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Howard Davis Jr. (born February 14, 1956) is a retired world class American amateur and professional boxer. Growing up on Long Island as the eldest of 10 children, Davis first learned boxing from his father but embarked on his amateur career at age 15 after being inspired by a movie about Muhammad Ali. Following his successful amateur career, he went on to win the 1976 Olympic gold medal one week after his mother died. He was also awarded the "Val Barker Trophy during the Olympics that included Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks."[1] After the Olympics he turned pro going on to a record of 36-6-1 with 14 knock outs before officially retiring in 1996.[1] As of 2009, he works as boxing director at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL where he trains both amateur and professional boxers and MMA fighters. He is also a motivational speaker and a musician.
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As an amateur, Davis Jr. was trained by his father, a former boxer. He had an outstanding amateur career. In 1976, Howard Davis Jr. won the Olympic gold medal in the Lightweight division in Montreal, Canada. Davis Jr. was also named the Outstanding Boxer of the 1976 Olympics and given the Val Barker Trophy, an Olympics that included Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks.
His Olympic victory came just one week after his mother died of a heart attack.
Other Amateur Accomplishments include:
Davis turned pro after winning the Olympics, unsuccessfully fighting for the lightweight title twice and the junior welterweight title once. In some of his notable fights; he lost a close split decision to Edwin Rosario in 1984 for the WBC Lightweight Title and lost via 1st round KO to James McGirt for the IBF Light Welterweight Title in 1988.He also lost a 15 round decision to Jim Watt in his initial title fight in 1980. He retired in 1988 but returned to the ring in 1994, winning four of his final five fights before permanently retiring in 1996, with a professional record of 36-6-1 with 14 KO's.
The city of Glen Cove, New York honored him with a parade in August 1976 that was attended by Lt. Governor Mary Anne Krupsak.
In 2009, his hometown of Glen Cove honored Howard Davis Jr. with his own street. The Mayor also proclaimed July 10th as Howard Davis Day in honor of both father and son.
Currently, Davis Jr. is serving as a boxing trainer to MMA fighters including Chuck Liddell and fighters from American Top Team. He is a sports commentator and a public speaker, and is a promoter, for Fight Time Promotions.
Davis will be one of Chuck Liddell's coach's on the Upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz. [2]
Davis' wife Karla Guadamuz-Davis serves as his Publicist and Business Manager. (www.kgcmarketingteam.com)
July 3, 2006 Sports Illustrated, "A Flurry of Punch Lines"
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