# Tony Tubbs

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. 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

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 (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 Champ James "Bonecrusher" Smith in a WBA title eliminator. Tubbs won by a unanimous decision, taking his record to 20-0 (15 knockouts).

### 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 244 pounds (111 kg), 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 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 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

| 59 fights | 47 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 25 | 5 |
| By decision | 21 | 5 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No contests | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 59 | Win | 47–10 (2) | Adam Smith | UD | 6 | Nov 4, 2006 | Waterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 46–10 (2) | Jason Waller | TKO | 7 (8), 2:05 | Aug 6, 2006 | Grand Victoria Casino & Resort, Rising Sun, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 45–10 (2) | Danny Wofford | UD | 6 | Feb 25, 2005 | Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 44–10 (2) | Brian Minto | SD | 10 | Dec 30, 2004 | Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S. | Won West Virginia heavyweight title |
| 55 | Win | 43–10 (2) | Brian Sargent | TKO | 1 (6), 1:25 | Oct 29, 2004 | Civic Arena, St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 54 | Loss | 42–10 (2) | Abraham Okine | TKO | 8 (10), 2:20 | Jul 25, 2003 | Lakeview Resort, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 53 | Loss | 42–9 (2) | Gilbert Martinez | UD | 10 | Jan 17, 2003 | Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 42–8 (2) | Michael Shanks | TKO | 2 (4), 0:52 | Mar 26, 2002 | Cumberland Place Exhibition Center, West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 41–8 (2) | Mario Oscar Melo | KO | 5 (10) | Aug 30, 1997 | Estadio Polideportivo Islas Malvinas, Mar del Plata, Argentina | |
| 50 | Loss | 40–8 (2) | Brian Nielsen | RTD | 3 (10) | Oct 20, 1995 | Circus Building, Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| 49 | Loss | 40–7 (2) | Alexander Zolkin | MD | 12 | Aug 25, 1995 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | For NABF heavyweight title |
| 48 | Win | 40–6 (2) | Andre Crowder | KO | 1 (10), 2:48 | Mar 29, 1995 | Myrl H. Shoemaker Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 47 | Loss | 39–6 (2) | Jimmy Thunder | PTS | 12 | Dec 6, 1994 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | For IBO heavyweight title |
| 46 | NC | 39–5 (2) | William Morris | UD | 10 | Oct 4, 1994 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | Originally a UD win for Tubbs, later ruled an NC |
| 45 | Win | 39–5 (1) | Everett Martin | UD | 10 | Feb 22, 1994 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 38–5 (1) | Willie Jackson | UD | 3 | Dec 3, 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 37–5 (1) | Tyrell Biggs | UD | 3 | Dec 3, 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 36–5 (1) | Jose Ribalta | UD | 3 | Dec 3, 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 35–5 (1) | Daniel Dăncuță | UD | 3 | Dec 3, 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 40 | Loss | 34–5 (1) | Jimmy Ellis | KO | 1 | Aug 16, 1993 | Boise, Idaho, U.S. | Not Jimmy Ellis the former WBA world heavyweight champion |
| 39 | Win | 34–4 (1) | Melton Bowen | UD | 10 | Apr 27, 1993 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 33–4 (1) | Alexander Zolkin | UD | 10 | Feb 2, 1993 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 32–4 (1) | Jesse Ferguson | UD | 10 | Nov 24, 1992 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 31–4 (1) | Bruce Seldon | UD | 10 | Oct 14, 1992 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 30–4 (1) | Lionel Butler | KO | 1 (10), 3:00 | Aug 18, 1992 | Bayfront Plaza Auditorium, Pensacola, Florida, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 30–3 (1) | Leon Taylor | TKO | 8 (10), 1:07 | Feb 16, 1992 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 33 | Loss | 29–3 (1) | Riddick Bowe | UD | 10 | Apr 20, 1991 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 29–2 (1) | Lawrence Carter | RTD | 6 (10) | Oct 20, 1990 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 28–2 (1) | Mike Cohen | TKO | 6 (10), 2:59 | Jul 28, 1990 | Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 30 | NC | 27–2 (1) | Orlin Norris | MD | 12 | Nov 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 |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Ladislao Mijangos | TKO | 3 (10) | Jun 24, 1989 | Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Eddie Richardson | DQ | 8 (10), 1:03 | May 6, 1989 | Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, U.S. | Richardson disqualified for an intentional headbutt |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Mike Evans | UD | 10 | Apr 20, 1989 | The Strand, Redondo Beach, California, U.S. | |
| 26 | Loss | 24–2 | Mike Tyson | TKO | 2 (12), 2:54 | Mar 21, 1988 | Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan | For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Eddie Gonzales | RTD | 3 (10), 3:00 | Sep 29, 1987 | Celebrity Theatre, Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Jerry Halstead | UD | 10 | May 30, 1987 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Mike Jameson | UD | 10 | Apr 20, 1987 | Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 21–1 | Tim Witherspoon | MD | 15 | Jan 17, 1986 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Lost WBA heavyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Greg Page | UD | 15 | Apr 29, 1985 | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | Won WBA heavyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | James Smith | UD | 10 | Mar 15, 1985 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Tim Miller | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 16, 1985 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Jerry Williams | TKO | 7 (10), 2:39 | Nov 9, 1984 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Tom Trimm | TKO | 2 (10) | Mar 18, 1984 | Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Gordon Racette | UD | 10 | Sep 9, 1983 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Jimmy Young | UD | 10 | Apr 10, 1983 | Hilton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Larry Givens | TKO | 7 (10), 1:06 | Feb 25, 1983 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Steve Zouski | TKO | 5 (10) | Sep 18, 1982 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Clarence Hill | UD | 10 | Aug 7, 1982 | University, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Clayman Parker | TKO | 1, 2:02 | Jun 12, 1982 | Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Baker Tinsley | KO | 3, 1:41 | Apr 11, 1982 | Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Don Halpin | UD | 8 | Dec 18, 1981 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Jesse Brown | TKO | 1, 2:24 | Nov 21, 1981 | Vegas Club, Erlanger, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Dennis Wimberly | TKO | 2, 2:35 | Aug 21, 1981 | Thomas Dunn Sports Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Mike Creel | RTD | 3 (8), 3:00 | Nov 29, 1980 | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Larry Sims | TKO | 3 (6) | Nov 22, 1980 | Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | John L Johnson | TKO | 1 (6), 2:17 | Nov 14, 1980 | Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Ron Draper | PTS | 6 | Nov 7, 1980 | HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Ron Draper | TKO | 4 (6), 0:54 | Aug 2, 1980 | Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Bruce Scott | TKO | 1 (6), 1:13 | Jun 14, 1980 | Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |