John Tate (boxer)

John Tate
Statistics
Real name John Tate
Nickname(s) Big John
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Nationality American
Born (1955-01-29)January 29, 1955
Marion, Arkansas
Died April 9, 1998(1998-04-09) (aged 43)
Knoxville, Tennessee
Boxing record
Total fights 37 (professional)
Wins 34
Wins by KO 23
Losses 3
Medal record
Men's boxing
Competitor for the  United States
Olympic Games
1976 Montreal Heavyweight

John ("Johnny") Tate (January 29, 1955 in Marion, Arkansas – April 9, 1998 in Knoxville, Tennessee) was an American prizefighter and Olympic boxer, who held the World Boxing Association version of the World Heavyweight Championship from October 1979 to March 1980, losing the title in his first defence.

Amateur career

"Big John" Tate (named due to his 6'4" height) captured a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, losing to Olympic boxing legend Teófilo Stevenson.

Olympic results

Tate lost in the finals of the 1975 National Golden Gloves to Emory Chapman. He lost in the quarterfinals the next year in a split decision to Michael Dokes. He avenged his loss to Dokes in the Olympic Trials by decision, and beat 1976 National AAU Champion Marvin Stinson to advance to the Olympic team.He also beat future heavyweight champion Greg Page by 2 close decisions, one in the quarterfinals of the 1975 National Golden Gloves tournament.

Tate met his future trainer, Ace Miller, during an amateur tournament in Knoxville, TN. Tate and Miller worked together through 1983.[1]

Professional career

Tate turned pro in 1977 and scored a series of high-profile wins, knocking out highly ranked contenders Duane Bobick, Bernardo Mercado, and Kallie Knoetze. He captured the vacant WBA title on October 20, 1979 by defeating Gerrie Coetzee by decision, succeeding Muhammad Ali, who had relinquished the title that summer. Tate's fights with Knoetze and Coetzee were held in Apartheid South Africa, the latter before 80,000 fans.

Tate lost the title to Mike Weaver in his first defence just five months later. Tate was well ahead on all scorecards going into the 15th and final round when the big hitting Weaver landed a left hook punch to the chin that left the champion twitching unconscious on the canvas for several minutes.[2]

Tate came back from the loss on June 20, 1980 against up and coming Trevor Berbick. This was on the undercard of the legendary fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Durán. However, the former champion was easily defeated by Berbick. He was knocked out by a punch that caught him on the back of the head and left him unconscious.[2]

Tate was in the frame to challenge Larry Holmes for the heavyweight title in 1984, but the fight fell apart due to injury. Tate boxed on and off for the remainder of the 1980s but was often grossly overweight. He weighed in at an astonishing 281 lbs prior to losing a points decision to journeyman Noel Quarless in London, in his final fight in 1988. Tate's professional career record was 34-3, with 23 wins by knockout.

Outside the ring

Tate's life after his championship reign was brief and troubled, suffering from a cocaine addiction during the 1980s, being convicted on petty theft and assault charges,[3] serving time in prison, and at times panhandling on the streets of Knoxville, Tennessee.[4] He was rumored to have ballooned to over 400 pounds in his post-fighting years.[4]

Death

On April 9, 1998, Tate died of injuries sustained following a one-car automobile accident. It was determined that he suffered a massive stroke, caused by a brain tumor, while driving. The pickup truck crashed into a utility pole. Two other passengers were not seriously injured. The Knox County medical examiner stated that Tate "had been using cocaine regularly in the last 24 hours of his life."

Professional boxing record

34 Wins (23 knockouts), 3 Losses (2 knockouts)[5]
Res. Record Opponent Type Round
Time		 Date Location Notes
Loss34–3United Kingdom Noel Quarless PTS 10 1988–03–30 England York Hall, London
Win34–2United States Wesley Smith UD 4 1988–01–16 United States Viking Hall,
Bristol, Tennessee
Win33–2United States Mark Green KO 1 (6) 1987–12–19 United States Bristol, Tennessee
Win32–2United States Calvin Jones MD 4 1987–11–28 United States Bristol International Speedway,
Bristol, Tennessee
Win31–2United States Steve Eisenbarth TKO 1 (6) 1986–04–17 United States Civic Auditorium,
Bakersfield, California
Win30–2United States Marty Capasso KO 2 (10) 1983–08–19 United States West Palm Beach Auditorium,
West Palm Beach, Florida
Win29–2United States Donnie Long UD 10 1983–04–10 United States Hilton Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Win28–2United States Danny Sutton TKO 5 (10) 1983–01–13 United States Bristol, Tennessee
Win27–2United States Bruce Grandham KO 3 1982–08–27 United States Bristol, Tennessee
Win26–2United States Leroy Boone UD 10 1982–07–08 United States Knoxville, Tennessee
Win25–2United States Leroy Caldwell UD 10 1982–03–25 United States Showboat Hotel and Casino,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Win24–2United States Chuck Gardner KO 1
2:25		 1981–11–27 United States Knoxville, Tennessee
Win23–2United States Barry Funches TKO 7 (10) 1981–10–15 United States Sands Casino Hotel,
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win22–2United States Clayman Parker TKO 1 (10) 1981–08–08 United States Knoxville, Tennessee
Win21–2United States Harvey Steichen UD 10 1981–02–15 United States Knoxville Civic Coliseum,
Knoxville, Tennessee
Loss20–2Canada Trevor Berbick KO 9 (10)
0:22		 1980–06–20 Canada Olympic Stadium,
Montreal, Quebec
Loss20–1United States Mike Weaver KO 15
2:15		 1980–03–31 United States Stokely Athletic Center,
Knoxville, Tennessee		 Lost WBA Heavyweight title.
Win20–0South Africa Gerrie Coetzee UD 15 1979–10–20 South Africa Loftus Versfeld Stadium,
Pretoria, Gauteng		 Won vacant WBA Heavyweight title.
Win19–0South Africa Kallie Knoetze KO 8 (12)
2:30		 1979–06–02 Bophuthatswana Independence Stadium,
Mmabatho, Bophuthatswana
Win18–0United States Duane Bobick KO 1 (10)
2:15		 1979–02–17 United States Market Square Arena,
Indianapolis, Indiana
Win17–0United States Ron Draper KO 5 1978–12–09 United States Cobo Arena,
Detroit, Michigan
Win16–0United States Roy Wallace KO 9 (10) 1978–10–14 United States Houston, Texas
Win15–0United States Johnny Boudreaux SD 10 1978–08–26 United States Houston, Texas
Win14–0United States Walter Santemore KO 6 (10)
2:45		 1978–07–07 United States Orlando Sports Stadium,
Orlando, Florida
Win13–0Colombia Bernardo Mercado TKO 2 (10)
2:24		 1978–06–22 United States Madison Square Garden,
New York City, New York
Win12–0Argentina Reinaldo Gorosito KO 2 (10) 1978–05–13 United States Orlando, Florida
Win11–0United States Harold Carter DQ 4 1978–04–25 United States Orlando, Florida
Win10–0United States Leon Shaw KO 7 (10)
2:32		 1978–03–14 United States Orlando, Florida
Win9–0United States James Dixon KO 3 1978–01–29 United States Knoxville, Tennessee
Win8–0United States Charlie Jordan KO 1 1977–12–03 United States Knoxville, Tennessee
Win7–0United States Frank Schram TKO 1 (6) 1977–11–18 United States Caesars Palace,
Paradise, Nevada
Win6–0United States Lou Esa KO 3 (6) 1977–10–22 United States Aladdin Theatre,
Paradise, Nevada
Win5–0United States Eddie Lopez MD 6 1977–09–13 United States Grand Olympic Auditorium,
Los Angeles, California
Win4–0United States Walter Santemore PTS 6 1977–08–23 United States Memphis, Tennessee
Win3–0United States Baker Tinsley KO 2 (6) 1977–08–20 United States Pikeville High School Gym,
Pikeville, Kentucky
Win2–0United States Norm Kues KO 1 (6)
1:45		 1977–06–01 Canada Montreal Forum,
Montreal, Quebec
Win1–0United States Jerry Thompkins TKO 5 (6)
2:40		 1977–05–07 United States Kiel Auditorium,
St. Louis, Missouri

References

  1. ↑ "Reflections on Big John Tate: Boxing Interview with Ace Miller". Doghouseboxing.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  2. 1 2 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980416/ai_n14160398
  3. ↑ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n14_v83/ai_13362481
  4. 1 2 Frank Litsky (1998-04-11). "John Tate, 43, Troubled Heavyweight Champ". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  5. ↑ "John Tate Professional boxing record". BoxRec.com.
Preceded by
Muhammad Ali
Retired		 Heavyweight boxing champion (WBA)
October 20, 1979 – 1980 		Succeeded by
Mike Weaver

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, February 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.