Tony Tucker

Tony Tucker
Data
Birth Name	Tony Craig Tucker
Fight name	TNT
Weight class	Heavyweight
nationality	US-american
birthday	December 27, 1958
place of birth	Grand Rapids
style	Left delivery
size	1.96 m
Range	2.08 cm
Combat Statistics
Struggles	66
Victories	58
Knockout victories	48
Defeats	7th
draw	1
No value	1
Profile in the BoxRec database

Tony Tucker (born December 27, 1958 in Grand Rapids ) is a former professional boxer and IBF heavyweight world champion.

amateur

In 1979 he became the US national light heavyweight champion, won the gold medal at the Pan American Games in San Juan and won the World Cup in New York .

His record was 115-6.

Professional career

Tucker was a very good boxer, he had good footwork, a good jab , was very fast (especially for his height and weight), had enormous punching power, good taker skills , a lot of stamina and a fighter's heart. He also knew how to use his enormous range very well.

Tucker began his professional career in 1980. He had success in the early years and was under contract with Cedric Kushner at that time .

In 1984 he beat Jimmy Young over 10 rounds on points; Young had already passed his zenith by this point and had already lost 14 times. In 1996 he beat James Broad over 12 rounds on points. On May 30, 1987, he became world champion when he fought against James Douglas for the vacant IBF title. After initial problems, he was able to win the fight in the tenth round with a technical knockout . Both boxers showed an extremely strong performance. In terms of points, the fight was even at this point.

But already in his first title defense on August 1st of the same year he had to give up his belt in the unification fight against the then WBA and WBC world champion Mike Tyson , he lost significantly on points, but still showed a good performance.

In 1991, Tucker defeated former WBA cruiserweight world champion Orlin Norris over 12 rounds on points. He succeeded a year later against Oliver McCall , whose chin was considered one of the toughest.

His promoter Don King made it possible for him to fight more world championships: On May 8, 1993, he boxed against WBC world champion Lennox Lewis and also lost clearly on points, but still showed a good performance as in the fight against Tyson. There was no longer any question of this when he competed for the vacant WBA crown on April 8, 1995 against the not particularly respected Bruce Seldon ; Down on points, he lost due to an eye injury by breaking off on lap eight.

Tucker was now well past his zenith, and he wasn't the youngest either. On June 28, 1997, at the age of 38, he boxed against WBO world champion Herbie Hide , who knocked him out in the second round.

He also lost to Henry Akinwande , Orlin Norris (whom he had defeated in 1991) on points and John Ruiz by knockout in round eleven.

He played his last fight on May 8, 1998 against Billy Wright and won by knockout in the first round.

Web links

• Tony Tucker in the BoxRec database

predecessor	Office	successor
Michael Spinks	Heavyweight Boxing Champion ( IBF ) May 30, 1987 - August 1, 1987	Mike Tyson