Tony Tucker

Tony Tucker
Statistics
Real name	Tony Craig Tucker
Nickname(s)	TNT
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Reach	81 in (206cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1958-12-27) December 27, 1958 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	66
Wins	57
Wins by KO	47
Losses	7
No contests	1
Medal record Men's boxing Competitor for  United States Pan American Games San Juan 1979 Light heavyweight

Tony Craig Tucker (born December 27, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who fought at heavyweight from 1980 to 1998. He is a former IBF world heavyweight champion, but holds the unenviable distinction of having been the shortest-reigning world heavyweight champion in history, at only 64 days.

Tucker had a notable amateur career, winning the 1979 National AAU Light Heavyweight Championship and a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games. He also lost a decision to Lee Roy Murphy in the finals of the 1977 Ohio State Fair tournament, and was upset at the Western Olympic trials in 1980 by Alex DeLucia.

Professional career

After turning pro in 1980, Tucker's early fights were often shown on NBC, as part of a collection known as "Tomorrow's Champions".

Tucker's progress in the professional ranks was slow. He was injury prone, and he changed managers and trainers several times. Eventually his father Bob Tucker performed both roles. After enjoying a high profile upon his professional debut, Tucker spent the majority of the 1980s boxing in off-TV bouts. In addition, he injured his knee in a bout against Danny Sutton, which caused him to miss a little over a year.

In June 1984, he scored a win by knocking out Eddie "The Animal" Lopez in 9 rounds on the undercard of the Tommy Hearns-Roberto Duran fight. It was the first time Lopez had ever been knocked down. In September 1984, he followed it up by outpointing Jimmy Young .

In September 1986, Tucker finally landed a big fight, against 242 lb James "Broad-Axe" Broad, for the USBA belt and a world title eliminator. Tucker won by unanimous decision.

Home Box Office and Don King Productions orchestrated a Heavyweight unification series for 1987, planning among its bouts a match between reigning IBF champion Michael Spinks and Tucker. Spinks refused to face Tucker, opting instead for a more lucrative bout with Gerry Cooney. The IBF withdraw its championship recognition of Spinks on February 19, mandating that Tucker (as the IBF's number 1-ranked contender) face its number 2 contender, Buster Douglas. Tucker won the bout, and the vacant IBF crown, via 10th-round technical knockout.

Tucker, as the winner of the IBF title, was obliged to immediately defend his title in a unification bout with World Boxing Association (WBA) and WBC champion Mike Tyson, in what would be the tournament final. Despite having a broken right hand, Tucker faced Tyson on August 1, 1987. Tyson defeated Tucker by unanimous decision to unify the three championship titles, in the process giving Tucker the distinction of having the shortest championship reign in the history of the Heavyweight division (64 days).

Coincidentally, eight years later this exact scenario would unfold to give Tucker another title shot, as the WBA would withdraw its championship recognition of George Foreman on March 4, 1995 after Foreman refused to face Tucker (who was its designated #1 contender). Unlike the 1987 scenario, this time Tucker would not earn a championship, as he would lose the match mandated by the WBA, against #2-ranked contender Bruce Seldon.

Comeback

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

By 1993, Tucker had run his record up to 49–1 and in May of that year he challenged Lennox Lewis for the WBC world heavyweight title. Lewis won a 12-round unanimous decision, knocking down Tucker twice. It was the first time in 34-year-old Tucker's career that he had been off his feet.

In 1995, George Foreman refused to defend his WBA world heavyweight title against Tucker, choosing to fight German Axel Schulz. Tucker and Bruce Seldon fought for the vacant WBA belt in April 1995. Seldon won by TKO after 7 rounds when doctors stopped the fight due to Tucker's eye closing shut.

Tucker lost his shot at a rematch when later that year he was outpointed by a newly signed Don King heavyweight, British-Nigerian boxer Henry Akinwande, over ten rounds.

In 1996 he was outpointed by old rival Orlin Norris. He scored two low-key wins in California, and in 1997 traveled to the U.K. to challenge Herbie Hide for the vacant WBO title. Tucker was dropped three times and knocked out in round 2.

In 1998 Tucker challenged John Ruiz for his NABF belt. Despite a big 6th round where he had Ruiz in trouble, Tucker was eventually stopped in the 11th round.

He came back in May to knock out journeyman Billy Wright in one round, but later had his license revoked due to medical concerns about Tucker's vision.

Professional boxing record

57 wins (47 knockouts, 10 decisions), 7 losses (3 knockouts, 4 decisions), 0 draws, 1 no-contest
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Win	57–7 1 NC	Billy Wright	KO	1 (10)	07/05/1998	Sam's Town Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Loss	56–7 1 NC	John Ruiz	TKO	11 (12)	31/01/1998	Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, United States	For NABF Heavyweight title. Tucker down twice in the 1st and once in the 11th.
Win	56–6 1 NC	Jerry Haynes	TKO	3 (10)	16/12/1997	Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win	55–6 1 NC	Abdul Muhaymin	UD	10	18/11/1997	Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Loss	54–6 1 NC	Herbie Hide	TKO	2 (12)	28/06/1997	Sports Village, Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom	For vacant WBO Heavyweight title. Tucker down three times in the 2nd round.
Win	54–5 1 NC	Tyrone Campbell	KO	3 (10)	16/12/1996	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States
Win	53–5 1 NC	David Dixon	KO	1 (12)	29/06/1996	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States	For vacant NABF Heavyweight title. Title had been vacated by Alexander Zolkin in order to fight Henry Akinwande for the WBO title.
Loss	52–5 1 NC	Orlin Norris	SD	10	24/02/1996	Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, United States
Loss	52–4 1 NC	Henry Akinwande	UD	10	16/12/1995	Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss	52–3 1 NC	Bruce Seldon	RTD	7 (12)	08/04/1995	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	For vacant WBA Heavyweight title. Bout stopped after the 7th due to swelling of Tucker's eyes.
Win	52–2 1 NC	Dan Murphy	TKO	3 (?)	10/12/1994	Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Win	51–2 1 NC	Cecil Coffee	TKO	2 (10)	02/07/1994	Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	50–2 1 NC	George Stephens	TKO	1 (10)	19/02/1994	Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Win	49–2 1 NC	David Graves	TKO	2 (?)	18/12/1993	Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Loss	48–2 1 NC	Lennox Lewis	UD	12	08/05/1993	Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	For WBC Heavyweight title. Tucker was down in 3rd and 9th rounds.
Win	48–1 1 NC	Frankie Swindell	TKO	6 (10)	13/12/1992	Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Stopped after 6 completed rounds due an injury.
Win	47–1 1 NC	Paul Poirier	TKO	4 (10)	07/11/1992	Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win	46–1 1 NC	Everett Martin	PTS	10	12/09/1992	Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	45–1 1 NC	Oliver McCall	SD	10	26/06/1992	CSU Convention Centre, Cleveland, Ohio, United States	Retained NABF Heavyweight title.
Win	44–1 1 NC	Jesus Contreras	TKO	6 (10)	22/04/1992	Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Win	43–1 1 NC	Mike Faulkner	KO	2 (?)	10/04/1992	El Toreo, Mexico City, Mexico
Win	42–1 1 NC	Kimmuel Odum	TKO	2 (10)	15/02/1992	Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	41–1 1 NC	Orlin Norris	SD	12	03/06/1991	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won NABF Heavyweight title.
Win	40–1 1 NC	James Ray Thomas	KO	1 (10)	29/04/1991	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win	39–1 1 NC	Lionel Washington	KO	1 (12)	28/01/1991	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States	Won USA California State Heavyweight title.
Win	38–1 1 NC	Mike Rouse	TKO	5 (10)	19/07/1990	Kingdome, Seattle, Washington, United States
Win	37–1 1 NC	Mike Evans	UD	10	08/03/1990	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win	36–1 1 NC	Calvin Jones	TKO	5 (10)	08/01/1990	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win	35–1 1 NC	Dino Homsey	KO	3 (10)	12/12/1989	Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States
Loss	34–1 1 NC	Mike Tyson	UD	12	01/08/1987	Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	For WBC & WBA Heavyweight titles. Lost IBF Heavyweight title.
Win	34–0 1 NC	Buster Douglas	TKO	10 (15)	30/05/1987	Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won vacant IBF Heavyweight title.
Win	32–0 1 NC	James Broad	UD	12	26/09/1986	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Won vacant USBA Heavyweight title.
Win	31–0 1 NC	Otis Bates	KO	2 (?)	07/08/1986	Houston, Texas, United States
Win	30–0 1 NC	Eddie Richardson	KO	4 (10)	10/07/1986	Houston, Texas, United States
Win	29–0 1 NC	Eddie Richardson	UD	10	27/02/1986	Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	28–0 1 NC	David Jaco	TKO	3 (?)	19/10/1985	Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Win	27–0 1 NC	Bobby Crabtree	TKO	4 (10)	28/06/1985	Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win	26–0 1 NC	Danny Sutton	UD	10	02/11/1984	Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	25–0 1 NC	O T Davis	KO	1 (10)	02/11/1984	Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	24–0 1 NC	Jimmy Young	UD	10	22/09/1984	Gerald R Ford Fieldhouse, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Win	23–0 1 NC	Eddie Lopez	KO	9 (10)	15/06/1984	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	22–0 1 NC	Dave Johnson	TKO	2 (10)	09/05/1984	Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	21–0 1 NC	Walter Santemore	TKO	1 (?)	19/04/1984	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	20–0 1 NC	Sam Jeter	KO	1 (10)	15/03/1984	Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	19–0 1 NC	Larry Givens	KO	4 (10)	24/02/1984	Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	19–0 1 NC	James Dixon	TKO	6 (10)	20/12/1983	Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	18–0 1 NC	Lynwood Jones	KO	5 (10)	01/12/1983	DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	17–0 1 NC	James Holly	TKO	1 (4)	07/11/1983	Chicago, Illinois, United States
NC	16–0 1 NC	Danny Sutton	NC	3 (10)	12/08/1982	Hyatt Regency Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, United States	Both fighters banged their knees together. Tucker was injured and unable to continue, and couldn't fight again for about 15 months.
Win	16–0	Richard Cade	TKO	7 (?)	08/07/1982	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	15–0	Lupe Guerra	TKO	2 (?)	30/06/1982	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, United States
Win	14–0	James Dixon	PTS	8	15/06/1982	Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	13–0	Charles Atlas	TKO	1 (10)	05/06/1982	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, United States
Win	12–0	Grady Daniels	TKO	5 (?)	18/05/1982	Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	11–0	Frank Farmer	KO	1 (?)	17/10/1981	Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Win	10–0	Harvey Steichen	TKO	3 (8)	16/09/1981	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	9–0	Jerry Hunter	KO	1 (?)	22/08/1981	Glacier Arena, Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Win	8–0	Chip Tyler	TKO	7 (8)	30/04/1981	Hacienda Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	7–0	Memphis Al Jones	TKO	1 (10)	09/04/1981	Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	6–0	Robert Evans	TKO	6 (?)	23/02/1981	Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	5–0	Willie Kents	KO	1 (?)	29/01/1981	Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	4–0	Victor Rodriguez	TKO	2 (6)	16/01/1981	HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win	3–0	Max Smith	KO	5 (6)	11/12/1980	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	2–0	Jesse Clark	KO	1 (6)	02/12/1980	Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, United States
Win	1–0	Chuck Gardner	KO	3 (6)	01/11/1980	Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States	Gardner down in 2nd and 3rd rounds.

References

External links

• "Tony Craig Tucker" at BoxingRecords.com
• Professional boxing record for Tony Tucker from BoxRec
• Earl Gustkey, "For one moment, Tucker had it all", Los Angeles Times, 5 January 1990.