HOWARD DAVIS, JR.

Inducted on November 12, 1998

Boxing history

Amateur record: 120-5, 55 KOs Pro record: 39-6, 17 KOs

Four-time NY Golden Gloves champ (’73-’76) Three-time NY Metropolitan champ (74-’76)

First World Amateur Champion, 1974, Havana, Cuba (first American boxer to win it) Two-time National AAU champion (’73, ’76)

1976 Olympic Gold Medalist, Montreal

Winner of Val Barker Award for the Outstanding Boxer of the 1976 Olympics. One of the trainers for ISF cruiserweight champ Imamu Mayfield

Personal trainer at New York Sports Clubs in Old Bridge, N.J.

When Howard was just 15 years old, he saw Muhammad Ali on the big screen in a movie called “A.K.A. Cassius Clay”. He was inspired. The very next day he took his first step toward an Olympic dream, dedicating his life to boxing.

The 5’10” Davis received his first boxing lessons from his father, Howard Sr., who had been a pretty good amateur fighter in his day, and even had a few bouts as a pro. Father taught son well. Young Howard started wading through Golden Gloves opponents with ease. Before long he had piled up four Golden Gloves titles, two national AAU championships and annexed a world amateur crown in the 125-pound featherweight class. Davis was maturing both as a fighter and physically. By the time he was 19 years old, late in 1975, he could no longer make the 125-pound class and moved up to the lightweight class with a 132- pound limit.

The transition was not without its difficulties, but Davis had confidence and a goal. He wanted to be an Olympic champion and gold medal winner. A tragic incident almost deprived him of the chance. Just three days before his first bout at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, Howard received word that his mother had died. He wanted to return home for the funeral, but his family convinced him to stay and try to win the title for the memory of his mother and everything she had sacrificed for him. After agonizing for hours, Howard stayed in Montreal, determined to prove it meant something. He won his gold medal, gaining a unanimous decision over European champion Simon Cutov of Rumania. Davis was so dazzling that he was voted the Outstanding Boxer of any weight class during the Olympics.

After the Olympics, he embarked on a brilliant professional career, during which he amassed a record of 39 wins, 6 losses with 17 KOs. Now he is being inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.

Howard Edward Davis, Jr. (born February 14, 1956) is a retired world-class American amateur and professional boxer. Growing up on Long Island as the eldest of 10 children, Davis first learned boxing from his father. After being inspired by a movie about Muhammad Ali, Davis embarked on his amateur career. He won the 1976 Olympic gold medal one week after his mother died. He was also awarded the “Val Barker Trophy at the Olympics, beating out such boxers Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks.[1]

He turned professional after the Olympics and went on to a professional record of 36–6–1 with 14 knockouts. He retired in 1996.[1] As of 2009, he works as boxing director at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he trains both amateur and professional boxers and MMA fighters. He is also a motivational speaker and a musician.

Amateur career

As an amateur, Davis was trained by his father, a former boxer. He had an outstanding amateur career. In 1976, Davis won the Olympic gold medal in the lightweight division in Montreal, Canada. Davis was also named the Outstanding Boxer of the 1976 Olympics and given the Val Barker Trophy. His Olympic teammates included Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks.

His Olympic victory came just one week after his mother died of a heart attack.

Davis had an amateur record of 125–5.

Amateur accomplishments include:

  • 1973 National AAU Champion (125 lb)
    • Defeated Leroy Veasley of Detroit in the final
  • 1976 National AAU Champion (132 lbs)
  • 1976 Olympic Trials
  • 1976 Summer Olympics – Gold Medal (132 lbs) and Val Barker Award winner for Most Outstanding Boxer of the Games
    • Defeated Yukio Segawa (Japan) won on points
    • Defeated Leonidas Asprilla (Colombia) won by KO 2
    • Defeated Tzvetan Tzvetkov (Bulgaria) won by TKO 3
    • Defeated Ace Rusevski (Yugoslavia) won on points
    • Defeated Simion Cuţov (Romania) won on points

Professional career

Davis turned professional in 1977. After winning his first thirteen fights, he challenged Jim Watt for the WBC lightweight title in 1980. Watt won by a fifteen-round unanimous decision. In 1984, with a record of 26–1, Davis fought Edwin Rosario for the WBC lightweight title. Rosario retained his title with a twelve-round split decision. His final attempt to win a world title came in 1988. Davis was stunningly knocked out in the first round by IBF junior welterweight champion Buddy McGirt. He retired after the fight. In 1994, Davis launched a comeback as a middleweight. He retired for good after a second-round knockout loss to Dana Rosenblatt. He finished with a professional record of 36–6–1 with 14 KO’s.[2]

Honors

In August 1976, Davis’ hometown of Glen Cove, New York honored Davis with a parade for his Olympic achievement, which was attended by Lt. Governor Mary Anne Krupsak.

In July 2009, Glen Cove honored Davis by naming a street after him. The Mayor also proclaimed July 10 as Howard Davis Day in honor of both father and son.[3]

Life after boxing

 Davis trains professional fighters like Chuck Liddell and others.

Currently, Davis is serving as a boxing trainer to MMA fighters, including Chuck Liddell and fighters from American Top Team. He also works as a sports commentator, a public speaker, and a promoter for Fight Time Promotions.

Davis was a boxing coach/trainer for Chuck Liddell on The Ultimate Fighter 11.[4]

Davis’ wife Karla Guadamuz-Davis serves as his Publicist and Business Manager. (www.kgcmarketingteam.com)

References

  1. http://howarddavisjr.com/
  2. “Howard Davis, Jr.: Boxing Let’s Talk”
  3. “Olympic Champ Howard Davis Jr. is honored in Hometown of Glen Cove, NY”
  4. “”The Ultimate Fighter 11″ debut”. mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2010-03-08.

External links

  • Inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame on November 12, 1998.
  • Inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame on June 21, 2013.
  • Inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame on March 30, 2014.

Amateur Achievements

Davis vs. Simion Cutov in the 1976 Olympic lightweight final

Education: Glen Cove High School

Language:  Bi-lingual

Personal Interests

Loves reading, traveling and music

Plays bass, drums, guitar, keyboards Lectures African history, theology, political history and boxing.

Professional Career

  • Record: 36 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw, 14 knockouts
  • After winning the Olympics, Davis signed a $1.5 million contract with CBS television.
  • Davis fought for a world title three times. All three title shots were in Olympic years.
    Results:

    • Lost a fifteen-round unanimous decision to Jim Watt for the WBC Lightweight Title on June 7, 1980.
    • Lost a twelve-round split decision to Edwin Rosario for the WBC Lightweight Title on June 23, 1984.
    • Knocked out in the first round by James (Buddy) McGirt for the IBF Junior Welterweight Title on July 31, 1988.

Post-Boxing Career

  • Davis served as Boxing Director at American Top Team, a mixed martial arts academy in Florida, for eight years. He’s now the CEO of Fight Time Promotions, the leader in MMA pro fights in South Florida.

External Links

Boxing Record: click