Ricky Womack

Ricky Womack (May 7, 1961 in Detroit, Michigan – January 19, 2002 at St. John Oakland Hospital, Madison Heights, Michigan) was a professional boxer from the United States. Known primarily for his amateur career, during which he already earned his nickname "Wonderful," coming to attention of Howard Cosell, who predicted his bright future as a most likely U.S. Olympic Team light heavyweight for the 1984 Olympics, and a successful professional career afterwards, but both predictions proved unfulfilled, as Womack lost the Olympic qualifiers to Evander Holyfield, and his up-and-coming professional career crumbled after a criminal conviction.

Ricky Womack
Statistics
Nickname(s)Wonderful
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11.5 in (182 cm)
Reach74.5 in (189 cm)
NationalityAmerican
BornRick R. Womack
(1961-05-07)May 7, 1961
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJanuary 19, 2002(2002-01-19) (aged 40)
Madison Heights, Michigan, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights14
Wins13
Wins by KO6
Losses0
Draws1
Medal record
Men’s amateur boxing
Representing the  United States
North American Championships
Gold medal – first place 1983 Houston Light heavyweight
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1983 Rome Light heavyweight

Early years

Womack had a physically abusive father, and neglecting mother. Eventually social services took Ricky along with his seven brothers and sisters away from his mother to a foster care. He started boxing at the age of thirteen with the Kronk Gym, being trained by Emanuel Steward. But troubled childhood deeply affected his personality, he became a staunch kleptomaniac and had frequent brushes with the law enforcement authorities. At that time his teammate, another Kronk's young talent Mark Breland came under Womack's destructive influence. Womack's criminal habits eventually led him to a long term prison sentence.[1]

Amateur career

Womack had a remarkable amateur career, defeating future legend Evander Holyfield several times (one by walkover,) with two of the losses being avenged by Evander at the Olympic Box-offs, and cutting Ricky's way to the 1984 Summer Olympics.[2][3]

Holyfield rivalry

Womack jumped into heavyweight already in 1982, winning the AAU Nationals, and proving he's comfortable in that weight class, but he soon came back into light heavyweight, reportedly to prove to his long-lasting nemesis, Holyfield, that he was the better man. As Holyfield later recalled:

— I fought Ricky Womack six times. Ricky Womack was current amateur heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, and he whooped the Cuban, knocked out the Russian, and he was the one that supposed to make the Olympic team. And just so happened I fought him when he was ranked number one as a heavyweight, but he came down to light heavy because he wanted to prove to somebody from Georgia that ain't nobody from Georgia can whoop him. So that mean that he had to fight me. When he came back fought me, I beat him four times, and before he beat me twice, but I beat him four.

— Did you guys ever become friends after that?
— We never had no problem it's just the fact of the matter is that after amateur he ended up going to jail. Then he came out, then he eventually killed himself. He was one of them guys that came up in a bad neighborhood, but he could be warm and bright at times, and sometimes he could just be vicious.
— He was talented though.

— Definitely. Each and every time you fought him, you can probably take a coin to flip it up and say who won it because that's how close it would each and every time. It's not like he stopped me, and not like I stopped him. We had six fights that we went the distance and I remember the last two times to make an Olympic team, in the last fifteen second of the fight he took a breath and I hit him six or seven unanswered punches and I win.

— Evander Holyfield on his amateur fights with Womack[4]

Highlights

Afterwards Womack signed a contract with the Kronk boxing team when he turned professional.[5]

Womack finished his amateur career with an estimated record of 54 wins, 14 losses.

Professional career

Womack turned pro in 1984 and began his career with a promising string of victories, including a victory over future champion Uriah Grant, and was undefeated in his first nine bouts until troubles outside of the ring derailed his career.

Troubles outside the ring

Womack was sentenced to 25 years for armed robbery.[6] After serving 15 years, Womack was released in November 2000.[7]

Comeback

After his release, Womack returned to the ring in 2001 and won all four bouts.

Death

On January 19, 2002, Womack committed suicide, two months after his last fight.[8]

References
  1. Becoming Holyfield: A Fighter's Journey, 2008, pp. 41-42.
  2. Katz, Michael (November 15, 1984). "Holyfield Future Is In His Hands". The New York Times. p. 19. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  3. Litsky, Frank (July 8, 1984). "Final Six Boxers Qualify". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  4. Evander Holyfield talks about fighting Ricky Wolmack in the amateurs (11 April 2011).
  5. Katz, Michael (October 20, 1984). "McCrory Wins Debut". The New York Times. p. 21. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2007-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "James Toney vs. Saul Montana (March 29, 2001)". www.boxingtimes.com. Archived from the original on 2005-11-22.
  8. "Boxing News -- 24 hours/day - Reload often!". www.fightnews.com. Archived from the original on 2004-06-19.
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