Mark Breland

Breland, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, began fighting when he was 7 years old, taking on challengers in the lobby and hallways of the housing project which happened to be his home. At 9 years old Mark earned a spot on Muhammad Ali’s youth boxing camp at his Deer Lake NY training camp. At 13, he entered the gym and embraced boxing as a way of life.[2] He won five New York Golden Gloves titles, 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 graced 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.

Mark Breland won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, was awarded the 1982 Boxer of the Year by USAABF,[3] and rated #1 amateur welterweight in the world by AIBA in 1984.[4] Two time World Boxing Champion.

Breland was so exceptional, 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 Thomas Hearns, who in turn was preparing to fight Roberto Durán. At that time Breland was being trained by Emanuel Steward.[5] 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.[6]

Already in 1981, age 18, professional boxing promoters and managers have offered him huge sums up to $300,000 to sign a professional contract. But Breland has turned down these offers, partly by anticipating the 1984 Olympics, and in part because due to the promoters' neglect: "It's not 'cause I need the money. It's 'cause they need the money. Hey, I can get hurt." Planning his professional career, he planned to leave the ring before he's 30.[2]

Breland compiled an impressive amateur record of 110–1 (with 73 knockouts. The “1” loss is still a decision heavily debated and Mark revenged that “1” loss beating that same opponent (Darryl Anthony) as a professional with a TKO as to not leave it in the judges hands. Mark Breland dropped “Anthony” with a vicious right @2:14 of the 3rd round of a scheduled 10 round bout [7] plus one unaccounted loss by medical disqualification,[8] due to withdrawal because of toxic poisioning, spent most of the week in a New York hospital.[3])

Breland turned professional in 1984. In 1987, Breland won the vacant WBA welterweight title by defeating Harold Volbrecht by seventh round TKO. He lost it in his first defense to Marlon Starling. In 1989, Breland again won the vacant WBA Welterweight Title. He made three 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 caught and knocked out in round 9.

In 1997, Breland retired with a professional record of 35–3–1 (25 KOs). His record blemishes were a draw with Marlon Starling and losses to Jorge Vaca, Aaron Davis and Marlon Starling.

Breland is currently a boxing trainer, having trained Vernon Forrest and former WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder among other notable boxers.

• List of world welterweight boxing champions

• Boxing record for Mark Breland from BoxRec (registration required)
• Mark Breland at IMDb