Davis: Three Decades Later, Feelings Still Fresh

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Howard Davis Jr. can pretty much set his watch by it.

Every four years, when people once again start discussing the latest incarnation of the Summer Olympics, he’s touched by the same combination of nostalgia, satisfaction... and lament.

"There's not a day that goes by in my life when I don't think about Montreal," he said. "Sometimes people will see me in a restaurant and recognize me, and every four years I go through the same mixed memories of what happened back then.

"It was a wonderful time for me because of what I was able to accomplish with boxing, but it's also sad to recall that it was when my mom died. It's more than just looking back at a great win for me. It's also a time of remembrance."

Now 52, Davis was perhaps the least appreciated star on a studded U.S. team 32 years ago, winning gold in the lightweight division alongside a quartet of American podium-toppers that included Ray Leonard (light welterweight), Michael (middleweight) and Leon Spinks (light heavyweight). [details]

[Silencers]

Howard Davis Jr. is one of the most naturally gifted and talented fighters to have never won a world title, very good fighter. The way he lost the Rosario fight was disappointing.

[Miburo]

Howard Davis Jr. is one of the most naturally gifted and talented fighters to have never won a world title, very good fighter. The way he lost the Rosario fight was disappointing.

He ruined Aaron Pryor's pro career before it even started, perhaps his most telling legacy.

[Silencers]

He ruined Aaron Pryor's pro career before it even started, perhaps his most telling legacy.

That's true, if it weren't for Davis, Pryor would have gotten a lot more recognition than he did.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Howard Davis Jr. is one of the most naturally gifted and talented fighters to have never won a world title, very good fighter. The way he lost the Rosario fight was disappointing.

He was very talented and was one of the most fluent boxers i have ever layed eyes on. It was just that one flaw that failed him as well as many other's, his chin.

His fight with Meldrick Taylor was a very good one. If Davis was a big puncher, then he would have stopped Taylor simply because Taylor was taking too many punches and putting himself at risk alot. Thats why i couldn't see Taylor being a dominate champion even if he beat Chavez because he had that fighters heart and abandonded his tools. Davis was putting it on him. The fight turned out to be a draw but you could make a case for either guy winning.

[Silencers]

He was very talented and was one of the most fluent boxers i have ever layed eyes on. It was just that one flaw that failed him as well as many other's, his chin.

His fight with Meldrick Taylor was a very good one. If Davis was a big puncher, then he would have stopped Taylor simply because Taylor was taking too many punches and putting himself at risk alot. Thats why i couldn't see Taylor being a dominate champion even if he beat Chavez because he had that fighters heart and abandonded his tools. Davis was putting it on him. The fight turned out to be a draw but you could make a case for either guy winning.

Yeah, Davis couldn't take a very good shot, he got knocked down and hurt by fighters that didn't have too much power.

The Taylor fight was a good fight, a crossroads fight for Davis and a fight to see how good he really was for Taylor, fought at a pretty high skill level, 2 Olympic gold medalists going at it, Davis showed his experience and ring savvy while exposing some of Taylor's flaws. As you said, it could have gone either way.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Yeah, Davis couldn't take a very good shot, he got knocked down and hurt by fighters that didn't have too much power.

The Taylor fight was a good fight, a crossroads fight for Davis and a fight to see how good he really was for Taylor, fought at a pretty high skill level, 2 Olympic gold medalists going at it, Davis showed his experience and ring savvy while exposing some of Taylor's flaws. As you said, it could have gone either way.

Yeah, you should check out his fight with Buddy Mgirt. Thats a perfect example of his chin. He was knocked out cold by a brilliant fighter, but not a big puncher by any means. I was actually watching that the other day.

[Silencers]

Yeah, you should check out his fight with Buddy Mgirt. Thats a perfect example of his chin. He was knocked out cold by a brilliant fighter, but not a big puncher by any means. I was actually watching that the other day.

I've seen that one, McGirt wasn't really a big puncher, knocked Davis cold in 1 round. McGirt was an underrated fighter though, his performance against Whitaker in their first fight was very good and he only fought with one arm in that one.

[slicksouthpaw16]

I've seen that one, McGirt wasn't really a big puncher, knocked Davis cold in 1 round. McGirt was an underrated fighter though, his performance against Whitaker in their first fight was very good and he only fought with one arm in that one.

Mgirt was underrated i agree. He fought competitively in the first fight with Whitaker but he recieved a boxing clinic in their rematch when he was suppose to be at ''100%'' like he said he was. An underrated fighter though and good champion.

[Silencers]

Mgirt was underrated i agree. He fought competitively in the first fight with Whitaker but he recieved a boxing clinic in their rematch when he was suppose to be at ''100%'' like he said he was. An underrated fighter though and good champion.

He just didn't look into the fight in their second fight, Whitaker did put on a brilliant performance though.