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1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 25 Dec 2025, 20:14
by Taansend
Thursday 15, November 1984 - Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
Evander Holyfield 177½ W-UD 6/6 Lionel Byarm 177½ 9-1-2 light heavy
Mark Breland 146 W-UD 6/6 Dwight Williams 147 7-1-0 welter
Meldrick Taylor 134½ W-TKO 1/6 Luke Lecce 134½ 12-2-1 light
Pernell Whitaker 134½ W-TKO 2/6 Farrain Comeaux 134 11-0-0 light
Virgil Hill 171 W-TKO 2/4 Arthur Wright 170½ 1-0-0 light heavy
Tyrell Biggs 223 W-UD 6/6 Mike Evans 225 3-1-1 heavy
Not a bad line up. From memory...
Holyfield went on to unify the Cruiserweight belt then win the Heavy three times.
Breland won the Welter belt a couple of times.
Taylor looked fantastic at Lightwelter til he ran into Chavez. Still won a belt at Welter but was never the same.
Whitaker ruled at Lightweight, unifying, then moved to Welter & was just as good. You could argue that he was undefeated in his first 42 bouts, despite what the judges said.
Hill ruled Light heavy for some ridiculous amount of years then moved up to Cruiser & won belts there too. Possibly the only fighter I know of who won a fight with the help of a TV camera (joke)
I don't think Biggs won a belt. He might have if he hadn't have turned pro just a few months before a bloke named Tyson.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 25 Dec 2025, 21:46
by goose 5
Admission was free.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 26 Dec 2025, 13:54
by Ambling Alp II
I remember a lot of people thought Breland was the best of them.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 26 Dec 2025, 14:03
by Taansend
Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑26 Dec 2025, 13:54
I remember a lot of people thought Breland was the best of them.
He was the best of them in the Amateurs, wasn't he?
Also, probably New York press bias.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 28 Dec 2025, 13:39
by Ambling Alp II
Arguably. but Whitaker, Holyfield, and Taylor were right there with him.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 28 Dec 2025, 13:41
by gilgamesh
In all fairness. As far as their Amateur records go, Breland definitely did have the best success as an Amateur. All of his Olympic teammates passed him up in the Pro game though.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 28 Dec 2025, 15:27
by scorpio83
Taansend wrote: ↑25 Dec 2025, 20:14
Thursday 15, November 1984 - Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
Evander Holyfield 177½ W-UD 6/6 Lionel Byarm 177½ 9-1-2 light heavy
Mark Breland 146 W-UD 6/6 Dwight Williams 147 7-1-0 welter
Meldrick Taylor 134½ W-TKO 1/6 Luke Lecce 134½ 12-2-1 light
Pernell Whitaker 134½ W-TKO 2/6 Farrain Comeaux 134 11-0-0 light
Virgil Hill 171 W-TKO 2/4 Arthur Wright 170½ 1-0-0 light heavy
Tyrell Biggs 223 W-UD 6/6 Mike Evans 225 3-1-1 heavy
Not a bad line up. From memory...
Holyfield went on to unify the Cruiserweight belt then win the Heavy three times.
Breland won the Welter belt a couple of times.
Taylor looked fantastic at Lightwelter til he ran into Chavez. Still won a belt at Welter but was never the same.
Whitaker ruled at Lightweight, unifying, then moved to Welter & was just as good. You could argue that he was undefeated in his first 42 bouts, despite what the judges said.
Hill ruled Light heavy for some ridiculous amount of years then moved up to Cruiser & won belts there too. Possibly the only fighter I know of who won a fight with the help of a TV camera
(joke)
I don't think Biggs won a belt. He might have if he hadn't have turned pro just a few months before a bloke named Tyson.
Actually, Holyfield win the World Heavyweight title four times not three as Holyfield KO 3 Buster Douglas for his first reign, then regained his second title reign by decisioning Riddick Bowe in their rematch in the "Fan Man" fight, stopping Mike Tyson to win his third reign and decisioning John Ruiz to win the WBA version thus winning his fourth title reign after Lennox Lewis vacant his WBA title after refusing to defend against Ruiz.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 28 Dec 2025, 20:03
by Expug
Biggs probably faced the toughest opponent in Mike Evans.
I used to see him in the gym. He was a good fighter.
Guy was huge too.
Trivia, he was in a Budweiser ad at one point.
At least I think it was bud.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 28 Dec 2025, 20:12
by Flump
Expug wrote: ↑28 Dec 2025, 20:03
Biggs probably faced the toughest opponent in Mike Evans.
I used to see him in the gym. He was a good fighter.
Guy was huge too.
Trivia, he was in a Budweiser ad at one point.
At least I think it was bud.
He was a capable fighter. He got stopped early by Frank Bruno over this side of the pond, but he could definitely fight.
Re: 1984 Olympians Debut Bill in November of that year.
Posted: 29 Dec 2025, 07:32
by bennie
Biggs had plenty of ability but lack of power held him back and his failure to budge Evans on the night saw him roundly booed. Pick of the bunch was probably the 18-year-old Taylor.