Tyrell Biggs

Tyrell Biggs
Born	(1960-12-22) December 22, 1960 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Reach	80 in (203 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	40
Wins	30
Wins by KO	20
Losses	10
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

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.

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".

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.

Tyson knocks out Biggs in the 7th-round, 1987.

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."

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.

Professional boxing record

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.

External links

• Boxing record for Tyrell Biggs from BoxRec (registration required)