Duane Bobick
- Actor
Duane Bobick achieved international fame as an amateur boxer while
serving in the United States Navy. Among his best amateur victory was a
decision over furture heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. At the 1972
Olympic Games, Bobick captured the Bronze Medal in the Heavyweight
category losing to Cuba's Teo Stevenson. Bobick turned professional on
April 10, 1973 and knocked out Tommy Burns in 1 round at Minneapolis,
MN. At almost 6 feet 4 inches tall and 215 pounds, Bobick had quick
hands and knockout power in both hands. He streaked to 19 straight
knockout victories, before decisioning Billy Daniels for win number 20.
After posting a 38-0 record, Duane Bobick was stunningly defeated by
future heavyweight champion Ken Norton on national television in less
than 50 seconds after being hurt by a punch to his Adam's Apple. A
short time later, his brother (also a heavyweight boxer) Rodney was
killed in a single car accident at the age of 26. Though he continued
to box, Bobick never again showed the promise of his earlier bouts. He
retired in 1979 after back-to-back knockout losses to John Tate and
George Chaplin. His record record was an impressive 48-4 with 42
knockout victories. While in South Africa in 1978 he starred in the
"cult" boxing film Billyboy.
