Out of that star-studded array of talent from the American team, Davis appeared to have the brightest future.īut while others from that legendary Olympic squad went on to world title glory, Davis failed, twice he came close, another attempt when he was past his prime, ended predictably. He was meant to win world titles, and plenty of them. Many potential gold medal winners stayed at home that year.Ī world champion seemingly in waiting, Davis turned pro with much fanfare, being paid $185,000 per fight was some statement. In qualifying for the Olympics, Davis had to go through the likes of Pryor and Hearns. But seeing Ali on the big screen changed his life.ĭavis had 130 amateur fights losing only five times, he won four Golden Gloves and a gold medal at the 1974 world amateur championships in Cuba. Davis had dabbled in music, he played four different instruments, he had initial thoughts of a career in medicine. The boxing journey began in 1970 after seeing a documentary on Muhammad Ali. It deserved to be and stay where it belonged. Davis was tracked down and was reunited with his gold medal. But a highway landscaper found it, he cleaned it up and unaware of what the piece of metal actually was, used it as a paperweight for four years until he was told what it really was. The police gave chase and the robber threw it from his car. In 1981 Davis had his gold medal stolen from his home. Winning gold while processing such unimaginable grief, adds plenty to his already incredible achievement. Davis wanted to run from those games, his teammates and words from his mother persuaded him to stay. The greatest moment in his boxing career overshadowed by the sudden personal grief he had to deal with. A triumph with mixed emotions, joy and tragedy. Davis really was that good.ĭavis was only 20 when he dazzled in Canada, he was also still in mourning following the death of his mother from a heart attack aged just 37, just three days before the Olympics began. But it was Davis Jr who took home the Val Barker Trophy for the most outstanding fighter of those Montreal Olympic Games. Sugar Ray Leonard was the star of the show, the American Golden Boy who went on to become one of the greatest fighters in boxing history. So to did the Long Island native Howard Davis Jr. The Spinks brothers came home with gold medals, as did Randolph and Leonard. The American team of gold consisted of Louis Curtis, Leo Randolph, Charles Mooney, Davey Lee Armstrong, Howard Davis, Ray Leonard, Clint Jackson, Charles Walker Jr, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks and John Tate. It was so good that the likes of Aaron Pryor and Thomas Hearns didn’t make the cut. The 1976 American Olympic boxing team was arguably their greatest ever selection of talent they chose for any Olympic games.
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