In this 1979 amateur boxing video featuring the USA verses Cuba boxing teams…. the viewer gets a look at some of the outstanding 1980 USA Olympic Team…..who never got to fight for their country in the Moscow Olympics thanks to US President Jimmy Carter…..the “peanut farmer” who brought politics into the Olympic Games…..for Johnny Bumphus, Jackie Beard, Benard Taylor and Alex Ramos were four of Americas’ finest amateur boxers who deserve to be remembered for their skills and talents in the ring….which this video herewith provides.
Johnny Bumphus began boxing as an amateur at the age of eight out of the Tacoma Boy’s Club Boxing Club, located on 25th and Yakima Avenue….while finishing his amateur career at 341-16….as he was one of four World Champions to begin boxing in Tacoma…..the others being Freddie Steele, Rocky Lockridge and Leo Randolph. Bumphus amateur career highlights include the 1977 National AAU Featherweight Championship when he decisioned Lee Simmons of Akron, Ohio, in the finals…..along with the 1979 National Golden Gloves Championship (132 lbs.) by defeating Efrain Nieves in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Jackie Beard was an amateur boxing standout in the late 1970’s….who won the National AAU in the bantamweight division three times in 1978, 1979, and 1980. He also won the bantamweight championship in the 1978 National Golden Gloves Tournament…..while also qualifying for the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team that didn’t get to go to the Moscow summer games prevented him from the international competition. In 2007 Beard received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.
Bernard Taylor had an incredible career as an amateur boxer….after compiling a record of 481-8…..as he too qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but was unable to compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott…..so, in 2007, he received one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes…..after compiling career amateur highlights such as winning the 1972 National Junior Olympics Light Flyweight championship…..plus winning the 1976 National AAU Bantamweight championship….and the 1976 National Golden Gloves Bantamweight championship…..then he won the 1977 National Golden Gloves Featherweight championship….followed by the 1978 National Golden Gloves Featherweight championship…..after which he won the 1979 National AAU Featherweight championship…. and finally winning the 1980 National Golden Gloves Featherweight championship.
Alex Ramos had an amateur record of 143-15 (132 KOs)…..while winning four New York Golden Gloves Championships…..while winning the 1977 147 lb. Sub-Novice Championship by defeating Julian Kelly in the finals….then in 1978, he won the 160 lb Open Championship over Norberto Sabater…..and followed that up with a win in the 1979 160 lb Open Championship over Noel Tucker…..and finally in 1980 he won the 156 lb Open Championship over Ramon Nieto. Alex Ramos trained at the Jerome Boxing Club in the Bronx, New York in 1977 and 1978. In 1979….while training at the Bronxchester Boys Club in the Bronx, New York in 1980. Ramos’s amateur career highlights included winning the 1979 National Amateur Athletic Union Championship for the 165 lb division….and the 1979 Intercity Golden Gloves in the 156 lb. division.
ABC Sports brought this 1979 USA vs Cuba boxing competition on their outstanding Wide World of Sports program….with legendary broadcaster Chris Schenkel at the mike….which coupled with the outstanding competition between these two Cold War amateur boxing powerhouses…..simply makes this video MUST SEE TV for any and all boxing enthusiasts.
