Hall of Fame Professional Boxer, Olympic Gold Medalist. During his seventeen-year professional career (1984 to 2001), he was a four-time world champion in the Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Welterweight and Light Middleweight classes. Generally, he is considered to be one of the top southpaws in the sport and was known for his quick and elusive brand of defense which left opponents bewildered. Raised in an impoverished neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, he attended Booker T. Washington High School. He followed his ambitions of becoming a boxer and amassed an incredible amateur 201 win (91 knockout), 14 loss record and made his first impact on the international stage as the champion of the 1982 Pan American Games. This was followed with the World Championship title in 1983 and his capturing of the gold medal during the 1984 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles. During the course of his career, he was named "Fighter of the Year" (1989) by Ring Magazine and had the distinction as being ranked number one "Pound for Pound Boxer" during the period of September 1993 to April 1997. He compiled a professional 40 wins (17 knockouts), 4 loss, 1 draw, 1 no contest record and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007. After retiring as a boxer, he remained in the sport as a trainer. He was struck and killed by an automobile while crossing the street in Virginia Beach.
Hall of Fame Professional Boxer, Olympic Gold Medalist. During his seventeen-year professional career (1984 to 2001), he was a four-time world champion in the Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Welterweight and Light Middleweight classes. Generally, he is considered to be one of the top southpaws in the sport and was known for his quick and elusive brand of defense which left opponents bewildered. Raised in an impoverished neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, he attended Booker T. Washington High School. He followed his ambitions of becoming a boxer and amassed an incredible amateur 201 win (91 knockout), 14 loss record and made his first impact on the international stage as the champion of the 1982 Pan American Games. This was followed with the World Championship title in 1983 and his capturing of the gold medal during the 1984 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles. During the course of his career, he was named "Fighter of the Year" (1989) by Ring Magazine and had the distinction as being ranked number one "Pound for Pound Boxer" during the period of September 1993 to April 1997. He compiled a professional 40 wins (17 knockouts), 4 loss, 1 draw, 1 no contest record and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007. After retiring as a boxer, he remained in the sport as a trainer. He was struck and killed by an automobile while crossing the street in Virginia Beach.
Bio by: C.S.
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