Boxing Classics. Tate vs. Weaver. - kensoldtimeboxingchat.com

‘Big John’ Tate signed to fight ‘Hercules’ Mike Weaver on March 31, 1980 in his first defense of his WBA heavyweight title. The bout was part of a mega-card broadcast live on ABC television the last day of March, which also featured Sugar Ray Leonard and Larry Holmes. As an early spring snowstorm dumped 8 inches of snow in south Jersey, I sat glued to my little black and white tv in my bedroom to catch the action.

After Eddie Gregory knocked out Marvin Johnson in the 11th round to open the show in Knoxville, Tennessee, Tate and Weaver entered the ring for their fight. Weaver had fought courageously in June of 1979 in his tussle with WBC champ Larry Holmes, but was stopped in the 12th round. There were talks of Tate facing a come-backing Muhammad Ali if he got past Weaver, but he brushed them off saying he was only focused on this fight.

I had grown fond of John Tate by watching his pre-fight interviews and was rooting hard for him when the opening bell rang. He had been a member of the 1976 Olympic Team in Montreal and won a bronze medal for his efforts. He was a good boxer and was easily outpointing Mike Weaver for the first 10 rounds, but tired badly in the 12th and was wobbled by a big left hook, then struggled to survive the round. John did his best to keep his distance from Weaver in the 13th and 14th rounds and appeared on his way to a unanimous decision. With about a minute remaining in the round, I remember taking my watch from my nightstand to count down the last 60 seconds when out of nowhere a sizzling left hook knocked John out cold with 45 seconds left. It was a stark reminder to me that nothing is ever over until it’s over, and I remember that punch as much as any in my 45 years plus as a serious boxing fan.

Mike Weaver would defend his title successfully until losing to Michael Dokes in controversial fashion in December of 1982. John Tate would get knocked out again in his next fight by Trevor Berbick on the undercard of the Leonard-Fight on June 20, 1980. He would continue to box off and on until 1988 and finished his career with a respectable record of 34-3, 23 wins by knockout. Sadly, John would suffer a stroke while driving on April 9, 1998 and die when his truck hit a utility pole. On March 31, 1980, however both men will be forever remember by a single left hook that made it a ‘Boxing Classic’.