Former Heavyweight Champ At Mesi Training Camp With Understudy

Tubbs Won WBA World Title In Buffalo

29.08 - Former WBA world heavyweight champion, Tony "TNT" Tubbs has returned to Buffalo, the scene of his greatest ring triumph. Tubbs, 45, from Cincinnati, is the respected trainer of undefeated heavyweight prospect Preston Hartzog. Hartzog, 10-0, has been brought in to spar with "Baby Joe" Mesi. Mesi is preparing for his September 27 showdown the DaVarryl Williamson. The fight will be held at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo.

On April 29, 1985, Tubbs took the WBA title away from champion Greg Page when he scored a 15 round unanimous decision victory. An estimated 10,000 fight fans were on hand at the Buffalo Auditorium. The win raised his record to 22-0 and he relished the moment with family, friends and fans.

His celebration and his reign as champion was short lived, however. On January 17, 1986, Tubbs lost his title in his first defense to Tim Witherspoon in Atlanta. Tubbs fell victim to a narrow majority decision loss.

Tubbs was an outstanding amateur boxer. In 1978 he played a vital role in helping to prepare an aging Muhammad Ali for his rematch with Leon Spinks. During weeks of spirited sparring with Ali, Tubbs was able to model the style of Spinks almost perfectly. The sessions paid off. Tubbs gained invaluable experience from working with the former champ and Ali went on to recapture his title by scoring a lopsided decision over Spinks in New Orleans.

Tubbs struggled with weight gain and substance abuse problems after losing his title. Today, he is looking good and staying clean. He keeps busy by training fighters, like Hartzog, and continuing his own career. Tubbs, himself, has fought 3 times in the past 17 months. He is 2-2 in his last 4 fights. His current record is 43-10, 2-NC. He has scored 24 KO's.

The Mesi Camp trains daily from 3-5 PM at the Northwest Community Center in North Buffalo.