Henry Tillman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henry Tillman |
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| Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rated at | Cruiserweight Heavyweight |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 77.5 in | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 1, 1960 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Draws | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| No contests | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Henry Durand Tillman (born August 1, 1960) is a former American professional boxer who had an amazing start to his fighting career. He is most famous for winning a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics as a heavyweight boxer.
Before becoming a professional, he was a successful amateur boxer. He even defeated the legendary Mike Tyson twice in amateur matches. As a pro, he fought in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, which are categories based on a boxer's weight.
Contents
Early Life and Amateur Success
Henry Tillman was born in Los Angeles, California. He discovered his talent for boxing as a young man and began competing as an amateur. An amateur athlete is someone who competes for the love of the sport, not for money.
His amateur career was full of major achievements. He represented the United States in many international competitions.
Olympic Gold Medal
Tillman's biggest moment came at the 1984 Summer Olympics, which were held in his hometown of Los Angeles. To earn his spot on the U.S. Olympic team, he had to compete against another powerful young boxer named Mike Tyson. Tillman defeated Tyson in two close matches to become the team's heavyweight representative.
At the Olympics, Tillman fought his way to the final match. There, he faced Canadian boxer Willie DeWitt. Tillman won the fight by a unanimous decision, earning the Olympic gold medal.
Other Amateur Achievements
Before his Olympic victory, Tillman also had success at other events. In 1983, he competed in the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela. He won a silver medal in the heavyweight division. These games bring together top athletes from countries all over North and South America.
Professional Boxing Career
After winning Olympic gold, Tillman became a professional boxer in 1984. He started his career in the cruiserweight division. In professional boxing, fighters are paid for their matches.
His professional career had both wins and losses. In 1987, he got a chance to fight for the WBA Cruiserweight title against Evander Holyfield, another famous champion. Holyfield won the match.
Later, Tillman moved up to the heavyweight division. In 1990, he had a highly anticipated match against Mike Tyson. This was Tyson's first fight after a major loss, and he won against Tillman in the first round. Tillman finished his professional career with a record of 25 wins and 6 losses.
Life Outside of Boxing
Besides his boxing career, Henry Tillman also appeared on the big screen. He played a boxer named "Tim Simms" in the movie Rocky V. His character fought against the movie's main opponent, "Tommy Gunn," who was played by real-life boxer Tommy Morrison.
At the 1984 Olympics, Tillman met Gina Hemphill. She is the granddaughter of the legendary track and field athlete Jesse Owens. Gina was part of the opening ceremony, carrying the Olympic torch into the stadium. Henry and Gina were married in 1987.
See also
In Spanish: Henry Tillman para niños
