Charles Mooney was a silver medalist on the 1976 U.S. Olympic team and also served as a trainer for the 1984 Olympic team after retiring after 22 years of U.S. Army service with SFC.
He agreed to talk about the 1984 team.
Super heavyweight gold medalist Tyrell Biggs defeated future professional world champions Lennox Lewis of Britain and Francesco Damiani of Italy.
Charles: A special guy. Muhammad Ali style.
Both Lewis and Damiani became world champions. Biggs won his first 15 bouts, including victories over Leonard Snipes, James “Quick” Tillis, and David Bay. Biggs then faced his nemesis “Iron” Mike Tyson, was stopped in his next bout by Damiani, and was then stopped by Lewis. The fight ended with a record of 30 wins and 10 losses.
Heavyweight gold medalist Henry Tillman defeated the Canadian boxer who had twice defeated Mike Tyson during the trials to qualify for the national team.
Charles: Great athlete and a dynamite fighter.
Tillman won his first ten fights, including the NABF title, before losing to “Smokin'” Bert Cooper, then losses to Holyfield and Tyson to finish with a record of 25 wins and 6 losses.
Light heavyweight bronze medalist Evander Holyfield lost by DQ to New Zealand's Kevin Barry, who lost by W/O in the final and was unable to turn pro.
Charles: I saw the strength in Holyfield. He was a great person and boxer. The DQ looked suspiciously lost because of the hits he took at the break.
The “real” Holyfield won world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Middleweight silver medalist Virgil Hill lost to a South Korean boxer.
Charles: A great warrior.
“Quick Silver” Hill won world titles at lightweight, heavyweight and cruiserweight with a record of 51-7.
Light welterweight gold medalist Jerry Page defeated a Thai boxer.
Charles: A great boxer. Quiet and reserved.
Although Page won the gold medal, he finished with an 11-4 record as a professional.
Lightweight gold medalist Pernell Whittaker defeated the Puerto Rican boxer.
Charles: Another great fighter. Born with the talent.
“Sweet Pea” went on to win four World Division titles, losing three of his final four bouts with a record of 40-4-1.
Featherweight gold medalist Meldrick Taylor defeated the Nigerian boxer.
Charles: Yeah, just like another “Sugar” Ray Leonard. The Chavez fight ruined him.
Taylor won world titles at light welterweight and welterweight, finishing with a record of 38 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw.
Bantamweight Robert Shannon lost to a South Korean fighter in the third round.
Charles: Sharp guy. Shannon will end up with 18 wins, 6 losses and 2 ties.
Flyweight gold medalist Steve McCrory defeated a Yugoslavian boxer.
Charles: He's a smart guy, he can box, he can move, he's a lot like Willie Pep.
“The Blues Man” lost the world title bout, leaving his record at 30 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw.
Light flyweight gold medalist Paul Gonzalez defeated the Italian boxer.
Charles: It was a tough class he was in. He held his own.
Gonzalez won the Val Barker Award as the best boxer at the Olympics, and as a professional he won the NABF, WBA Continental Americas and WBA Intercontinental titles, but lost out in a world title bid, finishing with a record of 16 wins and 4 losses.
Mooney was an Army recruiter who ran the Charles M. Mooney Academy, an instructor at the Reserve Officer Training Course, and lives in West Palm Beach, Fla. “Willie Pep asked me to turn pro, but I was in the Army at the time, and there was not much money to be made at that rank then.
