Mark Breland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Breland
Breland (left) and Serik Konakbayev (right) in 2010
Statistics
Real name	Mark Anthony Breland
Height	6 ft 2+1/2 in
Reach	77+1/2 in
Born	May 11, 1963 (1963-05-11) (age 62) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	38 as a professional
Wins	35
Wins by KO	25
Losses	3
Draws	1
Medal record Men's boxing Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles Welterweight World Championships Gold 1982 Munich Welterweight

Mark Anthony Breland is a famous American boxer and boxing trainer. He was born on May 11, 1963. As a young boxer, he won a Gold Medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He had an amazing record of 110 wins and only 1 loss as an amateur. Many people think he is one of the best amateur boxers ever.

Mark Breland also became a professional boxer. He fought from 1984 to 1997. During this time, he won the WBA welterweight title two times. After his boxing career, he became an actor. He appeared in movies and on TV. He was also in a music video for the song "Dare Me" by The Pointer Sisters.

Mark Breland's Early Life and Amateur Boxing Career

Mark Breland grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He started boxing when he was only 7 years old. He would often challenge other kids in his apartment building. When he was 9, he got to join Muhammad Ali's youth boxing camp. This camp was in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania.

At 13, Mark started training seriously in a gym. Boxing became a big part of his life. He won the New York Golden Gloves title five times in a row. This was from 1980 to 1984. His record in the Golden Gloves was 21 wins and no losses. He won 19 of those fights by knockout. Fourteen of his knockouts happened in the very first round! This record was even better than Sugar Ray Robinson's.

Mark Breland was so good that he was the only amateur boxer to be on the cover of Ring magazine. His picture also hangs in the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The Smithsonian Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, also has a picture of Mark Breland and his 1984 Olympic team. This honors their great achievements.

Turning Down Professional Offers

When Mark was 18, in 1981, boxing promoters offered him a lot of money. They wanted him to sign a professional contract. Some offers were as high as $300,000. But Mark turned them down. He wanted to compete in the 1984 Olympics. He knew the Olympics would give him a lot of attention. He also felt that the promoters needed him more than he needed their money. Mark always wanted to control his own boxing path. He even planned to stop boxing before he turned 30.

Mark Breland's Amateur Record

Mark Breland had an amazing amateur record. He won 110 fights and lost only 1. He had 73 knockouts. His only loss was to Darryl Anthony. However, Mark later beat Anthony by TKO as a professional. He also had one other loss due to an illness. This illness caused him to withdraw from a fight. He had to spend most of that week in a New York hospital.

In 1984, Mark Breland won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He was named "Boxer of the Year" in 1982 by the USAABF. The AIBA also ranked him as the number one amateur welterweight in the world in 1984.

Mark was so skilled as an amateur that it was hard for him to find sparring partners. Other boxers would even delay joining the NYC Daily News Golden Gloves. They did this to avoid fighting Mark Breland during his five years of winning. In 1984, he trained with the Kronk Gym in New York. There, he sparred with the famous WBC Super Welterweight champion Thomas Hearns. At that time, Mark was trained by Emanuel Steward.

Mark Breland's Professional Boxing Career

Mark Breland became a professional boxer in 1984. In 1987, he won the vacant WBA welterweight title. He defeated Harold Volbrecht by TKO in the seventh round. He lost the title in his very first defense to Marlon Starling.

In 1989, Mark won the WBA welterweight title again. He defeated Seung-Soon Lee by knockout in the first round. This fight happened on February 4, 1989, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He successfully defended his title four times. One of his most notable defenses was against Lloyd Honeyghan. He eventually lost the title to Aaron Davis in a tough nine-round fight.

Mark Breland retired from professional boxing in 1997. His professional record was 35 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. He had 25 knockouts. His losses were to Jorge Vaca, Aaron Davis, and Marlon Starling. He also had his only draw against Marlon Starling.

Mark Breland as a Boxing Trainer

After his fighting career, Mark Breland became a respected boxing trainer. He has worked with many famous boxers. Some of his notable clients include Vernon Forrest and former WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. In recent years, he has also been an assistant trainer for Jermall Charlo.

Amateur Highlights

Mark Breland had many important wins during his amateur career. Here are some of his key achievements:

• Won the 39th Intercity Golden Gloves in New York City in April 1981.
• Won the U.S. National Sports Festival in Syracuse, New York, in July 1981.
• Became the United States Welterweight Champion in Charlotte, North Carolina, in April 1982.
• Won a Gold medal at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany, in May 1982. He defeated Serik Konakbayev in the finals.
• Won the USA–Poland Duals in Las Vegas, Nevada, in October 1982.
• Won the AIBA International Challenge in Tokyo, Japan, in May 1983.
• Became the United States Welterweight Champion again in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in November 1983.
• Won the AIBA International Challenge in Los Angeles, California, in April 1984.
• Qualified for the Olympics at the National Olympic Trials in Fort Worth, Texas, in June 1984.
• Won a Gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, in July–August 1984. He won all his fights by unanimous decision or knockout.

See also

• List of world welterweight boxing champions