Don King, Mike Tyson, 80’s Heavyweight Division: Former WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World Tony “TNT” Tubbs Discusses his Boxing Career
Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt
(Interview conducted in 2005)
“No matter what, I will always be known as a World Heavyweight Champion from my win over Greg Page for the WBA title.”–Tony “TNT” Tubbs
Former WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World, Tony “TNT” Tubbs, turned pro in March of 1980. The heavyweight division was endearing itself to the fact, that Muhammad Ali was no longer going to be around, and Larry Holmes two years early succeeded Ali to the throne whether the boxing public liked it or not.
Tubbs would fight his way up the ranks of the heavyweight division that was deep with contenders, tough journeymen and solid Heavyweight Champions in Holmes (WBC) along with Mike Weaver the WBA Champ. In fact, with all the rumblings in many boxing columns that there is nothing really to the heavyweight ranks today, pick up a tape or two on the heavyweights from Tubbs’ era and find out for yourself.
Tubbs cemented his name in the record books on April 29, 1985 when he won a 15 round decision over then WBA Heavyweight Champion, Greg Page. Tubbs would lose his title in his first defense a little over eight months later to “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon, via a 15 round close majority decision that many felt at ringside he had won.