Duane Bobick
Encyclopedia
Duane Bobick was a boxer
from the United States
, who became world amateur heavyweight champion in 1971, and also won the gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games
. He fought for the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
, West Germany
.
was also a heavyweight boxer, though less successful, and died in a single car crash in 1977.
at the 1971 Pan American Games
. Bobick added another future champion to his list when he beat Larry Holmes
to be named to the 1972 U.S. Olympic boxing team for the Munich Olympics
.
Bobick was rated a star at this early stage, and may have been very overconfident as he met Stevenson again during the 1972 Olympic games. Despite Bobick winning the second round, Stevenson knocked Bobick down in the third unconscious and the contest was stopped.
. Bobick's first match was against Tommy Burns. He sent Burns to the canvas four times on his way to a first-round KO. Bobick had 14 other fights in 1973, winning them all by KO, including a win over former contender Manuel Ramos
. Bobick won his first 19 fights by knockout.
He had 10 more fights in 1974, winning them all again, eight by KO. Knockout wins that year included Ted Gullick
and future champion Mike Weaver. He also decisioned veteran boxer Billy Daniels
.
Bobick was now 25-0 with 23 KOs. He was then rated by many to be the sport's new "White Hope," taking that label from then-declining Jerry Quarry
. Frazier himself was approaching retirement and focusing on upcoming paydays with protege Bobick.
Bobick gained top-10 ranking in 1975 with eight more fights and wins, all again by KO. He was now being dodged by some, but a win over Randy Neumann
proved he could not be ignored. He had a tentative contract with Muhammed Ali in 1976, but the fight never materialized. Instead he met and defeated Larry Middleton, fellow Minnesotan Scott LeDoux
, Bunny Johnson
and Chuck Wepner
among his five 1976 fights, all wins with two KOs. Bobick had now improved enough as a boxer to be a legitimate title threat.
in May 1977. The two punchers went after each other. Norton suddenly connected an unexpected overhand right to Bobick's throat. The fight lasted just one minute before Bobick was counted out. Bobick was widely criticized after the Norton match and dismissed by many. Saturday Night Live
made fun of Bobick by showing footage of his Nationally televised knockout loss, over and over again.
. He finished the year 1977 40-1 with 34 KO's.
In 1978, he was upset by South African puncher Kallie Knoetze
for his second KO loss. He fought eight more times against second-tier fighters in 1978, winning all by KO. He was looking to return to top-level contention in 1979 when he was KO'd by future beltholder John Tate
. Another KO loss to George Chaplin that year led to an announcement of retirement.
His pro record was 48-4 with 42 KOs with wins over several notable contenders. All four of his pro losses were by KO. He was however strongly criticized in Boxing publications throughout his career for avoiding ranked contenders and taking far too many journeymen opponents.
Bobick was in the cast of a boxing film, Billy Boy, in 1979. His brother Rodney also was a professional boxer with a 37-7 record.
Bobick was a 1997 Acts of Kindness: Governor's Volunteer Award Winner for his service as a volunteer which included school, church and hospital volunteer work.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who became world amateur heavyweight champion in 1971, and also won the gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games
Boxing at the 1971 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1971 Pan American Games was held in Cali, Colombia, from July 25 to August 6. The light flyweight division was included for the first time.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:...
. He fought for the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Personal
Bobick's younger brother Rodney BobickRodney Bobick
Rodney Bobick, alias The Bowlus Bear , was a heavyweight professional boxer from Minnesota.-Personal life:The younger brother of heavyweight contender Duane Bobick, Rodney hailed from tiny Bowlus, Minnesota...
was also a heavyweight boxer, though less successful, and died in a single car crash in 1977.
Amateur career
Six foot, three inches tall and 215 pounds in his prime, Bobick was part of a boxing family and grew up with the sport in the 1960s. A good puncher who developed well early by virtue of countless hours in the gym and ring, Bobick had an outstanding amateur career that included a win over Cuba's famous Teófilo StevensonTeófilo Stevenson
Teófilo Stevenson Lawrence or Teófilo Stevenson is a former Cuban amateur boxer. He is one of the only three boxers to win three Olympic gold medals, alongside Hungarian László Papp and fellow Cuban Félix Savón....
at the 1971 Pan American Games
Boxing at the 1971 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1971 Pan American Games was held in Cali, Colombia, from July 25 to August 6. The light flyweight division was included for the first time.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:...
. Bobick added another future champion to his list when he beat Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin....
to be named to the 1972 U.S. Olympic boxing team for the Munich Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
.
Bobick was rated a star at this early stage, and may have been very overconfident as he met Stevenson again during the 1972 Olympic games. Despite Bobick winning the second round, Stevenson knocked Bobick down in the third unconscious and the contest was stopped.
Amateur Highlights
- 1971 Pan-American Games Heavyweight champion
- 1971 National AAU Heavyweight Champion
- 1972 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion
Pro career
Bobick trained hard to start his pro career, which did not begin until the following spring, 1973. Bobick trained with and was managed by heavyweight legend Joe FrazierJoe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
. Bobick's first match was against Tommy Burns. He sent Burns to the canvas four times on his way to a first-round KO. Bobick had 14 other fights in 1973, winning them all by KO, including a win over former contender Manuel Ramos
Manuel Ramos
Manuel Ramos, an attorney who also has taught Chicano literature courses at Metropolitan State College of Denver, is the author of several crime fiction novels...
. Bobick won his first 19 fights by knockout.
He had 10 more fights in 1974, winning them all again, eight by KO. Knockout wins that year included Ted Gullick
Ted Gullick
Ted Gullick was a boxer from the United States. He was a highly regarded Heavyweight prospect in the early 1970s. Gullick stood slightly over 6 feet and in his prime weighed 195 lbs...
and future champion Mike Weaver. He also decisioned veteran boxer Billy Daniels
Billy Daniels
William Boone Daniels , better known as Billy Daniels, was a singer active in the United States and Europe from the mid-1930s to 1988, notable for his hit recording of "That Old Black Magic" and his pioneering performances on early 1950s television.Daniels was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where...
.
Bobick was now 25-0 with 23 KOs. He was then rated by many to be the sport's new "White Hope," taking that label from then-declining Jerry Quarry
Jerry Quarry
Jerry Quarry , nicknamed "Irish" or “The Bellflower Bomber,” was an Irish-American heavyweight boxer. Quarry was rated by Ring Magazine as the most popular fighter in the sport, 1968–1971, and was one of the biggest stars of arguably the greatest era in the history of the heavyweight division.-...
. Frazier himself was approaching retirement and focusing on upcoming paydays with protege Bobick.
Bobick gained top-10 ranking in 1975 with eight more fights and wins, all again by KO. He was now being dodged by some, but a win over Randy Neumann
Randy Neumann
Randy Neumann, born and raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey in 1948, is a former professional boxer who has been a referee for the New York State Athletic Commission since 1982...
proved he could not be ignored. He had a tentative contract with Muhammed Ali in 1976, but the fight never materialized. Instead he met and defeated Larry Middleton, fellow Minnesotan Scott LeDoux
Scott LeDoux
Alan Scott LeDoux, "The Fighting Frenchman," was a politician, professional heavyweight boxer, professional wrestler and referee.-Boxing:...
, Bunny Johnson
Bunny Johnson
Bunny Johnson born 10 May 1947 in Jamaica is a retired boxer who was British heavyweight Champion in 1975 beating Danny McAlinden by a knockout, becoming in the process Britain's first Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion. He also enjoyed success in the light-heavyweight division and won a Lonsdale...
and Chuck Wepner
Chuck Wepner
Charles "Chuck" Wepner is a former heavyweight boxer from Bayonne, New Jersey. As a tough but journeyman boxer he went 15 rounds with world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 fight. Wepner is credited as the inspiration for Rocky Balboa. Wepner also appeared in the book Operation Bullpen...
among his five 1976 fights, all wins with two KOs. Bobick had now improved enough as a boxer to be a legitimate title threat.
The Norton fight
He took a 38-0 record with 32 KO's into the ring against powerful future champion Ken NortonKen Norton
Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. is a former heavyweight boxer. He is best known for his 12-round victory over a peak Muhammad Ali where he famously broke Ali's jaw, on March 31, 1973, becoming only the second man to defeat Ali as a professional .He and Ali...
in May 1977. The two punchers went after each other. Norton suddenly connected an unexpected overhand right to Bobick's throat. The fight lasted just one minute before Bobick was counted out. Bobick was widely criticized after the Norton match and dismissed by many. Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
made fun of Bobick by showing footage of his Nationally televised knockout loss, over and over again.
Comeback
Despite that, he was back in the ring two months later, winning a rematch with Scott LeDouxScott LeDoux
Alan Scott LeDoux, "The Fighting Frenchman," was a politician, professional heavyweight boxer, professional wrestler and referee.-Boxing:...
. He finished the year 1977 40-1 with 34 KO's.
In 1978, he was upset by South African puncher Kallie Knoetze
Kallie Knoetze
Kallie Knoetze was a South African heavyweight boxer.-Boxing career:...
for his second KO loss. He fought eight more times against second-tier fighters in 1978, winning all by KO. He was looking to return to top-level contention in 1979 when he was KO'd by future beltholder John Tate
John Tate (boxer)
John Tate was an American prizefighter and Olympic boxer, who briefly held the World Boxing Association heavyweight title from 1979 to 1980.-Amateur career:...
. Another KO loss to George Chaplin that year led to an announcement of retirement.
His pro record was 48-4 with 42 KOs with wins over several notable contenders. All four of his pro losses were by KO. He was however strongly criticized in Boxing publications throughout his career for avoiding ranked contenders and taking far too many journeymen opponents.
Life After Boxing
Bobick returned to Minnesota and took heavy industry work before a machine accident nearly killed him in 1997. After that he went into coaching and public speaking, using his faded celebrity to possibly encourage and help others. In November 2006, Bobick was elected as a city councilman.Bobick was in the cast of a boxing film, Billy Boy, in 1979. His brother Rodney also was a professional boxer with a 37-7 record.
Bobick was a 1997 Acts of Kindness: Governor's Volunteer Award Winner for his service as a volunteer which included school, church and hospital volunteer work.