Tyrell Biggs
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| Amateur medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Competitor for  United States |
|||
| Men’s Boxing | |||
| Olympic Games | |||
| Gold | 1984 Los Angeles | Super Heavyweight | |
| World Amateur Championships | |||
| Gold | Munich 1982 | Super Heavyweight | |
| Pan American Games | |||
| Bronze | Caracas 1983 | Super Heavyweight | |
Tyrell Biggs (born December 22, 1960 in Philadelphia, PA) is an American heavyweight boxer. He won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA in boxing at the Superheavyweight division, after gaining bronze the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games.
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[edit] Early Life
Biggs, then known by his nickname, "Burt," first made a sporting splash as a basketball player at West Philadelphia High, in Philadelphia. He was a starting forward for the Speedboys' Public League and City champions in 1978, a team that extended a state-record winning streak to 68 before a regular season loss to Overbrook. In '77, one of Biggs' teammates was Gene Banks, who went on to excel at Duke and play in the NBA.
[edit] Professional Career
He turned professional soon after his Olympic victory, scoring a 6 round unanimous decision over Mike Evans on November 15, 1984 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in his first bout. He went on to face such boxing luminaries as James "Quick" Tillis, Mike Tyson, Francesco Damiani, Ossie Ocasio, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Tony Tubbs, Buster Mathis, Jr., and Larry Donald before ending his career with a second round knockout of Carlton Davis on August 27, 1998 in Atlanta, GA. He never won a title, but stalked the rankings of contendership for much of the mid to late 1980s. His professional ring record was 30 wins (20 knockouts) and 10 losses in 40 contests.
Biggs' biggest pro fight was against Tyson, for the latter's undisputed heavyweight title. Biggs and Tyson disliked each other, and Biggs bad mouthed Tyson before the fight. Biggs attempted to outbox Tyson, using his jab and movement. But Tyson kept coming in and landing big punches, tiring and hurting Biggs, and also cutting him near his eye and on his lip. By the seventh round the fight seemed to be coming to an end, as Tyson mercilessly punished Biggs' face, whose head became swollen and bloody. Tyson hit him with a mammoth left hook, knocking him down. Biggs got up, but was dropped by another savage left, and the fight was stopped.
[edit] Outside the Ring
Biggs competed in the American Gladiators Season 5 Gold Medal Challenge of Champions in 1993. Biggs lost to 1984 Gold Downhill Skiing medalist Bill Johnson, failing to finish the final challenge.
[edit] Amateur Career
Claimed an amateur record of 108-6-4
- 1981 – Gold Medal (Super Heavweight) at the United States (National AAU)
- 1982 – Gold Medal (Super Heavweight) at the United States (National AAU)
- 1982 – Gold Medal (Super Heavweight) at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany
- Defeated Ferenc Somodi (Hungary) on points
- Defeated Valery Abadzhyan (Soviet Union) on points
- Defeated Peter Hussing (West Germany) on points
- Defeated Francesco Damiani (Italy) on points
- 1984 – Gold Medal (Super Heavweight) at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California
- Defeated Isaac Barrientos (Puerto Rico) points
- Defeated Lennox Lewis (Canada) points
- Defeated Aziz Salihu (Yugoslavia) points
- Defeated Francesco Damiani (Italy) points
- Beat Angel Milian of Cuba, who had defeated Russian legend Igor Vysotsky and Greg Page.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Newly Created Title |
United States Amateur Super Heavyweight Champion 1981 - 1982 |
Succeeded by Nathaniel Fitch |
