James "Quick" Tillis

[Rover]

Beau Williford did some extremely dubious things with Tillis. Versus Gary Mason he threw in the towel with no reason whatsoever in round 5.

It seemed a lot like there 'could' have been an agreement that Tillis won't go longer he did against Frank Bruno 1 or 2 years earlier as it would make Mason look bad. Tillis was also grossly out of shape for that one.

By the way, Expug it's always a pleasure to read your reminisces - how did you rate his punch power in sparring?

I would go along with the general consensus, Tillis for all his speed, talent and punch power didn't have that focus or mean streak that guys needed in those days to take them to the championship. He seems a fun jovial guy in his interviews and his book.

Thank You,sorry it took a few days to respond. Been out of town.
He could punch real well when he set himself. In the gym,just like when he fought, he moved a lot.
I dont think I hit him with anything to be honest.At the time I was probably 190 and trying to get down to light heavy. I worked in with a couple other fighters in a rotation I think.

I love your stories.

Up 3-1!

[Nile4000]

Tillis had quick hands and under-rated power. He dropped a lot of guys in fights (Greg Page, Truth Williams, Mike Williams) only for him to peter out and get stopped himself. His fight with Page is one of my favorite HW fights of the 80s . . Page really looks in top form there.

I think the previous comments are spot on. Tillis just didn't have that extra "gear" the top fighters need to reach that elite level. It's a shame that in the second half of his career he became a gatekeeper level stepping stone. I remember perusing his autobiography in a bookstore, apparently he dated Jane Fonda for a while, which I had never known.

Page was far from being in top form.238 and something pounds! One of the main reasons why Tillis lasted so ling with him.

[milpool]

Didn't realise he released a book...just ordered it off Amazon.

[Brutu]

His autobiography is probably unlike any one youv'e read by a boxer anyway
It reads like some sort of stream of conciousness writing.
I dont think many boxing fans would have ever heard of the book either,
if it wasn't for the claim in it that Tillis "threw" his fight with Tommy Morrison.
I remember when Tommy Morrison was fighting on ESPN or USA fights,
I think it was Al Berstein who asked Morrison in an interview about the claim in the book that Tillis threw the fight,,
as if Morrison was in on it or something.

[Rover]

His autobiography is probably unlike any one youv'e read by a boxer anyway
It reads like some sort of stream of conciousness writing.
I dont think many boxing fans would have ever heard of the book either,
if it wasn't for the claim in it that Tillis "threw" his fight with Tommy Morrison.
I remember when Tommy Morrison was fighting on ESPN or USA fights,
I think it was Al Berstein who asked Morrison in an interview about the claim in the book that Tillis threw the fight,,
as if Morrison was in on it or something.

That would've been ESPN.

[wvboxer]

I believe that fight was on the undercard of Mercer / Damiani. Seldon fought Ribalta also. I remember espn aired a replay later.

[Rover]

I believe that fight was on the undercard of Mercer / Damiani. Seldon fought Ribalta also. I remember espn aired a replay later.

That's correct.

[jehu]

Read his book , its a interesting read, seen quite a few of his fights, I think around the weaver , thomas time he was still a real good heavy, once he started losing it seemed he was just not really in it and didnt care too much, better management he might off done better, management was crooking him.
Still he made "from tulsa oklahom, James Quik Tillis" a known name.

[Rover]

Read his book , its a interesting read, seen quite a few of his fights, I think around the weaver , thomas time he was still a real good heavy, once he started losing it seemed he was just not really in it and didnt care too much, better management he might off done better, management was crooking him.
Still he made "from tulsa oklahom, James Quik Tillis" a known name.

If he lacked dedication, better management wouldn't have cured that.

[jehu]

Read his book , its a interesting read, seen quite a few of his fights, I think around the weaver , thomas time he was still a real good heavy, once he started losing it seemed he was just not really in it and didnt care too much, better management he might off done better, management was crooking him.
Still he made "from tulsa oklahom, James Quik Tillis" a known name.

If he lacked dedication, better management wouldn't have cured that.

Better management would'nt of screwed him the way they did, going into one fight he was training and he had no food and hes a pro fighter with no day job, getting told hes getting paid x amount on a fight and the managers making another 100K under the table more on some other fights,. The guys cutting deals so tillis can lose, late notice fights, premature corner stoppage. A bit hard to stay dedicated when your own teams against you, trusting snakes.

[Rover]

Read his book , its a interesting read, seen quite a few of his fights, I think around the weaver , thomas time he was still a real good heavy, once he started losing it seemed he was just not really in it and didnt care too much, better management he might off done better, management was crooking him.
Still he made "from tulsa oklahom, James Quik Tillis" a known name.

If he lacked dedication, better management wouldn't have cured that.

Better management would'nt of screwed him the way they did, going into one fight he was training and he had no food and hes a pro fighter with no day job, getting told hes getting paid x amount on a fight and the managers making another 100K under the table more on some other fights,. The guys cutting deals so tillis can lose, late notice fights, premature corner stoppage. A bit hard to stay dedicated when your own teams against you, trusting snakes.

He sure seemed dedicated for Tyson.

[RazorKO]

Tillis was a good fighter and willing to take on anyone.

He was arguably ahead against Thomas and Page before he wilted. And he gave Tyson, Williams and Coetzee good competitive fights.

[Rover]

Tillis was a good fighter and willing to take on anyone.

He was arguably ahead against Thomas and Page before he wilted. And he gave Tyson, Williams and Coetzee good competitive fights.

What was his biggest win?

[RazorKO]

Tillis was a good fighter and willing to take on anyone.

He was arguably ahead against Thomas and Page before he wilted. And he gave Tyson, Williams and Coetzee good competitive fights.

What was his biggest win?

I admit every time he stepped up, he lost. Except for beating an old Earnie Shavers.

But part of that reason was his allergies which caused him to gas out. When he had his allergies cured, he fought better i.e the Tyson fight, but by then he was over the hill. If he would of had it sorted during his prime years, i think he would of beaten Weaver as well as a few other top fighters.

[Rover]

Tillis was a good fighter and willing to take on anyone.

He was arguably ahead against Thomas and Page before he wilted. And he gave Tyson, Williams and Coetzee good competitive fights.

What was his biggest win?

I admit every time he stepped up, he lost. Except for beating an old Earnie Shavers.

But part of that reason was his allergies which caused him to gas out. When he had his allergies cured, he fought better i.e the Tyson fight, but by then he was over the hill. If he would of had it sorted during his prime years, i think he would of beaten Weaver as well as a few other top fighters.

So past-prime Shavers. Yeah, definitely a weak resume.

[fatcity69]

So past-prime Shavers. Yeah, definitely a weak resume.[/quote]



He fought all of the top heavies from the 70s to the mid 90s... how is that a weak resume????.....

[Rover]

So past-prime Shavers. Yeah, definitely a weak resume.

He fought all of the top heavies from the 70s to the mid 90s... how is that a weak resume????.....[/quote]
And lost to them. I consider whom you beat as part of your resume. I'll also consider draws and losses where the decision is debated. (Rocky Lockridge had a few of those.)
Tillis didn't have that issue.

[Nile4000]

Tillis was a good fighter and willing to take on anyone.

He was arguably ahead against Thomas and Page before he wilted. And he gave Tyson, Williams and Coetzee good competitive fights.

Page was slightly ahead, literally, and on the scorecards.

[klompton]

So past-prime Shavers. Yeah, definitely a weak resume.

He fought all of the top heavies from the 70s to the mid 90s... how is that a weak resume????.....

And lost to them. I consider whom you beat as part of your resume. I'll also consider draws and losses where the decision is debated. (Rocky Lockridge had a few of those.)
Tillis didn't have that issue.[/quote]


I agree with this 100% I cant stand it when guys get credit to clearly losing to a who's who list of opponents. It means that guy has been signed to play the role of the opponent most of his career. Nothing more. You only get points for winning, maybe drawing, and on rare occasions a very good or controversial loss. Beyond that losing to a long list of A-listers just means at the end of the day you couldnt cut the mustard.

I also get annoyed at how Tillis running, and trying to not get stopped by Tyson has been warped over the years to him giving Tyson problems. Has it been a track meet he would have given Tyson problems. As it stood he was nowhere near winning that bout. If one guy is trying to fight and becomes frustrated that his opponent wont it says a lot more about the opponent than it does about Tyson.

[Knightyme13]

I remember when he first came to Chicago.
I was an amateur training at the old CYO gym on Jackson blvd in Chicago when he came in one day.
That was a great place man. Ams and pros trained there.The late Johnny Lira was another who worked out there.
Anyway,I'll always remember the first time I saw "Quick". This must have been around 78 or 79.
The guy when he moved around looked like the second coming of Ali he really did.great legs,lightning fast hands,tremendous shape,he seemed like he couldnt miss.
Again, he was always a fun upbeat guy too. lots of personality.
Those were really great times in boxing.That gym,that era,the whole bit. Somehow it seems like yesterday and 100 years ago at the same time.
After the CYO closed alot of the same fighters moved over to another gym at Division and Damen called the US Arena. Tillis worked out there too and thats where he and Frank Bruno had a real good afternoon sparring session when Frank came to Chicago with Barry Mcguigan to fight at the old Divinci Manor.
Funny story about that old gym. Now I work as head of security for the Chicago Blackhawks and last year the NHL network did a story on Patrick Kane. They followed him around for a day and a half for a tv broadcast and I went with. We went to a bar/restaurant on the west side to watch a bear game for the show and it wasnt until about a month later that I realized that we were right next door to the old US Arena.It was now an upscale night club and the neighborhood was so gentrified I didnt know where I was. Different times for sure.

Expug, I think I have to know you. My Dad owned The Arena at Division and Damen...not far from Clemente High School. Me and my two brothers trained there as well. I was there when Benitez, Duran, Mancini, Hearns, and many others came through. As a kid I used to spare with Heard and Mateo.My dad would train Mateo from time to time...hell, he even lived with us for a while. I remember Lira, and Lapaglia, and a guy named Crystal Kid Clayton. My dad gave him that name. I always thought it was silly cuz he couldn't take a punch. As a kid I thought Heard was GREAT! He would tell me and my brothers about fighting in Italy, France..he was cool, but "my God" I never smelled anything worse than his equipment after he worked out. The whole place smelled like Johnny! Some of the greatest fights I ever saw we're the sparring between the guys that trained there. If you watched Louie Mateo train (when he was being serious, and not laughing his ass off) you would think he was a real contender...but I remember what cuevas did to him. I remember his wife Griselle ran up to the ring and grabbed Cuevas's leg as he knocked Louie out! As a kid, I was crushed. Any ways I could go on for days. Hope you get this and respond.

[Expug]

I remember when he first came to Chicago.
I was an amateur training at the old CYO gym on Jackson blvd in Chicago when he came in one day.
That was a great place man. Ams and pros trained there.The late Johnny Lira was another who worked out there.
Anyway,I'll always remember the first time I saw "Quick". This must have been around 78 or 79.
The guy when he moved around looked like the second coming of Ali he really did.great legs,lightning fast hands,tremendous shape,he seemed like he couldnt miss.
Again, he was always a fun upbeat guy too. lots of personality.
Those were really great times in boxing.That gym,that era,the whole bit. Somehow it seems like yesterday and 100 years ago at the same time.
After the CYO closed alot of the same fighters moved over to another gym at Division and Damen called the US Arena. Tillis worked out there too and thats where he and Frank Bruno had a real good afternoon sparring session when Frank came to Chicago with Barry Mcguigan to fight at the old Divinci Manor.
Funny story about that old gym. Now I work as head of security for the Chicago Blackhawks and last year the NHL network did a story on Patrick Kane. They followed him around for a day and a half for a tv broadcast and I went with. We went to a bar/restaurant on the west side to watch a bear game for the show and it wasnt until about a month later that I realized that we were right next door to the old US Arena.It was now an upscale night club and the neighborhood was so gentrified I didnt know where I was. Different times for sure.

Expug, I think I have to know you. My Dad owned The Arena at Division and Damen...not far from Clemente High School. Me and my two brothers trained there as well. I was there when Benitez, Duran, Mancini, Hearns, and many others came through. As a kid I used to spare with Heard and Mateo.My dad would train Mateo from time to time...hell, he even lived with us for a while. I remember Lira, and Lapaglia, and a guy named Crystal Kid Clayton. My dad gave him that name. I always thought it was silly cuz he couldn't take a punch. As a kid I thought Heard was GREAT! He would tell me and my brothers about fighting in Italy, France..he was cool, but "my God" I never smelled anything worse than his equipment after he worked out. The whole place smelled like Johnny! Some of the greatest fights I ever saw we're the sparring between the guys that trained there. If you watched Louie Mateo train (when he was being serious, and not laughing his ass off) you would think he was a real contender...but I remember what cuevas did to him. I remember his wife Griselle ran up to the ring and grabbed Cuevas's leg as he knocked Louie out! As a kid, I was crushed. Any ways I could go on for days. Hope you get this and respond.

Yes sir I am sure we have met.
Those were great times and all the guys you mentioned,I remember very well and boxed with. William Crystal Kid Clayton I sparred with a few times and right when he turned pro after I believe a stint in The Marine Corps. I remember a man named George Calamus that ran the Arena, would he be your Dad? Of course their were others around also but some of the names I have forgotten. I was training there in 82 and 83. Funny you mentioned Johnnys gear. I do remember that lol.

[Expug]

I also remember the day that Benitez came through. He was with Carlos Deleon I believe.
I wish I could remember who Benitez boxed with that day..

[Expug]

bump

[Knightyme13]

I remember when he first came to Chicago.
I was an amateur training at the old CYO gym on Jackson blvd in Chicago when he came in one day.
That was a great place man. Ams and pros trained there.The late Johnny Lira was another who worked out there.
Anyway,I'll always remember the first time I saw "Quick". This must have been around 78 or 79.
The guy when he moved around looked like the second coming of Ali he really did.great legs,lightning fast hands,tremendous shape,he seemed like he couldnt miss.
Again, he was always a fun upbeat guy too. lots of personality.
Those were really great times in boxing.That gym,that era,the whole bit. Somehow it seems like yesterday and 100 years ago at the same time.
After the CYO closed alot of the same fighters moved over to another gym at Division and Damen called the US Arena. Tillis worked out there too and thats where he and Frank Bruno had a real good afternoon sparring session when Frank came to Chicago with Barry Mcguigan to fight at the old Divinci Manor.
Funny story about that old gym. Now I work as head of security for the Chicago Blackhawks and last

year the NHL network did a story on Patrick Kane. They followed him around for a day and a half for a tv broadcast and I went with. We went to a bar/restaurant on the west side to watch a bear game for the show and it wasnt until about a month later that I realized that we were right next door to the old US Arena.It was now an upscale night club and the neighborhood was so gentrified I didnt know where I was. Different times for sure.

Expug, I think I have to know you. My Dad owned The Arena at Division and Damen...not far from Clemente High School. Me and my two brothers trained there as well. I was there when Benitez, Duran, Mancini, Hearns, and many others came through. As a kid I used to spare with Heard and Mateo.My dad would train Mateo from time to time...hell, he even lived with us for a while. I remember Lira, and Lapaglia, and a guy named Crystal Kid Clayton. My dad gave him that name. I always thought it was silly cuz he couldn't take a punch. As a kid I thought Heard was GREAT! He would tell me and my brothers about fighting in Italy, France..he was cool, but "my God" I never smelled anything worse than his equipment after he worked out. The whole place smelled like Johnny! Some of the greatest fights I ever saw we're the sparring between the guys that trained there. If you watched Louie Mateo train (when he was being serious, and not laughing his ass off) you would think he was a real contender...but I remember what cuevas did to him. I remember his wife Griselle ran up to the ring and grabbed Cuevas's leg as he knocked Louie out! As a kid, I was crushed. Any ways I could go on for days. Hope you get this and respond.

Yes sir I am sure we have met.
Those were great times and all the guys you mentioned,I remember very well and boxed with. William Crystal Kid Clayton I sparred with a few times and right when he turned pro after I believe a stint in The Marine Corps. I remember a man named George Calamus that ran the Arena, would he be your Dad? Of course their were others around also but some of the names I have forgotten. I was training there in 82 and 83. Funny you mentioned Johnnys gear. I do remember that lol.

My Dad is Peter Muniz. I'm Frank Muniz. My two brothers also fought, Pete and Brian. I had 30 something amatuer fights, typical CYO, Park district, Won Silver gloves in '83. My Dad managed Clayton,trained Louis Mateo on and off, and managed Don Bester for a while. I have a ton of pictures of all the guys sparring back then, including Benitez...and when Duran came through for 2 days. I now live out in Las Vegas, and all that seems like a lifetime ago. I'm 42 years old, but I never forget those times. I still don't know who you are. Where you related to anyone there? Who trained you? Where you amatuer, pro? Help me out. I remember Alfonso Ortiz, Victor Locodet, Oliver McCall, Nate Jones, Germaine Saunders...those were the guys I trained with daily.

[Expug]

I sent you a pm.