Nick Wells

Last updated
Nick Wells
Statistics
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Stancesouthpaw
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg  United States
World Military Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1972 Treviso Heavyweight

Nick Wells (born February 11, 1951) is a retired heavyweight boxer. He was selected a member of the All-American AAU boxing team for 1973, and was named the top heavyweight amateur boxer in the nation in 1973 by the National AAU Boxing Committee. [1]

USA Boxing organization

USA Boxing is the national governing body for Olympic-style amateur boxing. It is overseen by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which sets its rules.

Contents

Amateur career

Wells was a member of the U.S. Air Force, serving at Hamilton AFB in California, and already the four-time All-Air Force boxing champion when he won the 1972 U.S. Amateur heavyweight championship. In that year, he knocked out future WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Larry Holmes twice. The first time was in the 3rd round of a National Amateur Athletic Union tournament; later that year, in the US Olympic Trials, he knocked Holmes out in the first round. He went on to face 1971 US Amateur heavyweight champion Duane Bobick in the finals of the Olympic Trials, where he broke Bobick's nose early in the fight and appeared to be on his way to representing the United States in the Olympics. But Wells had suffered a head wound before the fight at his hotel, and the fight was stopped by the referee when it began to bleed profusely. Bobick went on to lose to Cuban heavyweight and eventual gold medal winner Teofilo Stevenson in the Olympic quarterfinals.

Larry Holmes American boxer

Larry Holmes is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname of "The Easton Assassin".

Amateur Athletic Union US nonprofit athletic organization

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is an amateur sports organization based in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. It has more than 700,000 members nationwide, including more than 100,000 volunteers.

Duane Bobick American boxer

Duane Bobick is a retired boxer from the United States. As an amateur he won the gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games and fought at the 1972 Olympics. He then turned professional and retired in 1979 with a record of 48 wins and four losses, all by knockout.

One of the most popular amateur boxers in Texas during the 1970s, Wells was a five-time Fort Worth Golden Gloves champion and a two-time Star-telegram Texas State Golden Gloves champion. Three-time Texas state champion, in 1969, 1970, 1971. Five time all air force champion, in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976. Two-time interservice champion in 1973, 1975. Three-time interservice runner up in 1972, 1974, 1976. Two-time Nevada state golden gloves champion in 1972, 1973. He was the 1972 National AAU Champion, as well as the Western Hemisphere Champion in 1972 or 1973. He also held the titles of World Military Champion (CISM games in 1973) and Texas state champion, in 1971.

Golden Gloves Annual competitions for amateur boxing

The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States, where a small pair of golden boxing gloves are awarded. The Golden Gloves is a term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but can also represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves tournaments and other notable tournaments such as the Intercity Golden Gloves, the Chicago Golden Gloves, and the New York Golden Gloves.

Duane Bobick said Wells was the biggest challenge on his way to winning the Pan American gold medal.

Highlights

Wells compiled an amateur record of 189–18 with 110 knockouts, 72 of them in the first round.

Professional career

Wells declined an opportunity to be trained by legendary trainer and manager Lou Duva in New Jersey, opting instead to train and fight out of his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. He compiled a professional record of 10 - 3 before taking a job with the Fort Worth Fire Department in 1978, in order to support his son Nickolas. He continued his professional boxing career, but lost the Texas State Heavyweight Title match to Roy Wallace in his first bout after becoming a firefighter. He went 3 - 4 from that point, his last two fights ending in knockout losses to heavyweight contenders Eddie "The Animal" Lopez and Tony "The Tongan Torpedo" Fulilangi. He retired from boxing in 1983 with a professional record of 13–8, although some accounts list his record at 15–8.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
23 fights16 wins7 losses
By knockout155
By decision12

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References

  1. ↑ Boxing Results (UPI,) Cumberland Times, March 11, 1973, p. 41.
Preceded by
Duane Bobick 		United States Amateur Heavyweight Champion
1972		Succeeded by
James Chapman
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