Tyrell Biggs

Tyrell Biggs (born December 22, 1960) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1998, and challenged once for the undisputed heavyweight title in 1987. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics, having previously won bronze at the 1983 Pan American Games and gold at the 1982 World Championships, all in the super heavyweight division.

Tyrell Biggs
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1960-12-22) December 22, 1960
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights40
Wins30
Wins by KO20
Losses10
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
1984 Los Angeles Super heavyweight
World Championships
Munich 1982 Super heavyweight
Pan American Games
Caracas 1983 Super heavyweight

Early life

Biggs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, making his sporting debut playing basketball at West Philadelphia High. He was a starting forward for the Speedboys' Public League and City champions in 1978, a team that extended a state-record winning streak to 68 before a regular season loss to Overbrook. In '77, one of Biggs' teammates was Gene Banks, who went on to excel at Duke and play in the NBA. After his initial boxing successes, he changed his name to "Tyrell."[1]

Amateur career

Biggs' first major success as an amateur boxer was winning the gold medal at the 1981 United States National Boxing Championships in the super-heavyweight division. He repeated this feat the next year, and also in 1982 he won the World Championships in Munich, West Germany, where in the final he defeated Francesco Damiani from Italy on points, who beat the legendary Teofilo Stevenson earlier in the competition. In 1983 Biggs won a bronze medal on the Pan American Games, losing to future professional challenger Jorge Luis Gonzalez in the semi-final. In addition, Biggs won a 3–2 split decision over Cuban Angel Milian, who had beaten Greg Page five years earlier.

In 1984 Biggs won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, defeating future Olympic gold medallist and professional world champion Lennox Lewis in the quarter-finals. In the Olympics final Biggs beat Damiani on points again.

Biggs finished his amateur career with an outstanding record of 108-6-4.

Professional career

He turned professional soon after his Olympic victory, scoring a 6-round unanimous decision over Mike Evans on November 15, 1984 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in his first bout. Besides Mike Tyson, Lewis and Damiani he went on to face such other boxing luminaries as James "Quick" Tillis, Ossie Ocasio, Riddick Bowe, Tony Tubbs, Buster Mathis, Jr., and Larry Donald before ending his career with a second-round knockout of Carlton Davis in 1998. He did not win a title, but stalked the rankings of contendership for much of the mid- to late 1980s.

Biggs vs. Tyson
Main article: Mike Tyson vs. Tyrell Biggs

Biggs' biggest professional fight was against Tyson, for the latter's undisputed heavyweight title. Biggs and Tyson disliked each other, and Biggs derided Tyson before the fight. Biggs attempted to outbox Tyson, using his jab and movement. But Tyson kept coming in and landing big punches, wearing him down until the fight was stopped in the seventh. Tyson admitted after the fight to "carrying" Biggs so as to inflict more damage, in retaliation for Biggs' pre-match comments.[2]

Unfortunately the talented Biggs' life has been a constant fight against drug and alcohol addiction. He had to enter rehabilitation only a few months after turning professional, and some declare that his career at the time of the Tyson fight was already effectively over. Biggs' robe was sometimes emblazoned with, "Realize your potential," a drug rehabilitation mantra. An article published when he was 40 years old characterized him as "still fighting between stints in rehabilitation."[3][4]

Outside the ring

Biggs competed in the American Gladiators season 5 Gold Medal Challenge of Champions in 1993, losing to 1984 Gold Downhill Skiing medalist Bill Johnson. A feature documentary about Tyrell Biggs' life is currently in production.[5]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
40 fights 30 wins 10 losses
By knockout 20 7
By decision 10 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
40 Win 30–10 Carlton Davis KO 2 Aug 27, 1998 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
39 Loss 29–10 Larry Donald KO 2 (10), 1:00 Sep 11, 1997 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
38 Win 29–9 Alonzo Hollis PTS 6 Feb 19, 1997 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
37 Win 28–9 Andre Crowder TKO 1 Jan 11, 1997 Royal Oaks Center, Mount Washington, Kentucky, U.S.
36 Loss 27–9 Ray Anis TKO 3 (10), 2:55 Apr 4, 1994 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
35 Loss 27–8 Buster Mathis Jr. UD 12 Feb 5, 1994 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For vacant USBA heavyweight title
34 Win 27–7 Evgeny Sudakov SD 3 Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
33 Win 26–7 Shane Sutcliffe TKO 2 (3), 3:00 Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
32 Loss 25–7 Tony Tubbs UD 3 Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
31 Loss 25–6 Mike Hunter UD 12 Jan 17, 1993 Union Plaza Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. For vacant USBA heavyweight title
30 Win 25–5 Marion Wilson UD 10 Dec 8, 1992 Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
29 Win 24–5 John Jones KO 2 Nov 19, 1992 Days Inn South, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
28 Win 23–5 Roy Jobe KO 1 Jul 18, 1992 Civic Assembly Center, Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
27 Win 22–5 Mike Faulkner TKO 2 May 29, 1992 Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
26 Win 21–5 Charles Woolard TKO 1 (8), 2:12 May 7, 1992 Westin, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
25 Win 20–5 Alan Jamison KO 1 Apr 18, 1992 High School Field House, Chandler, Oklahoma, U.S.
24 Loss 19–5 Lennox Lewis TKO 3 (10), 2:47 Nov 23, 1991 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
23 Loss 19–4 Riddick Bowe TKO 8 (10), 2:17 Mar 2, 1991 Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
22 Win 19–3 Rodolfo Marin UD 10 Dec 8, 1990 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21 Win 18–3 Rick Kellar TKO 2 Apr 5, 1990 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
20 Win 17–3 Ossie Ocasio UD 10 Jan 11, 1990 Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19 Win 16–3 Bobby Crabtree TKO 5 (10) Nov 29, 1989 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
18 Loss 15–3 Gary Mason KO 7 (10), 3:00 Oct 4, 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
17 Loss 15–2 Francesco Damiani TKO 5 (10), 1:06 Oct 29, 1988 Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy
16 Loss 15–1 Mike Tyson TKO 7 (15), 2:59 Oct 16, 1987 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles
15 Win 15–0 Lorenzo Boyd TKO 3, 1:12 Jul 31, 1987 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 David Bey TKO 6 (10), 2:15 Mar 7, 1987 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Renaldo Snipes UD 10 Dec 12, 1986 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Robert Evans KO 5 (10), 2:35 Oct 29, 1986 Alexandra Palace, London, England
11 Win 11–0 Percell Davis UD 10 Sep 14, 1986 Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Rodney Smith RTD 7 (8) Aug 14, 1986 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Jeff Sims UD 10 Mar 23, 1986 Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 James Tillis UD 8 Jan 25, 1986 Americana Host Farm Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Tony Anthony KO 1, 2:57 Dec 21, 1985 Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Danny Sutton TKO 7 (8) Nov 19, 1985 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Sterling Benjamin TKO 7 Aug 29, 1985 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Eddie Richardson TKO 3 (6), 1:55 Jul 13, 1985 Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Grady Daniels RTD 2 (6) May 17, 1985 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Mike Perkins TKO 1 (6), 2:50 Apr 20, 1985 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Mike Ronay Evans UD 6 Nov 15, 1984 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.

References
  1. USA vs. The World match-up
  2. Olympic Heavyweights – A History – Part Three
  3. BOXER'S ORDEAL: JEERS, DRUGS
  4. Golden amateurs who never made talent pay
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Inaugural champion U.S. super heavyweight champion
1981, 1982		 Next:
Warren Thompson
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