Tony Tucker

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Tony Craig Tucker (born December 27, 1958) was a professional heavyweight boxer during the 1980s and 1990s. Nicknamed "TNT" he won a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games, and was briefly a world heavyweight champion as a professional.

In addition to being a heavyweight champion, Tucker also holds the distinction of twice being the 'mandatory challenger' of a sanctioning body when the reigning champion, refusing to meet Tucker in the ring, saw their championship reign end. In 1987, the International Boxing Federation withdrew its recognition of Michael Spinks as champion when he refused to face Tucker, electing instead to fight Gerry Cooney. Eight years later, George Foreman relinquished his World Boxing Association crown rather than meet Tucker, saying that there was no public demand for the bout.

[edit] Amateur Career

Tucker had a notable amateur career, winning the 1979 National AAU Light Heavyweight Championship.

[edit] Professional Career

After turning pro in 1980 and quietly accumulating a 35-0 (30 KO's) record, Tucker briefly held the IBF's World Heavyweight championship after defeating James "Buster" Douglas for the title in 1987. In his first defense of the title just 64 days later, Tucker would lose the IBF crown to Mike Tyson via twelve round decision. This marks the shortest reign of any heavyweight champion in history.

After the Tyson fight, Tucker failed to return to the ring for nearly two-and-a-half years, during which he became obese and addicted to cocaine. Dwindling his finances down to just $8,000, he blamed part of his situation to the anger he felt towards his payment on the Tyson fight. He claimed to have only received $250,000 out of a $1.2 million guarantee from promoter Don King.

He returned in 1990 and by 1992 was reportedly back in King's stable. He won the NABF belt with a close, debatable split decision over the highly ranked Orlin Norris, and successfully defended it against future champ Oliver McCall, winning another 12 round decision. He finished 1992 with an impressive 6th round TKO of Frankie Swindell and set himself up with a world title shot.

By 1993 Tucker had run his record up to 49-1. In May of that year, he challenged Lennox Lewis for the WBC world heavyweight title. He gave Lewis a good argument despite being 34 years old and floored twice by Lewis's power punching. Ultimately he was outpointed over 12 rounds, but retained his ranking due to his respectable showing.

In 1995 George Foreman refused to defend his WBA world heavyweight title against Tucker, and was stripped, which led to the two highest ranking available contenders, Tucker and Bruce Seldon, to fight for the vacant belt.

In a lively scrap, Seldon recovered from some desperate rounds to swell Tuckers eye shut with his famed jab. After 7 rounds the ringside doctor decided to stop the contest in Seldons favour due to the eye damage, despite Tucker's outrage.

Tucker blew his chance of a rematch when later that year he got outpointed by newly signed Don King heavyweight, British/Nigerian giant Henry Akinwande.

In 1996 he was outpointed by old rival Orlin Norris. He put together a few wins in California and in 1997 travelled to the UK to challenge Herbie Hide for the vacant (and less prominent) WBO world title.

Tucker looked out of shape and all of his 38 years as the hard hitting Hide decked him three times in the 2nd round, prompting a stoppage.

In 1998 Tucker challenged John Ruiz for his old NABF belt. Despite a big 6th round where he had Ruiz in trouble, Tucker was eventually stopped in the 11th. It would be his second-to-last fight, his final one coming that May, a first round knockout win over Billy Wright.

Today he trains Tough Man fighters, and has enjoyed small roles in film.