Toughman Contest
Encyclopedia
The Toughman Contest, founded in 1979 in Bay City
, Michigan
by boxing
promoter Art Dore, is a chance for the novice amateur
fighters
(those with no more than 5 sanctioned wins in the past 5 years) to test themselves in the ring
.
Tournaments feature the local residents of a particular city (generally, participants must live within 100-150 mile radius of where the event is to be held) who are at least 18 years of age, pass a standard boxing physical, and meet any other requirements of the State's Boxing Commissions' regulations, and also sign a waiver freeing the parent company from liability. Some states, like Florida and Missouri do not sanction Toughman but do license mixed martial arts
, an event many people confuse with the Original Toughman Contest. For more details, visit www.toughmancontest.net.
The Original Toughman Contest is often mistaken with other elimination tournaments and therefore bears the media brunt for those contests which sometimes illegally use the trademarked name, or derivatives of it. Toughman holds events only in states that have rules or state code permitting the format.
which starred Dennis Quaid
and was about Dore and the boxing phenomenon he conceived after finding the crowds wanted to see ordinary people fight. Toughman alumni include Mr. T
; Tommy Morrison
; Eric "Butterbean" Esch; and from the fall of 2006, the winner of the "Contender Television Series," the former Lawton, OK Toughman Contest Champion, Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer. Eric "Chicago" Herrholz the 1992 Houston Ship Channel Toughman "Stevedores vs Longshormen" . Also among them is also former Maine
State Representative Chris Greeley
, who fought in 1996, and who also completed his 8th year in the Maine House of Representatives
in 2010. One special group of celebs are the "fighting Brown family from Tennessee." The only family in Toughman's three decades of shows, to have three sons win championships: Melvin "Lawdawg" Brown, Josh "Downtown" Brown, and little brother, "Bushido" Brown. Father Mel Brown also held a Toughman Contest for soldiers in Iraq.
Lee McGinnis (20-1) is the 2008 World Heavyweight Toughman Champion by defeating Darrell Ellis of Little Rock, AR (record unknown) via Unanimous decision.This is Lee McGinnis second straight World Heavyweight Toughman Championship.
Bay City
-Places:Australia* Westfield Bay City, a shopping centre in Geelong, VictoriaPhilippines* Bay City , the reclamation area of Metro Manila in the PhilippinesUnited States* Bay City, Pope County, Illinois* Bay City, Michigan...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
by boxing
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...
promoter Art Dore, is a chance for the novice amateur
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
fighters
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...
(those with no more than 5 sanctioned wins in the past 5 years) to test themselves in the ring
Boxing ring
A boxing ring is the space in which a boxing match occurs. A modern ring, which is set on a raised platform, is square with a post at each corner to which four parallel rows of ropes are attached with a turnbuckle...
.
Format
Using standard boxing rules, 16 oz. gloves, headgear,and 3 rounds of 1 minute with a 60-second rest period, The Original Toughman Contest plays across the US in between 75 and 100 cities each year and culminates with the World Championship which in 2008 was held at Sam's Town Casino in Tunica, MS.Tournaments feature the local residents of a particular city (generally, participants must live within 100-150 mile radius of where the event is to be held) who are at least 18 years of age, pass a standard boxing physical, and meet any other requirements of the State's Boxing Commissions' regulations, and also sign a waiver freeing the parent company from liability. Some states, like Florida and Missouri do not sanction Toughman but do license mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, an event many people confuse with the Original Toughman Contest. For more details, visit www.toughmancontest.net.
The Original Toughman Contest is often mistaken with other elimination tournaments and therefore bears the media brunt for those contests which sometimes illegally use the trademarked name, or derivatives of it. Toughman holds events only in states that have rules or state code permitting the format.
Competitors
Toughman made Art Dore a celebrity and generated a Twentieth Century Fox movie called Tough EnoughTough Enough (film)
Tough Enough is a 1983 film directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Dennis Quaid, Pam Grier, Warren Oates and Stan Shaw.-Plot synopsis:A down-on-his-luck country & western singer from Fort Worth enters a "toughman" competition to help pay his family's bills. Surprisingly, he does well against the...
which starred Dennis Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
and was about Dore and the boxing phenomenon he conceived after finding the crowds wanted to see ordinary people fight. Toughman alumni include Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
; Tommy Morrison
Tommy Morrison
Tommy David Morrison is an American heavyweight boxer and a former World Boxing Organization champion. He lost only three out of a total of 52 professional fights. Morrison's nickname, "The Duke," is based on disputed claims that he is a grandnephew of Hollywood star John Wayne...
; Eric "Butterbean" Esch; and from the fall of 2006, the winner of the "Contender Television Series," the former Lawton, OK Toughman Contest Champion, Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer. Eric "Chicago" Herrholz the 1992 Houston Ship Channel Toughman "Stevedores vs Longshormen" . Also among them is also former Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
State Representative Chris Greeley
Chris Greeley
Christian D. "Chris" Greeley is a former representative in the Maine state legislature. He is a Republican. He represented District 22 in the House of Representatives for four consecutive two-year terms, from 2002 to 2010, at which point he was prohibited from running again by term limits.He is a...
, who fought in 1996, and who also completed his 8th year in the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
in 2010. One special group of celebs are the "fighting Brown family from Tennessee." The only family in Toughman's three decades of shows, to have three sons win championships: Melvin "Lawdawg" Brown, Josh "Downtown" Brown, and little brother, "Bushido" Brown. Father Mel Brown also held a Toughman Contest for soldiers in Iraq.
2005 World Championship Results
Aubrey Bickerstaff (14-0 5 ko's) is the 2005 World Toughman Light-Heavyweight Champion by defeating Ryan Carroll (13-3 9 ko's). Glen Sovich (record unknown) is the 2005 World Toughman Heavyweight Champion by defeating Ray Carpenter (8-2)2006 World Championship Results
Josh"Downtown"Brown (38-3) is the 2006 World Light-Heavyweight Toughman Champion by defeating Mike Tufariello (record unknown) via Unanimous Decision. Lee McGinnis (15-1) is the 2006 World Heavyweight Toughman Champion by defeating Devo Devuono (30-4) via KO in the 2nd round.Lee McGinnis (20-1) is the 2008 World Heavyweight Toughman Champion by defeating Darrell Ellis of Little Rock, AR (record unknown) via Unanimous decision.This is Lee McGinnis second straight World Heavyweight Toughman Championship.