Howard Davis Jr dies aged 59

RIP Champ!!

 

RIP to one of the very best amateurs of all time, and quite a good pro as well. Held Taylor to a draw, defeated some solid contenders on the way up, and extended Rosario and Camacho. All without much power to speak of.

 

Had the WBC lightweight title in his hands but chose to slug with Rosario because he was thinking he was behind on the cards. Actually, he would have won without the last seconds knockdown. He certainly had the talent to be champion. He wasn't that featherfisted. He stunned Rosario with a right hand and turned the fight in his favor with that punch.

 

Perhaps the most noted vegetarian in boxing during his career, a good guy with a poignant story at Montreal who brought home the Gold his mother inspired him to, and the Val Barker Cup for himself in the process.

Unlike many speedsters, he wasn't a showoff. Nor did he come from a broken home, but parents who were as parents should be.

Never smoked, never drank, yet a nightmarish diseased outcome at all too early an age. (To think Saoul Mamby competed at a later age than Howard passed at.)

Like his father before him, he retired from boxing to actually make the world around him a better place for those sharing life with him.

Goodbye Champ, and thanks for having been here. Sorry you couldn't hang around longer, and condolences to your family as well as your surviving teammates from Montreal. You helped lead boxing to its final peak as a major sport in your country, and inspired many to take up boxing in the process.

 

Then it would have been a case of atrociously bad American home cooking. I watched that fight back then on free tv and thought, much to my surprise ,that Watt beat him soundly, and displayed underrated skills and fundamentals in the process.
Nevertheless, R.I.P. Mr Davis.

 

Rest In Peace... Howard Davis

 

He didn't commit to his punches against Watt, he was pulling away even as he threw shots, nothing unlucky about the decision,imo. No UK officials involved in the decision.

referee: Carlos Padilla 145-144 judges: Jose Juan Guerra 149-142, Angel C. Tovar 147-144


59 is awfully young RIP.

 

Yes, he fought too conservatively against Watt. Watt wasn't a powerful puncher but Davis fought like he was afraid of getting hit. He fought much better against Rosario, who was much more dangerous than Watt.

 

Very good fighter and a nice guy. Thanks for the memories Howard. Rip

 

I read he had Cancer

Didn't smoke or drink and was a Vegan, and still got it.

It's like losing the lottery. Maybe, he had bad genes.

 

I watched him fight in the amateurs in NY and thought he was one of the best I have seen along with Mark Breland and Ive seen them all. I think he was one of those guys along with Breyland that could have made much more of his professional career, for him his father simply could not make the adjustments in style needed for the best pro conversion. He was still good but leaning back like Ali and other flaws should have been corrected. He won the award as outstanding fighter Olympics and his company included Spinks Brother,Ray Leonard, and the rest of that magical Olympic squad