Tyrone Trice (October 23, 1963 - November 8, 2023) was an American former professional boxer who competed from 1983 to 1996. He is a one-time International Boxing Council (IBC) Middleweight champion and WBA Americas Welterweight champion. Trice also had two world-title challenges for the IBF Welterweight and WBO Middleweight titles.

Tyrone Trice
Born
Tyrone Trice

October 23, 1963
DiedNovember 8, 2023 (age 60)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe Butterfly
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight, Light Middleweight, Middleweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights53
Wins43
Wins by KO35
Losses10
Draws0
No contests0

Professional career

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Welterweight

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Trice quickly rose through the ranks, winning his first twelve fights before a shock first-round KO loss to Freddie Pendleton.[1] After continuing to win many fights via knockout, Trice became the number two contender for the vacant IBF Welterweight title. A title match with number one contender Simon Brown took place at the Palais des sports in Berck-sur-Mer, France on April 23, 1988. Trice was dominant in the fight early on, knocking down Brown in the second round. However, he eventually tired through the later rounds and Brown was able to wear Trice down. Trice was knocked down three times in the 12th round and was finally defeated via knockout in the 14th round.

After the loss, Trice recovered and won a series of tune-up fights before defeating Kevin Pompey for the WBA Americas Welterweight Title. A rematch was then fought between Trice and Brown. As with the first contest, it was a close and entertaining fight with Brown prevailing again, this time in the eleventh round by knockout. After this loss, Trice decided to compete in the Middleweight division.

Middleweight

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In his first Middleweight bout, Trice defeated Rafael Williams to win the vacant IBC Light-Middleweight Title. After an impressive third-round TKO victory over undefeated Nestor Maciel to defend the title, Trice challenged John David Jackson for the WBO Light-Middleweight title. Trice took Jackson to the full twelve rounds but Jackson was well in control throughout the match, staggering Trice several times in the fight and winning via unanimous decision. Trice was then defeated again two months later in a ninth-round TKO by Julio César Vásquez.

Feud with James Toney

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Rumours began circulating that a matchup between Trice and multiple Middleweight champion James Toney would take place between late 1992 to early 1993.[2] After an easy round one TKO victory over Ron Collins for which Toney was present in the ringside audience, Trice seized the microphone from announcer Wally Jackson after he was declared the victor. After insulting then WBO Middleweight Champion Gerald McClellan (who Trice claimed backed out of a title bout against him), Trice challenged Toney to a $50,000 bet that he would defeat him before 10 rounds at any time of Toney's choosing. Toney, angry at Trice's words, entered the ring and challenged Trice to a fight then and there. Trice approached Toney but was then escorted out of the ring by his ring crew and the referee.[3]

Ultimately the much anticipated match between Trice and Toney never materialized due to a number of disputes between both camps regarding money, the venue where the bout should take place and several other factors.

Later career and retirement

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Trice's career would begin to decline from late 1992 until his retirement, losing several fights which included losses to Thomas Tate and Joe Lipsey. He also did not participate in any further title matches. His final match took place on February 18, 1996, where he defeated the unrated Gary Jones in a fourth-round knockout. He retired shortly after. He continues to reside in his hometown of Milwaukee today.[4]

Professional boxing record

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43 Wins (35 knockouts, 8 decisions), 10 Losses (5 knockouts, 5 decisions) [1]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win 2-20-2   Gary Jones KO 4 18/02/1996   Minot, North Dakota
Loss 9-13-2   Eric L. French UD 10 03/12/1994   Eagles Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Loss 18-0   Joe Lipsey PTS 10 23/07/1993   Lansing, Michigan
Loss 32-4-2   Frederic Seillier KO 9 24/04/1993   Port-de-Bouc, Bouches-du-Rhone
Win 21-59-1   Jake Torrance UD 8 05/02/1993   Eagles Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Loss 25-2   Thomas Tate UD 10 02/02/1993   The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Loss 31-7   Brett Lally MD 10 24/11/1992   The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Win 23-8   Bill "Fireball" Bradley TKO 4 25/08/1992   The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Win 25-2   Ron Collins TKO 1 21/07/1992   The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan Referee stopped the bout at 1:36 of the first round.
Win 0-13-1   Larry Lipscomb KO 3 28/03/1992   Doraville, Georgia
Loss 31-1   Julio César Vásquez TKO 9 19/09/1991   Paris
Loss 23-0   J.D. Jackson UD 12 21/07/1991   Atlantic City Race Course, Atlantic City, New Jersey WBO Light Middleweight Title.
Win 18-0   Nestor Maciel TKO 3 07/03/1991   Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Win 31-7   Rafael Williams TKO 6 29/11/1990   Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City IBC Light Middleweight Title.
Loss 31-1   Simon "Mantequilla" Brown TKO 10 01/04/1990   DC Armory, Washington, District of Columbia IBF Welterweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:51 of the tenth round.
Win 17-2-1   Kevin Pompey UD 12 14/01/1990   Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey WBA Americas Welterweight Title.
Win 25-16-3   Ron Johnson TKO 3 25/03/1989   Sheraton Hotel, Casablanca, Morocco
Win 28-29-3   Dexter Smith PTS 10 06/03/1989   Nogent-le-Phaye, France
Win 21-10   Juan Alonso Villa KO 1 12/12/1988   Nogent-le-Phaye, France
Win 12-13-2   Orlando Orozco KO 1 09/11/1988   Paris, France
Win 10-1   Luis Francisco Perez TKO 2 09/10/1988   Franconville, France
Win 9-3-1   Efren Brown TKO 6 24/09/1988   Berck, France
Win 5-4 Luciano Fernandez TKO 4 13/08/1988   Deauville, France
Loss 24-1   Simon "Mantequilla" Brown TKO 14 23/04/1988   Palais des Sports, Berck, France IBF Welterweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:29 of the 14th round.
Win 5-6   Mike English TKO 1 20/11/1987   Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan Referee stopped the bout at 1:49 of the first round.
Win 7-41-1   Walter Cowans TKO 2 10/10/1987   Sandusky, Ohio
Win 14-5-1   Steve "Lightning" Little UD 10 06/08/1987   Felt Forum, New York City
Win 14-10   Dennis Johnson TKO 8 23/10/1986   Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 14-1-1   Curtis Summit TKO 1 10/06/1986   Detroit, Michigan
Win 13-6-2   Marvin Ray Jones TKO 2 24/04/1986   Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the second round.
Win 2-1   Jesse Flores TKO 4 22/03/1986   Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada
Win 9-12   Steve Mitchell KO 6 28/02/1986   Laughlin, Nevada
Win 20-4-2   Michael "Bomber" Bradley RTD 3 23/01/1986   Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 12-9-2   Dave Odem TKO 7 21/11/1985   Detroit, Michigan
Win 12-14-1   Jose "Speedy" Gonzalez KO 5 24/10/1985   Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan Gonzalez knocked out at 2:38 of the fifth round.
Win 23-5   Tyrone Moore UD 10 12/09/1985   Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan
Win 1-5 Jesus De la Cruz KO 1 22/08/1985   Detroit, Michigan
Win 5-11-6   Ken Willis KO 3 06/04/1985   Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 10-8   Anthony Bryant TKO 3 24/10/1984   Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan Referee stopped the bout at 1:17 of the third round.
Win 23-3   Tyrone Moore PTS 10 15/08/1984   Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss 10-8-1   Freddie Pendleton TKO 1 28/06/1984   Detroit, Michigan
Win 0-1 Ruben Gallardo TKO 6 31/05/1984   Detroit, Michigan
Win 14-9   Teddy Hatfield TKO 2 03/05/1984   Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan
Win 1-3   Bob Graddy TKO 6 15/04/1984   Detroit, Michigan
Win -- Sean McGill KO 2 11/02/1984   Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 1-7-2   Nate Stewart TKO 2 03/02/1984   Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois Referee stopped the bout at 2:27 of the second round.
Win 10-1   Victor Gordon KO 4 27/10/1983   Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 3-4   Leslie Toney TKO 2 30/09/1983   Eagles Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Win 7-3-2   Dave Odem PTS 6 25/08/1983   Lakeland Arena, Waterford, Michigan
Win --   Manuel Toribio KO 2 10/07/1983   Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey Toribio knocked out at 3:01 of the second round.
Win --   Willy Paul Maxwell KO 1 12/06/1983   Phoenix, Arizona
Win 1-1   Fred Tice TKO 1 04/06/1983   Traverse City, Michigan
Win --   "Rockin" Rodney Moore PTS 4 26/05/1983   The Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey

References

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