20 Olympic medal winners recall glory years

Olympic boxing is properly underneath manner in Tokyo. The motion will play out over the following week, with the finals within the eight male weight lessons happening between August 3 and August 7. Throughout that point, we’re certain to find some stars for the longer term.

Over time, the most important names in skilled boxing have been given a substantial leg up on account of their exploits on the Olympic video games. Listed below are 20 male medal winners who’ve shared their numerous experiences with me through the years.

NINO BENVENUTI
Welterweight gold medal (Italy) and Val Barker winner
“That was the best victory of my life, essentially the most significant. Representing Italy on the Olympics was what I dreamed about since I used to be a boy. You may think about what successful the gold medal in Rome meant to me. I take into account my Olympic win as my greatest total. You already know why? As a result of it lasts eternally. I’m now a former middleweight champion of the world, but I’m nonetheless an Olympic gold medalist.”

GEORGE FOREMAN
Heavyweight gold medal (USA)
“That was the beginning of my goals. I by no means knew a dream might come true till the Olympics. I stood on that platform listening to my nationwide anthem with the gold medal round my neck. The most effective factor and most great feeling I had in boxing – interval. By no means had something like that occurred to me earlier than or after.”

MELDRICK TAYLOR
Featherweight gold medal (USA)
“I reached the top of beginner boxing, successful a gold medal. That’s the final factor to do.”

PERNELL WHITAKER
Light-weight gold medal (USA)
“I used to be with 11 of the best guys you possibly can wanna be with. We had been teammates, we had been collectively on a regular basis, we supported each other when guys had fights, everyone confirmed up. It was enjoyable being round. It’s like one large household, having 11 brothers. The Olympics was totally different. It was essentially the most profitable time in my life successful the Olympic gold medal.”

FRANK TATE
Gentle Middleweight gold medal (USA)
“I noticed the ’76 Olympics and Muhammad Ali [commentating] on TV and I mentioned, ‘Man, I can try this!’ I instructed my momma and she or he laughed at me and mentioned, ‘Boy, be quiet!’ I mentioned ‘Mother, I can win an Olympic gold medal!’ I used to be pleased to be there. It was so robust, but it surely was my dream ever since I used to be a child. Once I lastly acquired there, I wasn’t going to let nothing distract me. I used to be like these racehorses with these patches on; all I might see was straight forward. I went there for that gold medal and I wasn’t going to be denied. Once I introduced that medal again my mother was the primary particular person I confirmed it too as a result of I needed to indicate her I did it.”

EVANDER HOLYFIELD
Gentle Heavyweight bronze medal (USA)
“We did that without spending a dime. We had been doing it for the nation. That’s what the Olympics had been – they meant extra [than money]. It gave us a chance to indicate how nice our nation is.”

HENRY TILLMAN
Heavyweight gold medal (USA)
“I began late… I used to be 21 once I began boxing. I lived in Colorado Springs for 18 months coaching for the Olympics. I acquired to journey in and in a foreign country and I realized loads. I acquired some lifetime buddies out of it; coaches and different fighters, [Evander] Holyfield, [Mike] Tyson, all of us grew to become like household. We competed towards one another, however after we went to different international locations, all we had was one another. It was so particular as a result of it was in Los Angeles, my hometown. My mother, my dad, schoolteachers, buddies I used to be raised with acquired to return and watch me compete.

“Gina Hemphill [granddaughter of Jesse Owens] got here out the tunnel with the torch, ran round and handed the torch to [1960 Olympic decathlon gold medalist] Rafer Johnson, who ran up the steps and lit the Olympic rings. I instructed Mark Breland, Evander Holyfield, Paul Gonzalez and Frank Tate, ‘That’s going to be my spouse.’ They mentioned, ‘You don’t even know her!’ [Laughs.] I went to [track and field star] Carl Lewis and requested if he knew her. When he mentioned, ‘Yeah.’ I mentioned, ‘Introduce me to her.’ That’s how we initially met. We exchanged numbers and met once more at a e book signing after the Olympics and have become an merchandise after that. We had been collectively for 11 years. The Olympics was the last word. Andrew Massone, I beat him within the semi-finals, we’re nonetheless buddies to today through the web. We discuss on a regular basis on Fb.”

TYRELL BIGGS
Tremendous Heavyweight gold medal (USA)
“I used to be excited to be boxing, successful and doing properly. Successful the World Championships meant loads to me, and it was fairly surreal [fighting at the Olympics]. I used to be so grateful that I used to be in a position to come by way of and win, that was just about the spotlight of my profession.”

MICHAEL CARBAJAL
Gentle Flyweight silver medal (USA)
“It was nice. I didn’t know the way the Olympics could be. I used to be simply preventing, and as soon as I made the Olympics it was an important expertise since you’re there with folks from everywhere in the world. You’re assembly so many athletes from totally different sports activities and also you’re like, ‘Wow!” I received silver and cherished it. I’ve no regrets in any respect.”

KENNEDY MCKINNEY
Bantamweight gold medal (USA)
The Tennessee resident was given the squad quantity 0316: “I mentioned to myself, ‘316 John: For God so cherished the world, that he gave his one and solely Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish however have everlasting life.’ Once I realized the quantity, I used to be like this gold medal is mine. To me, God was in my nook and I used to be going to win the gold medal, there was little question.”

LAURENT BOUDOUANI
Welterweight silver medal (France)
“Through the Montreal Olympics in 1976, I noticed Sugar Ray Leonard. I cherished it. Taking a look at his footwork, I used to be drawn to his footwear and needed every little thing. I cherished boxing. It was the apotheose, unforgettable moments engraved in my head. I misplaced within the remaining towards Robert Wangila.”

HENRY MASKE
Middleweight gold medal (Germany)
“The second of an Olympic victory will stay unforgettable for me. That was the best factor for me.”

RAY MERCER
Heavyweight gold medal (USA)
“It was the very best factor that ever occurred to me to inform the reality. I used to be not going to be denied, I labored too onerous. I used to be 28 years outdated on the Olympic crew, so I knew how essential it was to coach and I knew you solely get a certain quantity of possibilities. I used to be older than all the opposite guys. I believe I took it somewhat extra critical than they did. To have the entire nation behind you was so thrilling, I at all times dreamed of that.”

WAYNE MCCULLOUGH
Bantamweight silver medal (Eire)
“Simply attending to the Olympics for each fighter and athlete is a tremendous factor. I acquired to go in ’88, however I didn’t get a medal. I acquired to see all the massive athletes in my first Olympics. I noticed guys like Carl Lewis and Sergey Bubka, who did the Pole Vault, even Daley Thompson. They had been all folks I regarded as much as. 1992 was the American Dream Staff. While you’re strolling across the village it’s sensational. The man who beat me within the Olympic remaining, Joel Casamayor, went on to grow to be an expert world champion as properly. He lives in [Las] Vegas, I stay in Vegas and when he defected again in ’96, he comes right here. Each time we see one another to today we at all times have respect. It’s an important feeling, you’ve made a pal for all times. The Olympic experiences lasts a lifetime. Anyone from Eire who’s 10-15 years youthful or older [than me] remembers the place they had been once I received the Olympic medal.”

JOEL CASAMAYOR
Bantamweight gold medal (Cuba)
“I used to be very pleased once I received the gold. I felt actually good. I used to be very pleased. I used to be content material with every little thing. I used to be 21 years outdated.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA
Light-weight gold medal (USA)
“No person can ever take that away. I’ve received many world titles and I’ve fought the easiest on the earth, however the Olympic gold medal is by far my prize possession. [This is because of) the pressure I had going into [the gold medal fight, and I was] doing it for my mom – she had simply handed a couple of months earlier than.”

CHRIS BYRD
Middleweight silver medal (USA)
“Oh man, I can’t even describe it, It’s the best level in my profession. Making that Olympic crew was a dream for me.”

ROCKY JUAREZ
Featherweight silver medal (USA)
“I bear in mind the battle very clearly. God had a plan. Some days you might have good days, some days you might have dangerous days. I misplaced that battle and I’m an enormous believer in religion. After I misplaced, I used to be questioning why. I labored so onerous. I did every little thing I used to be purported to do. Then got here the day I acquired a name letting me know (Bekzat Sattarkhanov) handed away in a automotive accident that New Yr’s Eve. I really feel like [the victory] was his spotlight as a result of his time was coming.”

YURIORKIS GAMBOA
Flyweight gold medal (Cuba)
“As a Cuban beginner boxer shedding shouldn’t be an choice. Everytime you enter a match, you enter it to win it. After all, successful the Olympic gold was nonetheless very particular. It makes you very proud while you obtain one thing nice for your self and your nation. I knew that the world was watching and it made me really feel nice that I might stay as much as the expectations and win the match.”

ALEXANDER POVETKIN
Tremendous Heavyweight gold medal (Russia)
“Successful the Olympics was my essential purpose, my essential dream. I believe that is the dream of all athletes who come to sports activities. And for boxing, beginner {and professional}, simply rely what number of skilled world champions and what number of Olympic champions. An Olympic champion is an Olympic champion. Everybody who goes to sports activities, together with boxing, goals of Olympic gold.”

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Questions and/or feedback might be despatched to Anson at [email protected] and you’ll comply with him on Twitter @AnsonWainwright