Tyrell Biggs


Tyrell Biggs is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1998, and challenged once for the undisputed heavyweight title in 1987. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics, having previously won bronze at the 1983 Pan American Games and gold at the 1982 World Championships, all in the super heavyweight division.

Early life

Biggs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, making his sporting debut playing basketball at West Philadelphia High where he was born and raised. 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. After his initial boxing successes, he changed his name to "Tyrell."

Amateur career

Biggs' first major success as an amateur boxer was winning the gold medal at the 1981 United States National Boxing Championships in the super-heavyweight division. He repeated this feat the next year, and also in 1982 he won the World Championships in Munich, West Germany, where in the final he defeated Francesco Damiani from Italy on points, who beat the legendary Teofilo Stevenson earlier in the competition. In 1983 Biggs won a bronze medal on the Pan American Games, losing to future professional challenger Jorge Luis Gonzalez in the semi-final. In addition, Biggs won a 3–2 split decision over Cuban Angel Milian, who had beaten Greg Page five years earlier.
In 1984 Biggs won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, defeating future Olympic gold medallist and professional world champion Lennox Lewis in the quarter-finals. In the Olympics final Biggs beat Damiani on points again.
Biggs finished his amateur career with an outstanding record of 108-6-4.

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. Besides Mike Tyson, Lewis and Damiani he went on to face such other boxing luminaries as James "Quick" Tillis, Ossie Ocasio, Riddick Bowe, Tony Tubbs, Buster Mathis, Jr., and Larry Donald before ending his career with a second-round knockout of Carlton Davis in 1998. He did not win a title, but stalked the rankings of contendership for much of the mid- to late 1980s.

Biggs vs. Tyson

Biggs' biggest professional fight was against Tyson, for the latter's undisputed heavyweight title. Biggs and Tyson disliked each other, and Biggs derided Tyson before the fight. Biggs attempted to outbox Tyson, using his jab and movement. But Tyson kept coming in and landing big punches, wearing him down until the fight was stopped in the seventh. Tyson admitted after the fight to "carrying" Biggs so as to inflict more damage, in retaliation for Biggs' pre-match comments.
Unfortunately the talented Biggs' life has been a constant fight against drug and alcohol addiction. He had to enter rehabilitation only a few months after turning professional, and some declare that his career at the time of the Tyson fight was already effectively over. Biggs' robe was sometimes emblazoned with, "Realize your potential," a drug rehabilitation mantra. An article published when he was 40 years old characterized him as "still fighting between stints in rehabilitation."

Outside the ring

Biggs competed in the American Gladiators season 5 Gold Medal Challenge of Champions in 1993, losing to 1984 Gold Downhill Skiing medalist Bill Johnson. A feature documentary about Tyrell Biggs' life is currently in production.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
40Win30–10 Carlton DavisKO2Aug 27, 1998 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
39Loss29–10 Larry DonaldKO2, 1:00Sep 11, 1997 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
38Win29–9 Alonzo Hollis6Feb 19, 1997 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
37Win28–9 Andre CrowderTKO1Jan 11, 1997 Royal Oaks Center, Mount Washington, Kentucky, U.S.
36Loss27–9 Ray AnisTKO3, 2:55Apr 4, 1994 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
35Loss27–8 Buster Mathis Jr.UD12Feb 5, 1994 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For vacant USBA heavyweight title
34Win27–7 Evgeny Sudakov3Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
33Win26–7 Shane SutcliffeTKO2, 3:00Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
32Loss25–7 Tony TubbsUD3Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
31Loss25–6 Mike HunterUD12Jan 17, 1993 Union Plaza Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.For vacant USBA heavyweight title
30Win25–5 Marion WilsonUD10Dec 8, 1992 Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S.
29Win24–5 John JonesKO2Nov 19, 1992 Days Inn South, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
28Win23–5 Roy JobeKO1Jul 18, 1992 Civic Assembly Center, Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
27Win22–5 Mike FaulknerTKO2May 29, 1992 Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
26Win21–5 Charles WoolardTKO1, 2:12May 7, 1992 Westin, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
25Win20–5 Alan JamisonKO1Apr 18, 1992 High School Field House, Chandler, Oklahoma, U.S.
24Loss19–5 Lennox LewisTKO3, 2:47Nov 23, 1991 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
23Loss19–4 Riddick BoweTKO8, 2:17Mar 2, 1991 Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
22Win19–3 Rodolfo MarinUD10Dec 8, 1990 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21Win18–3 Rick KellarTKO2Apr 5, 1990 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
20Win17–3 Ossie OcasioUD10Jan 11, 1990 Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Win16–3 Bobby CrabtreeTKO5 Nov 29, 1989 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
18Loss15–3 Gary MasonKO7, 3:00Oct 4, 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
17Loss15–2 Francesco DamianiTKO5, 1:06Oct 29, 1988 Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy
16Loss15–1 Mike TysonTKO7, 2:59Oct 16, 1987 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles
15Win15–0 Lorenzo BoydTKO3, 1:12Jul 31, 1987 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
14Win14–0 David BeyTKO6, 2:15Mar 7, 1987 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
13Win13–0 Renaldo SnipesUD10Dec 12, 1986 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
12Win12–0 Robert EvansKO5, 2:35Oct 29, 1986 Alexandra Palace, London, England
11Win11–0 Percell DavisUD10Sep 14, 1986 Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0 Rodney SmithRTD7 Aug 14, 1986 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
9Win9–0 Jeff SimsUD10Mar 23, 1986 Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
8Win8–0 James TillisUD8Jan 25, 1986 Americana Host Farm Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
7Win7–0 Tony Anthony1, 2:57Dec 21, 1985 Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
6Win6–0 Danny SuttonTKO7 Nov 19, 1985 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
5Win5–0 Sterling BenjaminTKO7Aug 29, 1985 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
4Win4–0 Eddie RichardsonTKO3, 1:55Jul 13, 1985 Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0 Grady Daniels2 May 17, 1985 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
2Win2–0 Mike Perkins1, 2:50Apr 20, 1985 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
1Win1–0 Mike Ronay Evans6Nov 15, 1984 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.