When the Heavyweight Division Meant Something to the Sport of Boxing: Former WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World Mike Weaver Goes on the Record with RSR
Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt
“I have no regrets.”–Mike Weaver
The date March 31, 1980…The Network ABC… The card was a double bill with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad fighting then champion Marvin Johnson. Muhammad would knock out Johnson in the eleventh round to take the title and lead us into the main event that night. That main event pitted World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight Champion “Big” John Tate, 22-0 with 15 knockouts in his first defense against top heavyweight contender Mike Weaver, 21-9, with 14 knockouts. Tate had won the title a little over five months earlier against South African Gerrie Coetzee via a 15 round decision.
For 14 and 1/2 rounds, Tate was beating Weaver decisively, but as they say in boxing, it aint over till the final bell rings. Well, the bell rang, but not the one the timekeeper bangs on. Tate’s bell was rung which echoed throughout the arena, when Weaver, knocked him out with just seconds left. The knockout came on a devastating left hook followed by a right hand that put Tate down face first to the canvas, and out cold. The referee could have counted to a 1000, and Tate would not have been able to rise.
Going into that last round, Tate was up by the scores of 136-133, 137-134, and 138-133. With this victory, Weaver secured a version of the heavyweight title and entered the records books as a boxing champion. I can remember to this very day, the celebration and the class he showed in victory thanking so many people and was just humbled by the fact he was now a champion.
Weaver, no stranger to fighting for a heavyweight title faced a then huge favorite Larry Holmes just a little over a year earlier, and gave an in his prime Holmes, all he could handle, hurting him throughout the match until he was eventually stopped by “The Easton Assassin” the 12th round of a scheduled 15.
Weaver would make his first defense on October 25, 1980 against the man Tate beat for the belt South African Gerrie Coetzee. Mike would travel to South Africa at a time when other black fighters would not go. Weaver did, and in a tough match, he stopped top ranked Gerrie Coetzee in the 13th round for a successful first defense of his crown.
Almost one year later, he faced another top rated fighter in James “Quick” Tillis the Angelo Dundee protege on October 3, 1981. Weaver was beaten to the punch and outboxed during the first half of the fight by “Quick”, but as Weaver always did, he came on strong in the second half. Tillis who had the fight in the gloves on his hands, let it slip away, and Weaver would have another successful title defense under his belt via a 15 round unanimous decision.
Another year and some months went by, and Mike was back in the ring to make title defense number three against a young and hungry Michael “Dynamite” Dokes. In a first round that was a rumble, Dokes would stop Weaver via a first round stoppage by referee Joey Curtis. Many protested the fight including Weaver and his corner. The decision stood, and Dokes was the new WBA Heavyweight Champion.
Weaver desperately wanted his title back, and faced Dokes in a rematch some five months later on May 20, 1983. In a fight that went the distance this time, the best Weaver could settle for was a draw with scores of 145-141 (Dokes), 144-144, and 143-143. Many felt Weaver won the fight from ringside, but in a draw, we all know the champion retains his belt. Mike would go on to fight against a few journeymen and secured another shot at then World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight Champion, Pinklon Thomas on June 15, 1985. Weaver would give it his all, but was stopped by Thomas via an eighth round knockout. “Hercules” as he was nicknamed because of his massive sculptured built, would go on to fight with mixed success.
Wins would come over a then young and in his prime Carl “The Truth” Williams whom he stopped in the second round. But in his next two fights, he was stopped by James “Bonecrusher” Smith and out pointed over ten by Donavon “Razor” Ruddock. Weaver would rebound with some more wins with the most notable being a seventh round stoppage of former heavyweight contender Johnny DuPlooy in a country (South Africa) that had seen him win twice there including his fight with DuPlooy. In the rematch, DuPlooy would knock Weaver out in two rounds.
Weaver would go on to fight for 12 more years with mixed results, but on November 17, 2000, Mike faced an old foe in Larry Holmes for the second time in his boxing career. This fight was for the Legends of Boxing Heavyweight Title and came a little over 21 years after their first bout, but this time around, Weaver was stopped in the sixth round. Mike “Hercules” Weaver the soft spoken, always carrying himself with class former Heavyweight Champion would retire after this fight with a final record of 41-18-1, with 28 knockouts.
Many of the boxing writers who are around my age (43), have the same memory of that amazing night when Weaver stopped Tate in a fight that he was so far down on the cards, and as I mentioned earlier, pulled it out, that many times we have voted that finish as one of the best in a heavyweight fight.
Weaver who always gave an honest days work in the ring, and as I said, carried himself with dignity and class with a soft-spoken manner that to this day, he still had during this exclusive RSR interview. In a heavyweight division today, with very few really tough contenders, Weaver in his prime would be a welcomed addition to the mix and for my money, would fair very well with them, along with having the chance to be a champion.
BB: First of all for so many boxing fans that bring your name up, what are you doing today since you retired from boxing back in 2000?
I have worked for the US Postal Service for about the last several years doing maintenance on various pieces of equipment. Somebody I knew told me I should apply with the Postal Service since I was a veteran. I was in the Marine Corps and served from 1968 -71. During my tour, I was a Ground Pounder who went to Vietnam.
BB: You turned pro on September 14, 1972 and in that fight; you faced Howard Smith who stopped you via a second round knockout. You and Alexis Arguello have something in common that in both your professional debuts you were stopped. How did that affect you, and what did you learn from it?
Well, first thing was not to eat hamburgers before the fight. (Mike laughed hard while relating this story to me) We were on our way to the fight, and we stopped and picked up like two Big Macs and some fries. During the fight, I got nailed in the stomach which was full of McDonalds. I was very bloated in the fight and the night before, we didn’t get a chance to eat, so I was starving on the way to the fight.
BB: Turning pro in 1972, you came right into the mix of the Muhammad Ali era in the heavyweight division. I would think in the back of your mind, you thought you may face him down the road. If so, what were you thinking about a match with Ali as you moved up in the ranks?
I did in fact dream about if Muhammad Ali and I fought. I did have the opportunity to spar with him and if I recall correctly, it was for the Bob Foster fight. Also, when I did dream about an Ali fight, I was thinking to myself that I would get beat up by “The Greatest”. (Mike once again let out a big laugh)
BB: You go on to have mixed results in your next 12 fights. In those matches, you faced the brothers Bobick, Rodney and Duane. You went 0-2 in these fights. What were your observations of both fights, and which brother did you think had more skills?
I think Rodney was actually a little better than his brother Duane. When Rodney and I fought, I lost on a questionable split decision. At that time, I weighed like 182 and Rodney was like 220. He did box me well in the first couple of rounds, but I came on. In the fight with Duane, I was stopped on a bad cut and my manager at the time, actually stopped the fight, but I wanted to continue. The cut was very bad.
Another interesting story is that when I was in the Marines, Duane was in the Navy at the same time. During our enlistments, we in fact, faced each other in the ring. He knocked me down in the fight and I knocked him down. In the end, Bobick won.
BB: On July 14, 1976, you faced popular heavyweight Jody Ballard. In this fight, you took a ten round decision over him. What are your recollections of this fight, and how would you rate Ballard as a fighter?
It was a 12 round fight and I took it by decision. Ballard was a very good fighter. I came on strong in the last couple of rounds and dropped him along with hurting him a couple of times.
BB: During your boxing career, you faced another popular fighter and the keeper of the gate to the next step up. That fighter was Stan Ward. In three fights with him, you went 2-1 against him. In both wins, you knocked him out in the same round which was the 9th. What are your recollections of Ward as a fighter and did it surprise that the knockout wins came in the same round both times?
Ward was a very skilled fighter. When I fought him the first time, it was in his hometown and I thought I actually should have gotten the decision. Once again, I was the smaller guy weighing about 190 to if I recall correctly, Ward was 240 at that time. Stan was not a hard puncher, but had very fast hands.
I really didn’tt even think about the knockouts coming in the same round, but now that you mentioned it, that was kind of funny.
BB: On August 19, 1978, you fight for your first minor title (NABF Heavyweight Belt) and face the late Leroy Jones. In that fight, Jones beat you via a 12 round decision. Jones seems to best remembered for his performance against Larry Holmes for his WBC belt where he came in grossly overweight and was eventually stopped by Holmes. What can you tell the readers about Jones as a fighter?
He truly was a big old man. The Jones fight with me was actually very boring. He weighed about 270 LBS and he didn’t do much, and I stayed back. He was leaning all over me. Ken Norton was ringside and he also felt I won the fight as I did.
Jones was a skilled boxer and to be so big, he was in fact, agile even though weighing 270 LBS. He had a good up jab, but didn’t really have power.
BB: After the Jones loss, you reel off five wins all by knockout. One of those wins came against tough as nails Columbian Bernardo Mercardo who was a very big puncher. In that fight, you stopped him in the fifth round. Just how hard of a puncher was he, and what do you recollect about this fight?
(As soon as Mike heard the name Bernardo Mercardo, he laughed and said, he sure was a big puncher Before this fight, we had sparred in the Hoover Street Gym in LA. In the gym, he knocked me down. Then the next week, we sparred again, and he knocked me down once again. From those knockdowns, he really felt he could beat me.
Well, time passes, and they made that fight. During that fight, he knocked me down once again. But he hit me when the bell had rung and that made me very mad. I came out the next round and knocked him out. In fact, I feel that out of all of my opponents, Bernardo Mercardo was the hardest puncher I ever faced.
BB: The day finally comes six years, nine months and eight days after you turn pro that you are now fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of the World against Larry Holmes in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd. In a fight where you had Holmes hurt several times and almost out, but he eventually came back to stop you in the 12 round. First, in hindsight, would you have done anything different on that night? And, how would you rate Larry as a fighter?
The only thing is I would have worked a little harder on was my conditioning, but as far as how I fought Larry, I would have not changed anything from my performance. The fight was on and off and then about three weeks before the actual day, we got notice the fight was on. From that point, we really start training hard. Going into that fight, I lacked confidence I could beat Larry Holmes, but knew I would give him a good fight. I was not scared of him, but if he did beat me, I wanted him to know he was in a good fight. I think looking back, I accomplished that.
Larry was in fact, a great fighter with a very good long jab. He fought everybody and was one of the best champions in the heavyweight division.
BB: After the Holmes fight, you go back on a winning streak and on November 22, 1979, you fight for the USBA Title, but this time against Scott Ledoux. You beat Ledoux by a 12 round decision in his home state. What are your recollections of this fight, and how would you rate Ledoux as a fighter?
I can remember Scott Ledoux doing a lot of talking before the fight, and I turned to him and said, stop trying to be the white Muhammad Ali. It really was an easy fight. Ledoux was very tough and durable as a fighter, but he was not a classy boxer and had minor power. During the fight, the announcer said, Weaver’s jab is harder than Ledoux’s right-hand.
BB: March 31, 1980…. A day you will always remember. You are fighting for the second time against the Heavyweight Champion, but this time around, it was for the WBA belt and “Big” John Tate is the unbeaten champion. You are outright losing for 14 1/2 rounds of the fight and down anywhere from 3 – 4 points on the scorecards. With seconds and I mean seconds left, you nail “Big” John with a huge left hook that sends him down, but before he goes, you hit him with a clean right. Tate goes down on his face and is out cold.
I wanted to give the people something to look at and I wanted to play with Tate for a little while. I planned a spectacular ending before the fight. (JUST KIDDING!) When we were in training practicing how to fight Tate I had the plan down, but when we got in the ring, I froze up. Tate was a pretty strong guy in the ring, but not a hard puncher. He really was a good boxer who outmaneuvered me throughout the bout, and his jab gave me fits. He was also quick to be as big as he was.
BB: Mike Weaver is now the new WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World. How does it feel? How did it change your life?
It felt great to be the WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World. I was able to do something that a lot of pros never due and that is win the championship of the world. For me, it was a dream and a prayer come true. It really didn’t change my life as a person, but of course it offered me financial stability that allowed me to purchase things I wanted. In fact, the first time I got a big check, I went out and bought myself a Cadillac. To this day, I am the same person and remained that way when I was the Champ.
BB: On October 25, 1980, you travel to Sun City, South Africa to defend your title for the first time against South African heavyweight contender Gerrie Coetzee. In a tough fight, you stop Gerrie in the 13th round. First, I can recall all the heated debate for a black fighter to go over there because of the racism at that time. What made you go over there, and how did you handle that? What are your recollections of the fight itself and how would you rate Coetzee as a fighter?
You are right on the money with your comment. Back then, I received a lot of flack about going over to South Africa to fight Coetzee. In fact, Jesse Jackson called me on the phone and said, “Don’t go over to South Africa because of the Apartheid.” I replied to Jesse, I am no politician, but an athlete. Somebody at the time made the statement to go over there, you had to be made an honorary white citizen. It was not true. In fact, one newscaster said it not to go over there because of the racism. My response was, there is racism in the United States as well.
And with all of that said when I went over there, they treated me like a King. Coetzee was also a very hard puncher with a strong right hand. In fact, he hit me several times with that right hand, but I have to give credit to my conditioning because I was able to take the punches. In the eighth round, he hit me right on the temple and momentarily, I was hurt.
During the fight, Gerrie would say things like I am going to knock you out boy. I told Gerrie, I got your boy. After the fight, he came to my hotel and was a very nice guy. He showed me his body where I had hit him which was very red. He also said, he was never hit that hard in my life. Gerrie was never knocked down as an amateur or professional up until our fight.
BB: Title defense number two comes almost a year later. On October 3, 1981, you face top heavyweight contender James “Quick” Tillis. Once again, it looked for most of the early rounds that you were going to have another night like you did with “Big” John Tate. However you turned up the heat in the second half of the fight, and pulled out the victory over “Quick” by a unanimous decision. Was Tillis that tough and how would you rate him as a fighter?
Tillis was a very good fighter. He had fast hands, and could fight either conventional stance or southpaw. He moved a lot against me that gave me a lot of problems. Tillis had the perfect nickname “Quick”. In the first five rounds, he won, but I knew he would tire out. I had predicted that I would knock him out, but in the end, I won by decision.
BB: When Gerry Cooney was known as “The Great White Hope” there was much talk about him facing you after he bombed out Kenny Norton. What happened to that fight being made? As we know, he went on to fight Larry Holmes and lose, but in the process they made millions. Did you feel cheated out of a huge paycheck? And had that fight been made, what do you think the outcome would have been?
I don’t know what happened to the fight being made, but I really wanted to fight Cooney. What happened is I wanted to fight him before I fought “Quick” Tillis, but the WBA told me if I fought Cooney, my title would be stripped. To be honest, I didn’t care if they stripped me because I knew the money for that fight would be huge. Brad, you hit it on the head, I did feel cheated!
If I would have fought Cooney back then, I would have gotten at least five million, but for “Quick” I got $750,000. I would have beaten Cooney probably around the sixth round. I just had that much confidence that I could beat him if we were to fight.
BB: Your next title defense comes 14 months later on December 10, 1982 against another top heavyweight contender in Michael “Dynamite” Dokes. In a fight that saw you slugging with Dokes he put you down, but you got back to your feet. He had you in the corner, but not landing all of his shots cleanly.
Referee Joey Curtis in a strange move, jumped in and stopped the fight. What are your recollections and what did your camp do to get that immediate rematch that you eventually got from Dokes?
I knew Dokes was going to hop on me very fast in the fight. I threw a left hook, and he countered me with a left hook that put me down. It was a flash knockdown, and I wasn’t hurt. I got back up and covered up because Dokes always threw a lot of punches. When Curtis stepped in and stopped the fight, it really surprised me along with ticked me off. Come to find out, Joey Curtis had bet on Michael Dokes before the fight and that is a fact. That is why we were given the rematch right away.
Curtis told the media that he had asked me if I was hurt and that I didn’t answer. It was lie and he never asked me anything.
You know there was also this guy I knew in New York back then, and he told me the following story. He told me before the fight to be careful because the first opportunity they get in the fight to stop it if you get hurt; they are going to do so. None of us believed what he said, but now looking back, it makes you really wonder.
BB: Another thing I noticed reviewing your record, was that your title defenses after Coetzee came a year or more apart. Why such a long gap? I have to assume that would hurt you with ring rust having so much time off even if you were training. Did it?
Very good observation. I was going back and forth to court with Bob Arum and Don King. Yes, you’re right that it did hurt me with ring rust. Even though I would go to the gym, but there was nothing like being in the ring fighting. Funny thing about the court cases, I can remember we didn’t win. (Mike laughed very hard when he said this)
BB: Five months after your loss via knockout to Dokes you get him back in a rematch on May 20, 1983. This time around, the fight goes the full 15 rounds and ends in a draw. Many felt that you won that fight, but with the draw, Dokes kept the belt. What are your feelings about the draw?
I thought I won this fight too. Dokes didn’t want to fight me again, and at one of the press conferences, Dokes supposedly told someone he would rather fight his Mom then fight me again.
Another funny story about Dokes and Me. I used to go with this girl and Michael took her away from me. He used to go around telling folks that he took my title and my woman. (Mike once again, laughed hard when relaying this story)
BB: Your next attempt at a title comes a couple of years later when you face WBC Heavyweight Champion Pinklon Thomas on June 15, 1985. Pinklon told me years back, you were the hardest hitter he faced and that in the second round, you hurt him with a left hook. Did you realize that? Thomas would go on to stop you in the eighth round of this fight. How would you rate Pinklon as a fighter? Also, since you faced both him and Larry Holmes who were known for their great jabs, who do you feel had the better one?
No, I didn’t realize that I had hurt him to after the fight. At the time of our fight, I was pretty much done. I was 34 years old at the time, and my balance was bad along with my legs being gone.
Pinklon was a very good fighter with a very hard jab. I was matching him jab for Jab, but fell for the old-time trick of blind him with the left hand, and throw the right hand. When he did, it knocked me out.
Pinklon’s jab was harder, but Larry’s was faster.
BB: You continue to fight on after your loss to Pinklon Thomas. One of your fights during the next stretch of your career came against a then young heavyweight named Lennox Lewis. In that fight on July 13, 1991, Lewis stopped you in the sixth round. How would you rate Lewis as a fighter, and at that time, could you see the potential in him to rule the heavyweight division as he pretty much did in mid to late 90s and into 2003?
I think he was a very good fighter at this early stage of his career. He is very big and strong. Also, he had a very good one – two punch. He caught me with it, and though I was 40 years old, I give him credit for the win. After the fight, Lennox called me and asked would I like to work with him for his fight against Razor Ruddock?
I worked with him for about two months. First in Philadelphia and then we went over to London. Lennox was a very nice guy. Yes, I could see the potential in him even at that young age that he could be a world champion and rule the division.
BB: Your last fight came at the age of 48 came against a man you faced over 21 years earlier and that man was Larry Holmes. On November 17, 2000, Larry stopped you in the sixth round of the final bout of your career. What do you think Larry had left in his tank that he also had back in 1979? Also, what did Mike Weaver not have in his tank, which stopped him from pulling out the win?
Larry didn’t have anything left and that includes me not having anything either. I was called by Harold Smith to fight. I told him I haven’t fought in years, but the paycheck was around $30,000. Working for the Postal service, I was not going to take time off to train and didn’t. Larry caught me with a one – two and knocked me down. I got back up, but the referee jumped in and stopped the fight. My trainer started yelling I wasn’t hurt, and I really could have went on, but told my trainer that it’s OK.
BB: Mike I am going to ask you a question that I have never asked any fighter before. Do you feel you fought on longer than you should have since your career though not back to back years of fights lasted 28 years? If so, why did you go on?
I have to be honest with you, and say yes, I did fight on too long. In fact, I should have retired after I fought “Quick” Tillis back in 1981. I had told people that when I win the championship, I wanted to retire when I was around 30 or 31 years of age. I wanted to make a few defenses, make some good money, and then call it a career. With the money coming in, I continued to fight on longer than I should have. But, I have no regrets for anything I did in boxing.
BB: Do you favor a mandatory retirement fund for all boxers and if so, how would you like to see it accomplished?
Yes, without a doubt, they need a mandatory retirement fund which I support. It should come out of the fighter’s purse along with the promoter. There are several ways the money can be pulled, but we needed it for years.
BB: Where did the nickname “Hercules” come from?
Ken Norton gave me that nickname.
BB: If Mike Weaver on his best night of his career could pick one heavyweight to face, who would that be, and what do you think the outcome would have been?
It would be Muhammad Ali. He would have beaten the stuffing out of me, but I have always considered him the greatest fighter of all-time. For me to fight him would have been an honor.
BB: Today’s heavyweight’s get knocked constantly for a lack of excitement and the division is also labeled without any true stars. If Mike Weaver could fight today, how would he fair?
I would be the Heavyweight Champion of the World! I wish I came along today, but came about 15 – 20 years too early because I could have made this huge amount of money they make today.
BB: How would you like your fans to remember you from your days in the ring?
That I was a fighter who stepped in the ring and gave his best. I never came into the ring overweight or out of shape in my career. I wanted to give the crowd their money’s worth and never talked bad about anyone.
BB: Finally, what is the saying you live your life by?
“All things happen for a reason.”
Mike would like to add the following to our interview:
I think with my knowledge of the sport of boxing, I can pass it on as a trainer, and would like the opportunity to train some guys. With that said, if you’re a fighter out there looking for a trainer, get in touch with me through “Bad” Brad. It was really an honor to have RSR interview me and for you to remember me as you guys have done.
Mike Weaver
(Hercules)
(Heavyweight)
Professional Record: 60 fights; 41+ (28 KO’s), 1=, 18-
1979: United States Heavyweight
1980-1982: W.B.A. Heavyweight
– 1972 –
– (Sep-14-1972, Los Angeles) Howard SMITH ko 3
– (Oct-31-1972, Bakersfield) Howard SMITH 5
– 1973 –
+ (Feb-2-1973, San Bernardino) Carlos Lopez 5
– (Feb-28-1973, Fresno) Billy Ryan ko 2
+ (Sep-10-1973, Los Angeles) Lynch Martin ko 1
+ (Oct-11-1973, Los Angeles) Tony Pulu ko 4
+ (Nov-9-1973, San Diego) Bob Swoopes ko 1
– (Dec-12-1973, San Francisco) Larry Frazier ko 2
– 1974 –
+ (Feb-21-1974, Los Angeles) Ellis Mc Kinley 6
– (Mar-22-1974, Los Angeles) Rodney BOBICK 10
+ (May-31-1974, San Diego) Orville Qualls ko 2
– (Jul-26-1974, San Diego) Duane BOBICK ko 7
+ (Aug-24-1974, Honolulu) Mani Vaka 10
– 1975 –
+ (Jun-27-1975, San Jose) Tony Doyle kot 9
– 1976 –
+ (Jul-14-1976, Las Vegas) Jody Ballard 10
+ (Nov-4-1976, San Carlos) Fonomanu Sekona ko 6
– 1977 –
+ (Jan-19-1977, Las Vegas) Dwain Bonds ko 9
+ (Apr-1-1977, New York) Bill Sharkey 10
+ (Sep-13-1977, Anchorage) Dave Martinez ko 1
+ (Nov-15-1977, Anaheim) Pedro Lovell 10
– 1978 –
– (Jan-24-1978, Sacramento) Stan Ward 12
– (Aug-19-1978, Las Vegas) Leroy JONES 12 (North America, Heavyweight)
+ (Sep-17-1978, Reno) Mike Creel ko 2
+ (Oct-22-1978, Reno) Bernardo MERCADO ko 5
+ (Dec-5-1978, Reno) Abdul Khan ko 2
– 1979 –
+ (Jan-18-1979, Las Vegas) Stan Ward kot 9 (United States, Heavyweight)
+ (Mar-2-1979, Las Vegas) Oliver Philipps ko 4
– (Jun-22-1979, New York) Larry HOLMES kot 12 (W.B.C., Heavyweight)
+ (Sep-22-1979, Los Angeles) Harry TERRELL ko 4
+ (Nov-24-1979, Bloomington) Scott LEDOUX 12 (United States, Heavyweight)
– 1980
+ (Mar-31-1980, Knoxville) John TATE ko 15 (W.B.A., Heavyweight)
+ (Oct-25-1980, Sun City) Gerrie COETZEE kot 13 (W.B.A., Heavyweight)
– 1981 –
+ (Oct-3-1981, Rosemont) James TILLIS 15 (W.B.A., Heavyweight)
– 1982 –
– (Dec-10-1982, Las Vegas) Michael DOKES kot 1 (W.B.A., Heavyweight)
– 1983 –
= (May-20-1983, Las Vegas) Michael DOKES 15 (W.B.A., Heavyweight)
+ (Sep-30-1983, Inglewood) Stan Ward kot 9
– 1984 –
+ (Aug-31-1984, Las Vegas) Billy Thomas ko 7
+ (Nov-9-1984, Las Vegas) Tony Anthony disq.1
– 1985 –
– (Jun-15-1985, Las Vegas) Pinklon THOMAS kot 8 (W.B.C., Heavyweight)
– 1986 –
+ (Feb-16-1986, Troy) Carl The Truth WILLIAMS ko 2
– (Apr-5-1986, Latham) James SMITH ko 1
– (Aug-23-1986, Fayetteville) Donovan Razor RUDDOCK 10
– 1987 –
+ (Jul-29-1987, Yaounde) David JACO ko 2
+ (Aug-24-1987, Louisville) James PRITCHARD kot 6
+ (Nov-28-1987, Johanesburg) Johnny DU PLOOY retiring 7
– 1988 –
– (Apr-30-1988, Sun City) Johnny DU PLOOY ko 2
– 1989 –
+ (Jan-31-1989, Reseda) Bobby CRABTREE ko 3
+ (May-1-1989, Los Angeles) Lionel Washington kot 1
+ (Jul-27-1989, New York) Philipp BROWN 12
– 1990 –
– (Apr-4-1990, New York) James SMITH 12
+ (Jul-18-1990, Toronto) Dion BURGESS kot 5
– 1991 –
– (Jul-13-1991, Stateline) Lennox LEWIS kot 6
– 1992 –
+ (Nov-17-1992, Bakersfield) Mike GANS ko 5
– 1993 –
+ (Feb-27-1993, Pekin) Bert COOPER 12
– 1994 –
+ (Jun-6-1994, Bay Saint-Louis) Ladislao MIJANGOS ko 2
+ (Sep-17-1994, Macao) Bill CORRIGAN kot 2
– 1995 –
+ (Jun-21-1995, Woodland Hills) George O’Mara 12
– 1996 –
+ (Mar-27-1996, Woodland Hills) Derrick Ryals 10
– 1997: inactive –
– 1998 –
– (Aug-8-1998, Spirit Lake) Melvin FOSTER kot 9
– 1999: inactive –
– 2000 –
– (Nov-17-2000, Biloxi) Larry HOLMES kot 6
