Mark Breland


Mark Anthony Breland is an American boxing trainer. As an amateur, he was a Gold Medal winner at the 1984 Summer Olympics, with a 110-1 record as an amateur and is regarded among the greatest amateur fighters ever. He competed as a professional from 1984 to 1997, and held the WBA welterweight title twice between 1987 and 1990. He later became an actor with a wide range of movie and television credits, having made his debut in The Lords of Discipline, and also appeared in the music video for The Pointer Sisters' 1985 hit single, "Dare Me".

Amateur career

Breland was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began fighting when he was 7 years old, taking on challengers in the lobby and hallways of the housing project where he lived. At 9 years old, he earned a spot on Muhammad Ali's youth boxing camp at his Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, training camp. At 13 he entered the gym and embraced boxing as a way of life. He won five New York Golden Gloves titles with a record of 21–0, with 14 knockouts coming in the 1st round, surpassing Sugar Ray Robinson for the most wins in the history of the Golden Gloves. Breland is notably the only amateur boxer to have ever been featured on the cover of Ring magazine, and the only amateur whose picture hangs in Colorado Springs U.S. Olympic Training Center. The Smithsonian Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington, DC displays an honorary picture of Mark Breland & his coveted 1984 Olympic team in recognition of their achievements.
At age 18 in 1981 Breland was already being offered huge sums up to $300,000 by boxing promoters to sign a professional contract. Still, he turned them down, partly in anticipation of participating in the 1984 Olympics, and in part scorn: "It's not 'cause I need the money. It's 'cause they need the money. Hey, I can get hurt." Breland always sought to take the fight game on his terms; even then he planned to leave the ring before turning 30.
Breland compiled an impressive amateur ring record of 110–1. His single loss, to Darryl Anthony was avenged by a 3rd round TKO over Anthony as a professional in a scheduled 10 round bout. Plus one unaccounted loss by medical disqualification, due to withdrawal because of toxic poisoning, which caused Breland to spend most of the fight week in a New York hospital.
Breland won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, was awarded the 1982 Boxer of the Year by USAABF, and rated #1 amateur welterweight in the world by AIBA in 1984.
Breland was so exceptional as an amateur that he had been having trouble getting sparring partners in the Bedford-Stuyvesant Boxing Association Gym. Fighters were known to delay their trip to the coveted NYC Daily News Golden Gloves during Mark Breland's five year consecutive reign in order to avoid facing him. In June 1984, when he was preparing himself for the forthcoming National Olympic Trials, he went to Grossinger, New York, to train with the Kronks, there he sparred with WBC Super Welterweight champion Thomas Hearns, who in turn was preparing to fight Roberto Durán. At that time Breland was being trained by Emanuel Steward. At that time he narrowly escaped bigger troubles, falling under destructive influence of his teammate Ricky Womack, who happened to be an authoritative figure for Breland, eventually was sentenced and jailed.

Professional career

Breland turned professional in 1984. In 1987 he won the vacant WBA welterweight title by defeating Harold Volbrecht by TKO in the seventh round. He lost it in his first defense to Marlon Starling. In 1989 Breland again won the vacant WBA welterweight title by defeating another contender, Seung Soon Lee, by first round knockout on 4 February, 1989, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He made four successful title defenses before losing it to Aaron Davis in a back-and-forth 9-round contest that was nearly called off twice because of injuries to Davis' eye before Breland was knocked out in round 9.
Breland retired in 1997 with a professional record of 35–3–1. His losses were to Jorge Vaca, Aaron Davis, and Marlon Starling, with whom he also earned his only draw.

Boxing Trainer

Breland has served as a boxing trainer, having had Vernon Forrest and former WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder among other notable clients. In recent years, he has been an assistant trainer for Jermall Charlo.

Amateur highlights

  • Won the 39th Intercity Golden Gloves in the welterweight division, Madison Square Garden, New York City, April 1981:
  • *Defeated Efrain Bennett KO 1
  • Participated in the United States National Championships, in Concord, California, May 1981:
  • *1/4: Lost to Darryl Anthony by split decision, 2–3
  • Won the U.S. National Sports Festival in Syracuse, New York, July 1981:
  • *1/2: Defeated Roman George RSC 3
  • *Finals: Defeated Darryl Robinson RSC 1
  • United States Welterweight Champion, Charlotte, North Carolina, April 1982:
  • *1/4: Defeated Ron Essett RSC 1
  • *1/2: Defeated Frank Warren by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *Finals: Defeated Louis Howard RSCH 2
  • Made the U.S. National Team at the World Champ Box-Offs in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 1982:
  • *Defeated Louis Howard
  • Gold medal at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany, May 1982:
  • *1/16: Defeated Vesa Koskela RET 2
  • *1/8: Defeated Mihai Ciubotaru KO 1
  • *1/4: Defeated Jenő Danyi by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *1/2: Defeated Manfred Zielonka by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *Finals: Defeated Serik Konakbayev by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Won the USA–Poland Duals in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 1982:
  • *Defeated Stanisław Marczyński by unanimous decision, 3–0
  • Withdrew from the United States National Championships, in Indianapolis, Indiana, December 1982:
  • *1/16: Lost to Kurt Whitesell by medical walkover
  • Won the AIBA International Challenge in Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan, May 1983:
  • *Defeated Yong Beom Chung by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • United States Welterweight Champion, Colorado Springs, Colorado, November 1983:
  • *1/16: Defeated Bill Harrington RSC 3
  • *1/8: Defeated Tony Golden RSC 2
  • *1/4: Defeated Larry Gentile by decision
  • *1/2: Defeated Alton Rice by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *Finals: Defeated James Mitchell RSC 2
  • Won the AIBA International Challenge in Los Angeles, California, April 1984:
  • *Defeated Luciano Bruno by decision
  • Qualified as a Welterweight at the National Olympic Trials in Fort Worth, Texas, June 1984:
  • *1/4: Defeated Mylon Watkins KO 1
  • *1/2: Defeated Louis Howard by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *Finals: Defeated Davey Gutierrez by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Made the U.S. National Team at the Olympic Box-Offs in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 1984:
  • *Defeated Louis Howard by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, July–August 1984:
  • *1/32: Defeated Wayne Gordon by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *1/16: Defeated Carlos Reyes RSC 3
  • *1/8: Defeated Rudel Obreja by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *1/4: Defeated Genaro Leon KO 1
  • *1/2: Defeated Luciano Bruno by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • *Finals: Defeated Yong-Su Ahn by unanimous decision, 5–0

    Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
39WinRick HaynesUD10Mar 21, 1997Riverfront Sports Arena, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
38Win34–3–1Bobby ButtersTKO2, 1:49Jan 10, 1997Riverfront Sports Arena, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
37Win33–3–1Darryl LattimoreUD10Jun 7, 1996Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
36Win32–3–1Buck SmithKO3, 0:25May 19, 1996The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
35Win31–3–1Ricardo SmithTKO3, 0:30Jan 27, 1996Schwartz Athletic Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
34Loss30–3–1Jorge VacaTKO6, 1:37Sep 13, 1991ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
33Win30–2–1Julian SamahaTKO1, 0:44Jul 12, 1991Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
32Win29–2–1Henry Anaya Jr.UD10Jun 10, 1991Meadowlands Convention Center, Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S.
31Win28–2–1Ariel CondeKO1, 0:23Apr 9, 1991The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
30Loss27–2–1Aaron DavisKO9, 2:56Jul 8, 1990Harrah's, Reno, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA welterweight title
29Win27–1–1Lloyd HoneyghanTKO3 Mar 3, 1990Wembley Arena, London, England, U.K.Retained WBA welterweight title
28Win26–1–1Fujio OzakiTKO4, 0:34Dec 10, 1989Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA welterweight title
27Win25–1–1Mauro MartelliTKO2, 1:15Oct 13, 1989Patinoire des Vernets, Geneva, SwitzerlandRetained WBA welterweight title
26Win24–1–1Rafael PinedaTKO5, 1:14Apr 22, 1989Trump Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained WBA welterweight title
25Win23–1–1Seung-Soon LeeTKO1, 0:54Feb 4, 1989Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBA welterweight title
24Win22–1–1Ozzie O'NealKO1, 1:46Oct 7, 1988The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
23Win21–1–1Pablo BaezKO1, 1:43Aug 11, 1988DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
22Draw20–1–1Marlon StarlingSD12Apr 16, 1988Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.For WBA welterweight title
21Win20–1Juan Alonso VillaTKO3, 2:03Feb 5, 1988Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
20Win19–1Javier SuazoUD10Dec 5, 1987Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Loss18–1Marlon StarlingTKO11, 1:38Aug 22, 1987Township Auditorium, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. Lost WBA welterweight title
18Win18–0Juan Bautista RondonUD10Jul 10, 1987Forte Village Resort, Sardinia, Italy
17Win17–0Harold VolbrechtTKO7, 2:07Feb 6, 1987Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won vacant WBA welterweight title
16Win16–0Orlando OrozcoTKO2, 1:46Nov 13, 1986Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
15Win15–0Ralph TwinningKO1, 2:08Oct 15, 1986Township Auditorium, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
14Win14–0Reggie MillerKO2, 1:41Sep 14, 1986Harrah's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win13–0John MundugaTKO6, 2:18Jun 21, 1986The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12Win12–0Ricky AvendanoKO1, 1:06May 15, 1986Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
11Win11–0Darryl AnthonyTKO3, 2:14Apr 12, 1986Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0Richard AguirreKO1, 1:33Mar 2, 1986Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
9Win9–0Troy WorthamUD10Jan 25, 1986Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
8Win8–0Hedgemon RobertsonUD8Dec 21, 1985Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
7Win7–0Donald GwinnKO2, 1:32Oct 18, 1985Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
6Win6–0Don ShiverTKO1, 2:18Jul 20, 1985Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
5Win5–0Dario DeJesusKO2, 2:49Jun 19, 1985Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
4Win4–0Vince DunfeeKO2, 2:13May 17, 1985Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
3Win3–0Steve LittleUD6Apr 6, 1985Coliseum, San Angelo, Texas, U.S.
2Win2–0Marlon PalmerUD6Jan 5, 1985Harrah's Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Dwight WilliamsUD6Nov 15, 1984Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.