With what’s hopefully the last blast of winter, and the Beijing games about to start; it’s time to think about warmer times ahead. And with that, the thought of what’s the best Olympic Boxing Team put together. Yes; there are a plethora of all-time greats that got put onto the map in the Games. However; when looking for a “team” one stands above the others.
Before delving into them, it should be mentioned who wasn’t able to make the final squad. Mike Tyson. “Iron Mike” fell short reaching the big games after getting back-to-back Golds in the Junior Olympics. Henry Tillman who wound up winning Gold himself ousted Tyson in the final trials. Of course he went on to get his revenge while wrecking havoc as a pro.
Obviously the team in question is the 1984 Men’s Boxing Team. The 1976 team led by Michael and Leon Spinks and Sugar_Ray_Leonard comes oh so close. But the ’84 group picked up 11-medals, 9 being the Golden type.
Best Olympic Boxing Team Roster
Arguably the best fighter out of them all, Evander Holyfield settled for Bronze. He should have and would have fought for Gold if not for the disputed dq against Kevin Barry. Both Pernell Whitaker and Mark Breland became instant sensations after they captured the top prize.
However, both 1976 and 1984 teams had to deal with multiple country boycotts. Would the medal counts be what they wound up being can be the next issue of “What If? comic books.
Some Of The Rest Of The Roster
To think that Tyrell Biggs had to get through a young, up and coming Lennox Lewis to even get to a medal fight shows how locked in he was. It’s just a shame that his outside the ring issues took what could have been an even better career from him. Meldrick Taylor had everything working at the right time during that stretch. Frank Tate was as blue-collar workhorse of a fighter as there was.
The two closest battles might be between Michael Spinks, despite becoming a legend; only had opponents in the ring for half his fights. The opposite 165er was fellow Hall Of Famer Virgil Hill. While Leon Spinks’ counterpart is Holyfield. Both pics would be splitting hairs.
Paul Gonzales edges Louis Curtis, possibly you can give a slight edge to Leo Randolph over Steve McCrory (even though he too won gold), and Robert Shannon just had more tools over Charles Moony at 119, especially going to the body.
Remember, this was the ’80’s before all the pop and circumstance there is now. While maybe one day this team will be replaced by shiny names, ego, and an ability to “chirp”; the ’80 team had the grit no other team did, or ever will.
