James Tillis boxer

James Tillis boxer
bouts
66
won
42
lost
22
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1978-11-18
Height
6′ 1″/185cm
Reach
80″/203cm
Age
-
Born
1957-07-05
Death
-
Nationality
USA

James Tillis (born July 5, 1957) is a retired American professional boxer and actor. Known as "Quick", he was known for his fast hand speed, quite astonishing for a man of his size and build. A natural southpaw, Tillis turned around to orthodox midway in his amateur career. His left remained the stronger hand and for that reason, he had a powerful jab and left hook, together with the ability to switch stances while fighting. Tillis challenged for the WBA world heavyweight title in 1981, but was defeated in a fifteen round unanimous decision fight against Mike Weaver. Tillis was the first man to go the distance with Mike Tyson in 1986, breaking his knockout-streak and giving him a relatively close fight, nearly a draw, with two of three judges scoring the fight 6-to-4. (in the words of Hall of Fame's Gil Clancy, Tillis was "one punch" away from victory.) He holds notable wins over Ron Stander by TKO in the 7th round in 1980, and the hard punching Earnie Shavers by ten-round decision in 1982. Tillis fought for the last time in 2001 at the age of 44.A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was the firstborn son of James Tillis and wife Rose. Tillis attended Mclain High School and grew up in a very religious southern family, with an alcoholic father and a deeply religious mother. His mother would later join First Baptist Mohawk Church under the leadership of Pastor Clint Simmons. He dreamed about being a professional prize fighter and was given the nickname "Quick" by his first cousin Keith Reed."Quick" was influenced to begin training to become a boxer after he listened to the 1964 bout between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston on the radio. He enlisted the help of noted trainer Ed Duncan, by becoming involved in the sport at the O'Brien Park recreation center in north Tulsa. Tillis' amateur record of 92–8 led to his being considered for the United States Olympic team. Due to an illness, he was unable to compete in the Olympic trials.However, his impressive amateur career included three state Golden Gloves and four state AAU titles. He lost to future pro opponent Greg Page at the 1976 National Golden Gloves, and to Charles Singleton at the 1978 National Golden Gloves in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the 1977 USA–USSR Duals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he lost on points to the Soviet light heavyweight David Kvachadze. He also managed to beat future pro contender Renaldo Snipes, who he later turned pro with on the same card in 1978.citation neededTillis began his professional boxing career in 1978, with a first-round knockout of Ron Stephany. He won his first 20 fights with 16 knockouts. One of his most impressive early victories was a seventh-round knockout of Ron Stander in 1980. Stander had once challenged Joe Frazier for the world title and was regarded as one of boxing's most durable fighters. Other notable wins included a knockout of the South American champion Domingo D'Elia, and a points win over the sometimes dangerous fringe contender Mike Koranicki. His co-managers were Beau Williford and Gary Bentley.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
2001-04-13 Rob Calloway WLWWWW Civic Arena, Saint Joseph LOST
Technical knockout
1999-10-16 Tim Puller WWWWWW Issaquah LOST
Unanimous decision
1996-08-30 Cliff Couser WDWLWW Quay Centennial Building, Vancouver LOST
Technical knockout
1996-06-21 Craig Payne LWLLLL Quay Centennial Building, Vancouver WIN
Unanimous decision
1995-12-07 Will Hinton WDLWLW Denver NC
No Contest
1992-10-08 Alexander Zolkin WWWWWW Ohio Center, Columbus LOST
Unanimous decision
1992-02-28 Stan Johnson LLLLWL Union Hall, Countryside WIN
Technical knockout
1991-11-22 Danny Blake LLLLLL Peoria WIN
Split-decision
1991-01-11 Tommy Morrison WWWWWW Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City LOST
Technical knockout
1990-12-07 Carlton West LWLLLW Valley Sports Arena, Roanoke WIN
Technical knockout
1989-03-20 Adilson Rodrigues WWWWWW Toledo LOST
Unanimous decision
1989-01-14 Arthel Lawhorn WWLWLW The Palace, Auburn Hills LOST
Unanimous decision
1988-11-30 Gary Mason WWWWWW Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark LOST
Technical knockout
1988-07-16 Evander Holyfield WWWWWW Caesars Tahoe, Outdoor Arena, Stateline LOST
Corner retirement
1988-04-09 Rodney Smith LLWLLL Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas WIN
KO
1987-10-16 Dennis Jackson LWLWWW Convention Hall, Atlantic City WIN
KO
1987-06-23 Johnny Du Plooy WWWWWW Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg LOST
Technical knockout
1987-03-24 Frank Bruno WWWWWL Wembley Arena, Wembley LOST
Technical knockout
1987-03-06 Ronnie Douglas debut Fort Smith WIN
Technical knockout
1987-01-08 Mike Williams WWWWWW Marriot Brookhollow, Houston LOST
Technical knockout
1986-11-11 Avery Rawls WWWLWW Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas DRAW
Majority decision
1986-10-28 Lorenzo Boyd WLWWLL Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1986-10-18 Eddie Richardson LWLWLL Mesquite WIN
Points
1986-09-15 Joe Bugner WWWLWL Entertainment Centre, Sydney LOST
Unanimous decision
1986-07-29 Art Terry W Continental Inn, Lexington WIN
Unanimous decision
1986-06-17 Mark Young WWLLL Tulsa WIN
KO
1986-05-03 Mike Tyson WWWWWW Civic Center, Glens Falls LOST
Unanimous decision
1986-01-25 Tyrell Biggs WWWWWW Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster LOST
Unanimous decision
1985-09-07 Gerrie Coetzee WWWDWL Ellis Park Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg LOST
Unanimous decision
1985-05-20 Marvis Frazier WWLWWW Lawlor Events Center, Reno LOST
Unanimous decision
1984-12-15 Bashir Wadud LLLLLW Genesee Theater, Waukegan WIN
Unanimous decision
1984-10-23 Carl Williams WWWWWW Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City LOST
Unanimous decision
1984-08-20 Michael Bennett LLL Miami WIN
KO
1984-07-10 Billy Joe Thomas LWWLLL Tulsa WIN
KO
1984-04-26 Bobby Crabtree WWWWWW Excelsior Hotel, Tulsa WIN
KO
1984-02-09 Otis Bates WLLLWW Tulsa WIN
KO
1983-09-23 Tim Witherspoon WWWWLW Richfield Coliseum, Richfield LOST
Technical knockout
1983-07-09 Lynwood Jones LWLLWL DiVinci Manor, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1983-05-22 Larry Givens LLWLLL Bismarck Pavillon, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1983-04-25 Grady Daniels LLLLLL Congress Americana Hotel, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1983-03-28 Leroy Boone LWLDLL Congress Americana Hotel, Chicago WIN
Points
1982-11-26 Greg Page WWWWWL Astrodome, Houston LOST
Technical knockout
1982-08-14 Pinklon Thomas WWWWWW Stouffers Ballroom, Cleveland LOST
Technical knockout
1982-06-11 Earnie Shavers WWWWWW Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
1982-03-13 Jerry Williams LWWLL Sands Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas WIN
KO
1981-10-03 Mike Weaver WLWWWW Horizon Arena, Rosemont LOST
Unanimous decision
1981-03-09 Tom Fischer WWWWLW Conrad Hilton Hotel, Chicago WIN
Unanimous decision
1980-11-13 Domingo D'Elia WWWDWD International Amphitheatre, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1980-08-14 Mike Koranicki DWLLWL International Amphitheatre, Chicago WIN
Unanimous decision
1980-06-12 Eric Sedillo WWWWWL Conrad Hilton Hotel, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1980-05-15 Walter Santemore WLLWLL Aragon Ballroom, Chicago WIN
Unanimous decision
1980-04-17 Frank Schram LLLLWW Aragon Ballroom, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1980-03-03 Ron Stander WLLWLL International Amphitheatre, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1980-02-01 Roy Wallace WWLLLW International Amphitheatre, Chicago WIN
Unanimous decision
1979-12-13 Al Jones LWLLLL Civic Center, Tulsa WIN
KO
1979-11-20 Harry Terrell WWWWLL Circle Arena, Chicago WIN
KO
1979-10-19 Bob Whaley debut Circle Campus Arena, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1979-09-07 Jimmy Cross WWLWW Circle Arena, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1979-07-30 Charles Atlas LLLLLL International Amphitheatre, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1979-07-20 Henry Porter WWWWWW University of Illinois, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1979-06-11 George Gofarth W Aragon Ballroom, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1979-03-31 Rocky Lane debut Park West Theater, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1979-02-28 Sylvester Wilder LLLLLL DePaul University, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1979-02-02 Dave Watkins LLL Aragon Ballroom, Chicago WIN
KO
1978-12-15 Al Bell LLLLLL Aragon Ballroom, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1978-11-18 Ron Stephany LLL DePaul Alumni Hall, Chicago WIN
KO