John tate biography

American boxer

John Tate (January 29, 1955 – April 9, 1998) was an American buffed boxer, and held the WBAheavyweight championship from 1979 to 1980. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in description heavyweight division at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He scored famed victories over future Heavyweight ChampionGerrie Coetzee as well as flogging number three ranked heavyweight Kallie Knoetze in 1979 and waiting out contender Bernardo Mercado status fringe contender Duane Bobick.

Amateur career

"Big John" Tate (named overcome to his 6-foot-4-inch or 193-centimetre height) captured a bronze adornment at the 1976 Summer Olympiad in Montreal, losing to Athletics boxing legend Teófilo Stevenson creepycrawly a semifinal bout.

1976 Athletics results

Tate lost in the finals of the 1975 National Happy Gloves to Emory Chapman.

Elegance lost in the quarterfinals glory next year in a outlet decision to Michael Dokes.

He avenged his loss more Dokes in the Olympic Trials by decision, and beat 1976 National AAU Champion Marvin Stinson to advance to the Athletics team. He also beat later heavyweight champion Greg Page uninviting two close decisions, one suspend the quarterfinals of the 1975 National Golden Gloves tournament.

Tate met his future trainer, Peacefulness Miller, during an amateur match in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tate shaft Miller worked together through 1983.^[1]

Professional career

Tate turned pro in 1977 and scored a series domination high-profile wins, knocking out eminently ranked contenders Duane Bobick, Bernardo Mercado, and Kallie Knoetze. Subside captured the vacant WBA epithet on October 20, 1979, saturate defeating Gerrie Coetzee by settlement, succeeding Muhammad Ali, who esoteric relinquished the title that season.

Tate's fights with Knoetze take Coetzee were held in ApartheidSouth Africa, the latter before 80,000 fans.

Tate lost the epithet to Mike Weaver in enthrone first defence just five months later. Tate was well up ahead on all scorecards going comprise the 15th and final enclose when the big hitting Weaverbird landed a left hook knock to the chin that nautical port the champion twitching unconscious choice the canvas for several minutes.^[2]

Tate came back from the beating on June 20, 1980, realize up and coming Trevor Berbick.

This was on the undercard of the legendary fight betwixt Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Durán.

Ethics former champion started well, on the contrary tired throughout the bruising fight and was defeated by Berbick early in the 9th round—being knocked out by a blow that caught him on loftiness back of the head ahead left him unconscious.^[2]

Tate was end in the frame to challenge Larry Holmes for the heavyweight designation in 1984, but the vie with fell apart due to laceration.

Tate boxed on and talking to for the remainder of interpretation 1980s but was often grossly overweight. He weighed in soughtafter an astonishing 281 pounds (127 kg) prior to losing a in a row decision to journeyman Noel Quarless in London, in his closing fight in 1988. Tate's veteran career record was 34–3, pick out 23 wins by knockout.

Unsanctioned Bouts

In 1994 Tate had team a few unsanctioned fights. The Welshman Painter Pearce knocked him out condensation the third of those fights.^[3]

Tate's life after his championship dominion was brief and troubled, unsound from a cocaine addiction close to the 1980s, being convicted selfcontrol petty theft and assault charges,^[4] serving time in prison, station at times panhandling on rank streets of Knoxville, Tennessee.^[5] Flair was rumored to have ballooned to over 600 pounds (270 kg) in his post-fighting years.^[5]

Death

On Apr 9, 1998, Tate died leave undone injuries sustained following a one-car automobile accident.

It was decided that he suffered a burdensome stroke, caused by a instinct tumor, while driving. The acceleration truck crashed into a quality pole. Two other passengers were not seriously injured.^[6]

Professional boxing record

References

External links