Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
Encyclopedia
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad is a retired American
boxer
.
Championships. Gregory won both the 1971 and the 1972 New York Golden Gloves 147 lb Open Championships. Gregory defeated future Middleweight Champion Vito Antuofermo
in the 1971 finals and in 1972 defeated Patrick Maloney
of the Leatherpushers Athletic Club to win the Championship. Gregory trained at the Police Athletic Leagues Howard Houses in Brooklyn, New York.
but lost a unanimous decision. He got a second shot at the title against Marvin Johnson
in 1980, and won via an 11th round TKO to take the belt. He defended the belt twice in 1980 and lost a non-title bout against Renaldo Snipes
in 1981. Later in 1981 he would lose his title as well in a defense against Michael Spinks
via unanimous decision.
After losing the belt, Muhammad fought mainly club level fighters before landing another shot at a title in 1985, the Vacant IBF Light Heavyweight Title, pitted against Slobodan Kacar
. Kacar won a narrow split decision and Muhammad retired after the bout.
Muhammad made a brief comeback in 1988, but hung up the gloves for good later that year after losing via TKO to journeyman Arthel Lawhorne.
He also appeared in two motion pictures: the 1980 film
Raging Bull, playing the role of Billy Fox
; and Leon Isaac Kennedy's 1981 version of Body and Soul
, where he portrayed himself.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
.
Amateur career
Boxing under his birth name, Eddie Gregory, Muhammad won two New York Golden GlovesNew York Golden Gloves
The New York Golden Gloves is a boxing tournament considered by many boxing aficionados as one of the three most elite Golden Gloves titles, along with the Chicago Golden Gloves....
Championships. Gregory won both the 1971 and the 1972 New York Golden Gloves 147 lb Open Championships. Gregory defeated future Middleweight Champion Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo is an Italian-American actor who is also a former world Middleweight boxing champion.-Background:Antuofermo was born in Italy, in the town of Palo del Colle, which is located about 15 km inland from the city of Bari. but his family moved to the United States when he was 17...
in the 1971 finals and in 1972 defeated Patrick Maloney
Patrick Maloney
Patrick Maloney was a professional American Welterweight boxer from the Yorkville section of New York City. As an amateur boxer, Maloney advanced to the finals of the 1972 New York Golden Gloves 147 lb. Open Division. He was defeated by future Light Heavyweight Champion Eddie Gregory whom...
of the Leatherpushers Athletic Club to win the Championship. Gregory trained at the Police Athletic Leagues Howard Houses in Brooklyn, New York.
Professional career
Known as "Flame", Muhammad turned pro in 1972 and in 1977 challenged WBA Light Heavyweight Title holder Víctor GalíndezVíctor Galíndez
Víctor Emilio Galíndez was an Argentine boxer who was the third Latin American to win the world Light Heavyweight championship, after Puerto Rico's José Torres and Venezuela's Vicente Rondon.Galíndez was born in Vedia in the Leandro N...
but lost a unanimous decision. He got a second shot at the title against Marvin Johnson
Marvin Johnson
Marvin Johnson is a former boxer from the United States, who fought in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, winning a bronze medal, and made his way up the professional ranks in the light heavyweight division soon thereafter...
in 1980, and won via an 11th round TKO to take the belt. He defended the belt twice in 1980 and lost a non-title bout against Renaldo Snipes
Renaldo Snipes
Renaldo Snipes, born Reenaold Snipes on August 15, 1956 in Houston, Texas, is an accomplished American boxer, best known for his title championship bout with Larry Holmes.-Amateur career:...
in 1981. Later in 1981 he would lose his title as well in a defense against Michael Spinks
Michael Spinks
Michael Spinks is a retired American boxer who was a world champion in the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions...
via unanimous decision.
After losing the belt, Muhammad fought mainly club level fighters before landing another shot at a title in 1985, the Vacant IBF Light Heavyweight Title, pitted against Slobodan Kacar
Slobodan Kacar
Slobodan Kačar is a retired Bosnian Serb boxer, born in Perućica near Jajce in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then SFR Yugoslavia. He won the Light Heavyweight Gold medal for Yugoslavia at the 1980 Summer Olympics. In the same year, Kačar was named as the best athlete of Yugoslavia...
. Kacar won a narrow split decision and Muhammad retired after the bout.
Muhammad made a brief comeback in 1988, but hung up the gloves for good later that year after losing via TKO to journeyman Arthel Lawhorne.
He also appeared in two motion pictures: the 1980 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Raging Bull, playing the role of Billy Fox
Billy Fox (boxer)
"Blackjack" Billy Fox is a former American light heavyweight boxer. He is best known for having won a fix fight against future middleweight champion Jake LaMotta.- Boxing career :...
; and Leon Isaac Kennedy's 1981 version of Body and Soul
Body and Soul (1981 film)
Body and Soul is a 1981 film, written by and starring Leon Isaac Kennedy, and co-starring his then-wife Jayne Kennedy. Directed by George Bowers, it is a remake of the 1947 film, a story of corruption, violence and temptation between a boxer and a knockout....
, where he portrayed himself.