THE ’84 USA BOXING TEAM BLOWS THE ’76 TEAM OUT OF THE WATER!

you have to remember Tyson's rise was meteoric

he struggled with Tillis more than Biggs did

At that point he and Biggs were seen as a competitive matchup, by from mid 86 to the time they actually fought Tyson blossemed and Biggs stagnated. By the time of the fight it was pretty much seen as a mismatch and in retrospect the Duvas were cashing out their chips

 

I agree. What I was talking about was before he went pro. He was massively overrated as an amateur because of his physical gifts. I remember all the buzz about him at the US trails leading up to the games. He was being touted by the press as the next Ali.

 

Tyrell Biggs was obviously the more touted prospect around the time they turned pro. He had fought at the national and international level since 1980 through the ‘84 Olympics. Tyson had fought in the National Golden Gloves for two years (‘83-84) and got beat at the trials.

Remember, Mike’s handlers (Cus/Atlas) kind of kept him under wraps fighting unofficial amateur fights in ‘smokers’ at out-of-the-way venues while Biggs was fighting for the U.S. against fighters from around the world. Mike kind of debuted at the ‘83 National Golden Gloves … did he even fight in the New York Golden Gloves?

So obviously the more known guy with international experience for five years in the amateur is going to be considered a better prospect than the lesser-known guy who showed up out of nowhere (they didn’t know Mike had been sparring with top pros since he was 16) so I wouldn’t put too much stock in that — if you saw a football prospect making All-American at Alabama for four years and another guy played one year at a big school after being hidden away in a junior college, you’d probably rate the Alabama guy higher.

I don’t remember experts saying Biggs was the next Ali. He had a similar build and was a good mover but he absolutely was never trumpeted as the next GOAT that I ever saw.

 

The Ali comparison came after he won gold in 84'. I remember vividly him beating a young Lennox Lewis in the semi's before winning gold. Remember, he also won gold at the World's as well. It was mostly the American boxing press that was hyping him up but most of that hype wore off in the pro's when he had drug and alcohol problems. He was never the same after Tyson. I can remember Al Bernstein talking about Briggs being the next American star over Holyfield who was seen as too small to ever make an impact at Heavyweight. Everyone was wrong about that one. Lol

 

Should be noted the "alternates" on the 1976 Olympic Boxing team (in case someone couldn't compete) included future Champs:

* Bruce Curry (future WBC 140 lb. Champ) as the alternate for Ray Leonard
* Aaron Pryor (future WBA 140 lb. Champ) as 1st alternate for Howard Davis Jr.
* Hilmer Kenty (future WBA 135 lb. Champ) as a 2nd alternate for Howard Davis Jr.
* J.B. Williamson (future WBC 175 lb. Champ) as a 2nd alternate for Michael Spinks (Keith Broome was first alternate)

And future top 175 lb. contender Johnny Davis (as the alternate for Leon Spinks) and future top 126 lb. contender Bernard Taylor (as the 1st alternate for Charles Mooney).

So the US team must've viewed the competition at 132 and 165 as particularly tough, or they were unsure of Howard Davis and Michael Spinks' chances, as those were two weight classes (along with 119 lb.) where they brought multiple alternates.

But, hell, you could've almost won as many medals with the alternates on the 1976 team as with the guys who competed.