BoxRec

I seem to recall reading an article about heavyweight "Elijah Tillery", around the time when he fought Riddick Bowe, that said something along the lines of if there was a heavyweight sparring champion he would be it. Apparently he was a red hot fighter in the gym but just could not produce it when it came to the real thing.

Can anyone confirm if they have heard or read this rumour.

Thanks

All I recall of Tillery was that he was a dead ringer for a young Ali and he got a lot of attention for that. He had some skill, but I don't remember him ever advancing to contender status.

i never saw much talent in him. he was the fella who broke tysons rib in 1991, off setting tyson v holyfield and possibly forever changing the course of heavyweight history.

I can neither confirm, nor deny it.

bollocks wrote:Tillery may have been the guy who was involved in the Bowe/Newman kicking incident?

Yes he was, after the end of the first Tillery starts to kick but not ver effictevely, he stands with his back against the ropes, and Newman graps him around the neck and pulls him over the ropes.
Hilarious sight actually. From than on Newman would be regarded as a violent man, and as one of the people that started the riot after Golota.

Any other stories on Tillary?

BoxBuzz wrote:Any other stories on Tillary?

Blimey a post of mine from 2003 resurrected. He sparred with Ali for the Holmes fight and was used by many top champs and contenders. I guess that proves the point that in sparring he was pretty good, just couldn't quite replicate it in the real fights.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 696,432826

Boxing history is full of fighters who were murder in the gym but just didn't have the mental mindset to translate their skills to the pro ring. Just in the HW division, you had Tiger Williams in the 70s, Tillery in the 80s, and currently Malik Scott and Kevin Johnson, who have both gotten the upper hand on practically every top HW in the division (including the Klitschkos) in the gym at one time or the other, but bring a safety first style to the ring once they step on the big stage (their lack of power doesn't help either). In addition, in sparring you usually go 2-4 rounds at a time. Many guys who are bad in the pros but great in the gym have stamina issues over longer fights.

Dutch Windmill wrote:

bollocks wrote:Tillery may have been the guy who was involved in the Bowe/Newman kicking incident?

Yes he was, after the end of the first Tillery starts to kick but not ver effictevely, he stands with his back against the ropes, and Newman graps him around the neck and pulls him over the ropes.
Hilarious sight actually. From than on Newman would be regarded as a violent man, and as one of the people that started the riot after Golota.

They should have banned him,but most likely he had connections.
Ive never seen anyone do that before(in boxing anyway).

Caractacus wrote:

Dutch Windmill wrote:

bollocks wrote:Tillery may have been the guy who was involved in the Bowe/Newman kicking incident?

Yes he was, after the end of the first Tillery starts to kick but not ver effictevely, he stands with his back against the ropes, and Newman graps him around the neck and pulls him over the ropes.
Hilarious sight actually. From than on Newman would be regarded as a violent man, and as one of the people that started the riot after Golota.

They should have banned him,but most likely he had connections.
Ive never seen anyone do that before(in boxing anyway).

Whatever happened to Newman anyway . . is he still alive?

dempseyfire wrote:
Whatever happened to Newman anyway . . is he still alive?

Who gives a rats a*s?

dempseyfire wrote:Boxing history is full of fighters who were murder in the gym but just didn't have the mental mindset to translate their skills to the pro ring. Just in the HW division, you had Tiger Williams in the 70s, Tillery in the 80s, and currently Malik Scott and Kevin Johnson, who have both gotten the upper hand on practically every top HW in the division (including the Klitschkos) in the gym at one time or the other, but bring a safety first style to the ring once they step on the big stage (their lack of power doesn't help either). In addition, in sparring you usually go 2-4 rounds at a time. Many guys who are bad in the pros but great in the gym have stamina issues over longer fights.

Such men you would think would be perfect for "Prizefighter" three round bouts then.

"Whatever happened to Newman anyway . . is he still alive?"

As I was scrolling through TV channels this evening "The Rock Newman Show" came up on a PBS channel. "Must be a different Rock Newman," I thought. Nope. There he was, older and grayer than when I'd last seen him, interviewing someone (and sounding good in doing so) about the late Len Bias.

sweetsci wrote:"Whatever happened to Newman anyway . . is he still alive?"

As I was scrolling through TV channels this evening "The Rock Newman Show" came up on a PBS channel. "Must be a different Rock Newman," I thought. Nope. There he was, older and grayer than when I'd last seen him, interviewing someone (and sounding good in doing so) about the late Len Bias.

Is he still a fat fvck & does he still insist on wearing the dashiki/muu-muu?

From what I know, most boxers don't treat sparring as a fight but there are a few that do. The ones that do are the ones who look good in the gym. Most educated fighters know not to go full pelt in sparring sessions as it increases wear and tear and fatigue and whatnot.

I had a mate (a journeyman with a losing record) who completely outboxed and bloodied the nose of a world champion in a gym spar but in a real fight, that would champion would have KO'd my mate in a couple of rounds. My mate brought on the goods in a gym spar as he would in a fight thus looking brilliant in the gym and not on the actual night.

Tillery helped Greg Page prepare for Marty Monroe.

Datsue wrote:

sweetsci wrote:"Whatever happened to Newman anyway . . is he still alive?"

As I was scrolling through TV channels this evening "The Rock Newman Show" came up on a PBS channel. "Must be a different Rock Newman," I thought. Nope. There he was, older and grayer than when I'd last seen him, interviewing someone (and sounding good in doing so) about the late Len Bias.

Is he still a fat fvck & does he still insist on wearing the dashiki/muu-muu?

I switched channels after a minute or so. I didn't really notice what he was wearing; his clothing didn't stand out. He had pretty much the same body type.

Here's the link to his website - http://rocknewmanshow.net