
42Win36–5 Jose RibaltaUD3Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
41Win35–5 Daniel DăncuţăUD3Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
40Loss34–5 Jimmy EllisKO1Aug 16, 1993 Boise, Idaho, U.S.
39Win34–4 Melton BowenUD10Apr 27, 1993 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
38Win33–4 Alexander ZolkinUD10Feb 2, 1993 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
37Win32–4 Jesse FergusonUD10Nov 24, 1992 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
36Win31–4 Bruce SeldonUD10Oct 14, 1992 Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
35Loss30–4 Lionel ButlerKO1, 3:00Aug 18, 1992 Bayfront Plaza Auditorium, Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
34Win30–3 Leon TaylorTKO8, 1:07Feb 16, 1992 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
33Loss29–3 Riddick BoweUD10Apr 20, 1991 Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
32Win29–2 Lawrence CarterRTD6 Oct 20, 1990 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
31Win28–2 Mike CohenTKO6, 2:59Jul 28, 1990 Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3027–2 Orlin NorrisMD12Nov 21, 1989 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S.NABF heavyweight title at stake;
Originally an MD win for Tubbs, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test
29Win27–2 Ladislao MijangosTKO3 Jun 24, 1989 Bakersfield, California, U.S.
28Win26–2 Eddie Richardson8, 1:03May 6, 1989 Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, U.S.Richardson disqualified for an intentional headbutt
27Win25–2 Mike EvansUD10Apr 20, 1989 The Strand, Redondo Beach, California, U.S.
26Loss24–2 Mike TysonTKO2, 2:54Mar 21, 1988 Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, JapanFor WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles
25Win24–1 Eddie GonzalesRTD3, 3:00Sep 29, 1987 Celebrity Theatre, Anaheim, California, U.S.
24Win23–1 Jerry HalsteadUD10May 30, 1987 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
23Win22–1 Mike JamesonUD10Apr 20, 1987 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S.
22Loss21–1 Tim Witherspoon15Jan 17, 1986 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.Lost WBA heavyweight title
21Win21–0 Greg PageUD15Apr 29, 1985 Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.Won WBA heavyweight title
20Win20–0 James SmithUD10Mar 15, 1985 Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
19Win19–0 Tim MillerTKO2 Jan 16, 1985 Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
18Win18–0 Jerry WilliamsTKO7, 2:39Nov 9, 1984 Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
17Win17–0 Tom TrimmTKO2 Mar 18, 1984 Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S.
16Win16–0 Gordon RacetteUD10Sep 9, 1983 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15Win15–0 Jimmy YoungUD10Apr 10, 1983 Hilton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
14Win14–0 Larry GivensTKO7, 1:06Feb 25, 1983 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
13Win13–0 Steve ZouskiTKO5 Sep 18, 1982 Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12Win12–0 Clarence HillUD10Aug 7, 1982 University, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
11Win11–0 Clayman ParkerTKO1, 2:02Jun 12, 1982 Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0 Baker Tinsley3, 1:41Apr 11, 1982 Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9Win9–0 Don Halpin8Dec 18, 1981 David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
8Win8–0 Jesse BrownTKO1, 2:24Nov 21, 1981 Vegas Club, Erlanger, Kentucky, U.S.
7Win7–0 Dennis WimberlyTKO2, 2:35Aug 21, 1981 Thomas Dunn Sports Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
6Win6–0 Mike Creel3, 3:00Nov 29, 1980 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
5Win5–0 Larry SimsTKO3 Nov 22, 1980 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
4Win4–0 John L JohnsonTKO1, 2:17Nov 14, 1980 Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.
3Win3–0 Ron Draper6Nov 7, 1980 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
2Win2–0 Ron DraperTKO4, 0:54Aug 2, 1980 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1Win1–0 Bruce Scott1, 1:13Jun 14, 1980 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.