Highlights

Tubbs finished his career having 253 fights, with a record of 240 wins, 13 losses.^[4]

Early years

Tubbs made his professional debut on June 14, 1980, with a first-round knockout of Bruce Scott. After 11 fights, he fought fellow undefeated prospect Clarence Hill on August 7, 1982 and won by a ten-round unanimous decision. After out-pointing Jimmy Young (who had defeated George Foreman) on April 10, 1983, he was signed by Don King and began rising up the rankings while appearing on several King undercards.^{[citation needed]} On March 15, 1985, he faced future WBA Heavyweight Champ James "Bonecrusher" Smith in a WBA title eliminator. Tubbs won by a unanimous decision, taking his record to 20-0 (15 knockouts).^{[citation needed]}

World heavyweight title fights

On April 29, 1985, Tubbs challenged Greg Page for the WBA Heavyweight Championship. Page and Tubbs fought seven times as amateurs, with Page winning six of them, but for their only meeting as professionals, Tubbs won by a fifteen-round unanimous decision.^{[citation needed]} On January 17, 1986, Tubbs made his first title defense against former WBC Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon. Tubbs weighed-in at 244 pounds (111 kg), 15 more than he weighed for the Page fight, and lost the title by a fifteen-round majority decision.^{[citation needed]}

Tubbs and Witherspoon had a rematch scheduled for December 12, 1986, but Tubbs pulled out of the fight and was replaced by Bonecrusher Smith, who knocked Witherspoon out in the first round. Tubbs said he had an injured shoulder, but promoter Don King accused Tubbs of trying to get more money.^{[citation needed]} On March 21, 1988, Tubbs challenged Mike Tyson for the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship; after out-boxing Tyson in the first round, Tubbs was knocked out in the second.^{[citation needed]}

On November 21, 1989, Tubbs out-pointed top contender Orlin Norris, winning the North American Boxing Federation title. However, Tubbs tested positive for cocaine.^[5] Tubbs was stripped of the title and the victory was changed to a "no contest".^{[citation needed]}

On April 20, 1991, a 34-year-old Tubbs lost a highly controversial ten-round decision to future Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, Riddick Bowe.^[6] The general consensus in the media was that Tubbs had easily outboxed Bowe.^[7] On August 8, 1992, Tubbs was upset by Lionel Butler in a first-round knockout. Tubbs came back to out-point future WBA Heavyweight Champion Bruce Seldon, knocking him down in the 1st round, and the undefeated Alexander Zolkin, but then suffered another first-round knockout—this one to clubfighter Jimmy Ellis.^{[citation needed]}

People's Choice Heavyweight Tournament

In December 1993, Tubbs took part in the one-night People's Choice Heavyweight Tournament in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. He knocked out Willie Jackson in the first round and won three-round decisions over 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs, Jose Ribalta, and Daniel Dăncuţă to win the tournament.^{[citation needed]} Depending on pay-per-view revenue, he had a chance to win $1 million. He was paid $170,000.^{[citation needed]}

Late career

From 1994 to 1997, Tubbs went 3–3 with one no-contest. He retired but came back in 2002. He lost two of his first three comeback fights, but then won his next five, including a win over 18-0 Brian Minto. His last fight was a six-round unanimous decision over clubfighter Adam Smith on November 4, 2006.^{[citation needed]}