Tyrell Biggs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tyrell Biggs |
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| Rated at | Heavyweight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 80 in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | December 22, 1960 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Tyrell Biggs, born on December 22, 1960, is a former American boxer. He was a professional boxer from 1984 to 1998. Biggs once fought for the undisputed heavyweight title in 1987. Before turning professional, he was a very successful amateur boxer. He won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He also earned a bronze medal at the 1983 Pan American Games. In 1982, he won a gold medal at the World Championships. All these achievements were in the super heavyweight division.
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Tyrell Biggs' Early Life
Tyrell Biggs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He first showed his athletic talent in basketball. He played for West Philadelphia High School. In 1978, he was a starting player for his school's team. They won the Public League and City championships. His team had an amazing winning streak of 68 games. One of his teammates in 1977 was Gene Banks. Banks later played in the NBA. After his first boxing wins, he changed his name to "Tyrell."
Amateur Boxing Career Highlights
Biggs had great success as an amateur boxer. His first big win was in 1981. He won the gold medal at the United States National Boxing Championships. He won this title again in 1982.
Winning the World Championship
In 1982, Biggs also won the World Championships in Munich, West Germany. In the final match, he beat Francesco Damiani from Italy. Damiani had previously defeated the famous Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson.
Pan American Games and Olympic Gold
In 1983, Biggs won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games. He lost in the semi-final to Jorge Luis Gonzalez. Biggs also had a close win against Cuban boxer Angel Milian.
In 1984, Biggs achieved his biggest amateur victory. He won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. In the quarter-finals, he defeated Lennox Lewis. Lewis later became an Olympic gold medalist and a professional world champion. In the final match for the gold medal, Biggs once again beat Francesco Damiani.
Tyrell Biggs ended his amateur career with an impressive record. He had 108 wins, 6 losses, and 4 draws.
Tyrell Biggs' Professional Boxing Journey
After his Olympic win, Biggs became a professional boxer. His first professional fight was on November 15, 1984. He won a 6-round decision against Mike Evans in New York City.
Facing Top Boxers
During his career, Biggs fought many famous boxers. These included Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Francesco Damiani. He also faced other well-known fighters like James "Quick" Tillis, Ossie Ocasio, Riddick Bowe, Tony Tubbs, Buster Mathis, Jr., and Larry Donald. His last fight was in 1998, where he won by knockout against Carlton Davis. While he didn't win a major title, he was considered a strong contender in the heavyweight division for many years.
Biggs vs. Tyson: A Big Fight
Tyrell Biggs' most famous professional fight was against Mike Tyson. This was for Tyson's undisputed heavyweight title. Before the fight, Biggs and Tyson had a rivalry. Biggs made some comments about Tyson. In the fight, Biggs tried to use his boxing skills and movement. However, Tyson was very strong and kept landing powerful punches. The referee stopped the fight in the seventh round. Tyson later said he wanted to make the fight last longer to punish Biggs for his comments.
Tyrell Biggs was a very talented boxer. However, he faced personal challenges outside the ring. These difficulties affected his boxing career. He often wore a robe with the words "Realize your potential." This was a reminder to overcome challenges. Even when he was 40 years old, he was still working to overcome these difficulties.
Life Outside the Boxing Ring
In 1993, Tyrell Biggs appeared on the TV show American Gladiators. He competed in the Gold Medal Challenge of Champions. He lost to Bill Johnson, who was a 1984 Olympic gold medalist in downhill skiing. A special movie about Tyrell Biggs' life is currently being made.
Professional Boxing Record Summary
Tyrell Biggs had a professional record of 30 wins and 10 losses. He won 20 of his fights by knockout.
