Black History Month Spotlight: Howard Davis Jr.
02/20/2020
For Black History Month we are remembering a valuable AAU member, Howard Davis Jr., an amateur and professional boxer that won the 1976 Olympic Gold Medal and was a finalist for the 47th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their role in U.S. history. This week we are remembering a valuable AAU member, Howard Davis Jr.
Howard Davis Jr. was an amateur and professional boxer that grew up in Long Island as the eldest of ten children. In his earlier years, he was a talented musician and had aspirations in the medical field, but one moment changed Davis’ career path.
His father, Howard Davis Sr., took his son to see A.K.A. Cassius Clay, a documentary film about the career of Muhammad Ali.
"I told my father I wanted to box," Davis told Bleacher Report. "My father asked 'Why?' and I told him I felt I could do it."
Following that statement, Davis embarked on his amateur boxing career. Trained by his father, a former boxer, Davis marked an amateur record of 125-5, winning the New York Golden Glove four times. He then set his sights on the Olympic ring.
The 1976 Olympics say Davis defeat five of the world’s best boxers en route to winning the gold medal for the United States, but Davis’ journey was racked by personal tragedy.
Three days before he was set to begin his journey to gold, Davis’ mother passed away.
"I remember talking to 'Sarge' Tom Johnson and telling him I wanted to go home," Davis told Bleacher Report. "He put his left hand on my right shoulder and asked, 'Are you sure you want to go home? What would your mother think?"
Davis remembered the last words he and his mother shared before he left.
"She told me, 'Good luck. You better bring home the gold medal'," said Davis.
And that’s exactly what he did.
After the 1976 Olympics, Davis was awarded the Val Barker Trophy at the Olympics, beating out such boxers as Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks. He also became a finalist for the 47th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
He turned professional after the Olympics and went on to compile a professional record of 36–6–1 with 14 knockouts. He retired in 1996, becoming a trainer. Eventually he worked as boxing director at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he trained both amateur and professional boxers and MMA fighters.
Davis passed away on December 30, 2015 from late-stage lung cancer at the age of 59.
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The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been given out since 1930 to the nation’s best amateur athlete. The award salutes the founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award goes beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.
On April 21, 2020, the AAU will crown the 90th recipient of this prestigious award during a ceremony at the historic New York Athletic Club.
For more information on the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, visit aausullivan.org.
Howard Davis Jr. was an amateur and professional boxer that grew up in Long Island as the eldest of ten children. In his earlier years, he was a talented musician and had aspirations in the medical field, but one moment changed Davis’ career path.
His father, Howard Davis Sr., took his son to see A.K.A. Cassius Clay, a documentary film about the career of Muhammad Ali.
"I told my father I wanted to box," Davis told Bleacher Report. "My father asked 'Why?' and I told him I felt I could do it."
Following that statement, Davis embarked on his amateur boxing career. Trained by his father, a former boxer, Davis marked an amateur record of 125-5, winning the New York Golden Glove four times. He then set his sights on the Olympic ring.
The 1976 Olympics say Davis defeat five of the world’s best boxers en route to winning the gold medal for the United States, but Davis’ journey was racked by personal tragedy.
Three days before he was set to begin his journey to gold, Davis’ mother passed away.
"I remember talking to 'Sarge' Tom Johnson and telling him I wanted to go home," Davis told Bleacher Report. "He put his left hand on my right shoulder and asked, 'Are you sure you want to go home? What would your mother think?"
Davis remembered the last words he and his mother shared before he left.
"She told me, 'Good luck. You better bring home the gold medal'," said Davis.
And that’s exactly what he did.
After the 1976 Olympics, Davis was awarded the Val Barker Trophy at the Olympics, beating out such boxers as Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks. He also became a finalist for the 47th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
He turned professional after the Olympics and went on to compile a professional record of 36–6–1 with 14 knockouts. He retired in 1996, becoming a trainer. Eventually he worked as boxing director at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he trained both amateur and professional boxers and MMA fighters.
Davis passed away on December 30, 2015 from late-stage lung cancer at the age of 59.
###
The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been given out since 1930 to the nation’s best amateur athlete. The award salutes the founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award goes beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.
On April 21, 2020, the AAU will crown the 90th recipient of this prestigious award during a ceremony at the historic New York Athletic Club.
For more information on the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, visit aausullivan.org.
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