John Tate (boxer)


John Tate was the WBA heavyweight champion of the world from 1979 to 1980. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Amateur career

"Big John" Tate captured a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, losing to Olympic boxing legend Teófilo Stevenson in a semifinal bout.

1976 Olympic results

Tate lost in the finals of the 1975 National Golden Gloves to Emory Chapman. He lost in the quarterfinals the next year in a split decision to Michael Dokes. He avenged his loss to Dokes in the Olympic Trials by decision, and beat 1976 National AAU Champion Marvin Stinson to advance to the Olympic team. He also beat future heavyweight champion Greg Page by two close decisions, one in the quarterfinals of the 1975 National Golden Gloves tournament.
Tate met his future trainer, Ace Miller, during an amateur tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tate and Miller worked together through 1983.

Professional career

Tate turned pro in 1977 and scored a series of high-profile wins, knocking out highly ranked contenders Duane Bobick, Bernardo Mercado, and Kallie Knoetze. He captured the vacant WBA title on October 20, 1979 by defeating Gerrie Coetzee by decision, succeeding Muhammad Ali, who had relinquished the title that summer. Tate's fights with Knoetze and Coetzee were held in Apartheid South Africa, the latter before 80,000 fans.
Tate lost the title to Mike Weaver in his first defence just five months later. Tate was well ahead on all scorecards going into the 15th and final round when the big hitting Weaver landed a left hook punch to the chin that left the champion twitching unconscious on the canvas for several minutes.
Tate came back from the loss on June 20, 1980 against up and coming Trevor Berbick. This was on the undercard of the legendary fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Durán. The former champion started well, but tired throughout the bruising battle and was defeated by Berbick early in the 9th round—being knocked out by a punch that caught him on the back of the head and left him unconscious.
Tate was in the frame to challenge Larry Holmes for the heavyweight title in 1984, but the fight fell apart due to injury. Tate boxed on and off for the remainder of the 1980s but was often grossly overweight. He weighed in at an astonishing prior to losing a points decision to journeyman Noel Quarless in London, in his final fight in 1988. Tate's professional career record was 34-3, with 23 wins by knockout.

Unsanctioned Bouts

John Tate boxed in Beaconsfield, California.

Outside the ring

Tate's life after his championship reign was brief and troubled, suffering from a cocaine addiction during the 1980s, being convicted on petty theft and assault charges, serving time in prison, and at times panhandling on the streets of Knoxville, Tennessee. He was rumored to have ballooned to over in his post-fighting years.

Death

On April 9, 1998, Tate died of injuries sustained following a one-car automobile accident. It was determined that he suffered a massive stroke, caused by a brain tumor, while driving. The pickup truck crashed into a utility pole. Two other passengers were not seriously injured.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
37Loss34–3 Noel QuarlessPTS10Mar 30, 1988 York Hall, London, England
36Win34–2 Wesley SmithUD4Jan 16, 1988 Viking Hall, Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
35Win33–2 Mark GreenKO1 Dec 19, 1987 Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
34Win32–2 Calvin JonesMD4Nov 28, 1987 International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
33Win31–2 Steve EisenbarthTKO1 Apr 17, 1986 Convention Center, Bakersfield, California, U.S.
32Win30–2 Marty CapassoKO2, 1:26Aug 19, 1983 Auditorium, West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
31Win29–2 Donnie LongUD10Apr 10, 1983 Hilton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
30Win28–2 Danny SuttonTKO5, 2:55Jan 13, 1983 Viking Hall, Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
29Win27–2 Bruce GrandhamTKO3 Aug 27, 1982 Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
28Win26–2 Leroy BooneUD10Jul 8, 1982 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
27Win25–2 Leroy CaldwellUD10Mar 25, 1982 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
26Win24–2 Chuck GardnerKO1, 2:25Nov 27, 1981 Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
25Win23–2 Barry FunchesTKO7, 2:59Oct 15, 1981 Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24Win22–2 Clayman ParkerTKO1, 2:47Aug 8, 1981 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
23Win21–2 Harvey SteichenUD10Feb 15, 1981 Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
22Loss20–2 Trevor BerbickKO9, 0:22Jun 20, 1980 Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
21Loss20–1 Mike WeaverKO15, 2:15Mar 31, 1980 Stokely Athletic Center, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.Lost WBA heavyweight title
20Win20–0 Gerrie Coetzee15Oct 20, 1979 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South AfricaWon vacant WBA heavyweight title
19Win19–0 Kallie KnoetzeTKO8, 2:52Jun 2, 1979 Independence Stadium, Mmabatho, Bophuthatswana
18Win18–0 Duane BobickKO1, 2:15Feb 17, 1979 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
17Win17–0 Ron DraperKO5, 1:55Dec 9, 1978 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
16Win16–0 Roy WallaceKO9, 0:43Oct 14, 1978 The Summit, Houston, Texas, U.S.
15Win15–0 Johnny Boudreaux10Aug 26, 1978 Houston, Texas, U.S.
14Win14–0 Walter SantemoreKO6, 2:45Jul 7, 1978 Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
13Win13–0 Bernardo MercadoTKO2, 2:24Jun 22, 1978 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
12Win12–0 Reinaldo GorositoKO2 May 13, 1978 Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
11Win11–0 Harold Carter4Apr 25, 1978 Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
10Win10–0 Leon ShawKO7, 2:32Mar 14, 1978 Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
9Win9–0 James DixonKO3Jan 29, 1978 Hyatt Regency, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
8Win8–0 Charlie JordanKO1Dec 3, 1977 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
7Win7–0 Frank SchramTKO1 Nov 18, 1977 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0 Lou EsaKO3, 2:58Oct 22, 1977 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5Win5–0 Eddie Lopez6Sep 13, 1977 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
4Win4–0 Walter Santemore6Aug 23, 1977 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
3Win3–0 Baker TinsleyKO2 Aug 20, 1977 High School Gym, Pikeville, Kentucky, U.S.
2Win2–0 Norm Kues1, 1:45Jun 1, 1977 Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1Win1–0 Jerry Thompkins5, 2:40May 7, 1977 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.