In Black America; Olympic Gold Medal Winner: Frank Tate

Thank you. In Black America, reflections of the Black experience in American society. Well, you know, I train very hard for this fight, you know, I run six miles every day, box six rounds a day and a hundred, two hundred sit-ups a day, so, you know, it had to pay off some of the later, you know, I, you know, because Mike Putcher really record was 1331, it didn't bother me, you know, because all of my amateur career out in Boston, people

like Thomas Harham, Milton McCurray, Duane Thomas, so it wasn't nothing really a new step to me. All the thing was new to me was not when I hit Garne a shirt. On Friday, December 7th, 1984, Olympic gold medal winner Frank Tate made his professional boxing debut with a first round TKO over Mike Putcherelli. Tate was the gold medalist in the 156-pound weight division at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Frank Tate began his boxing career in 1976 at the Crox German Detroit, however, it was not until 1982 that he became a force to be reckoned with on the international boxing scene. I'm John Hansen, and this week, our focus is on Olympic gold medalist Frank Tate in Black America. For the first time in Frank Tate's boxing career, he was the center of attention.

Sure, he had won the gold medal at the Olympics, but most of the attention went to well to wake Mark Breeland and heavyweight Turelle Biggs. Even in his own gym, he was second fiddle to world champions Thomas Harham and Milton McCurray. During Tate's eight-year amateur career, he can powder record of 125 wins to 19 losses. He had two consecutive wins over Canadian Sean O'Sullivan. I spoke with Frank Tate at the Houston Boxing Association's training camp the week of professional debut. I saw all the 76 Olympic games when I was running up and down the street, you know, being with the fellas. So, you know, I decided to box. You know, I saw how a Davis sugary land spings brothers. So, you know, I took a little time out to think, think about it if I really want to do it, you know, at the time of the 11 years old, you know. I was the only little kid on the block, you know, doing the summertime in a hot gym. So, you know, I just stuck with it.

I thought I saw the 76 Olympic team, you know, that was my dream every since then, he left me as all. So, I couldn't let anyone take that dream away from me. So I just stuck by that dream for eight long years and he came true. What type of a commitment did you have to make to yourself to set those goals and make that dream come true? Well, you know, it's basically, you know, going to sleep at the right time, you know, getting a lot of rest, you know, watch what I eat, which now is the problem, and, you know, training hard, you know. It's all right to be with fellas now and then young ladies now and then, but I was dedicated to one thing, and it was boxing, and at the high school, I just stuck. I never worked it down my life, you know, I thank God for that, you know, making this far without working, I just boxed my whole life. What did your friends and family have to say about you making this commitment? Well, you know, it really wasn't up to them, it was up to me, but they was behind me 100%.

Whenever I left town and came back for a fight, you know, we ain't a loss, you know, they told me, Lisa tried it, and that's what counts. In 1982, you became a force in the boxing world, as far as an amateur in international competition. What happened to you before that time from 76 to 82? Well, I was just like a little recreation fighter, you know, I lost my first five fights, you know, I cried, you know, what am I doing wrong, you know, I just tried harder. And the next following year, you know, I started winning the silver glove tournament during Olympics and looking in the national fight, you know, Detroit versus Cleveland or Cincinnati, something like that. You know, I just stuck with and I tried harder, then when I turned over from class, it was kind of hard, you know, I was 16, fine guys, 21, 22, you know, I was just in there trying, you know, I never been knocked out or stopped, and I think half of that too. But I just, you know, I stuck behind, you know, it was something I wanted to do.

What fighters do you admire and try to look at or emulate or try to pick up some of their style to put into your own particular style? Well, right now, I don't admire anyone, you know, I just watch and see the mistakes they make and try not to pick the mistakes up, you know, because the main thing I'm really trying to do for myself is make a name for me, you know, it's only going to be one time of turns, one cigarette laying at one lay at home, you know, they got possibly everything they want, now I'm out to get mine, you know, I'm out there trying to make a living just like they did, you know, I think I can make more than 30 me in it within five years, you know, I just work hard and, you know, I have good people behind me in the HBA and Mr. Albuquerque. You know, I was going to ask you, how did you happen to choose the youth in the boxing association to associate yourself with when turning pro? Well, you know, at home in Detroit, you know, you may have stood which is popular with the crank gym. You know, I have a lot of guys, you know, 15, 16 pros, you know, and mostly all of them is middleweight.

And so I feel, you know, I don't want to be in no one's shadow, you know, no one can ever take the place of time in the crank. So I figured where I had to step on to the sun, that's what I did, you know, I have a life to live in, 20 years old, I have five more years in boxing period, you know, and I'll be through. So I figured I have to get the best out of a possible camp. You mentioned five years old, is that the goal you set for yourself to be monetarily said and try to achieve things you set out to achieve? Well, yes, because I know I'm determined and I know I can do it, you know, I know I can do it. If I give 100%, I can come out on top, just like I did in the Olympic camp, you know, I train harder than anyone else. I think on the Olympic team and it all paid off. So what you do in the gym, I count on the fight, and so I train very hard for this fight Friday night, which kind of against my Puturelli, and I think you're going to be in trouble. Any particular difference in the training, we're going to get to the Olympic training, but being an amateur versus now you're turning pro.

Any different preparation in which you're going through at the present time? Well, you know, you have a lot of drills and professionals, you know, building yourself up strength. You know, man, you know, because you'll be fighting guys 25, 30 years old, and physically and mentally strong. So that's what I have to really prepare myself for. You know, I'm strong at 20 years old, but I feel I can be stronger, you know, going into this first ball, you know, I'll be ready for my Puturelli, you know, I'm ready now, you know. I couldn't wait to get back in the ring since my four, my layout. What type of reaction did you receive once receiving the gold mellow in the 84 summer games? Well, you know, like I said, it was a dream to me when I finally got there, you know, I was like, wow, you know, this was just a dream. I'm finally here, you know, a friend, I built you the people, I don't know how many, but I was there, you know, I was, wow, you know, and I had to bail with that for a couple of days, then each day going, I got used to it, you know, then when it came up to the gold

mellow, I was like, well, this guy's not going to beat me, I'm taking the gold home, not a silver. That's going to add to that. It looked like you were kind of tired in that final match for the gold mellow, and look like it was having some difficulty with those Sullivan, could you tell us about that? It's my analysis, correct? Well, you know, you have to look at this way. All Sullivan has been the toughest fighter in 156 class, I don't know how many years. When I moved out to 56, he was not going to everybody out, you know, and I respect him the first time, that's why I lost to him, you know, but then the second two times, I figured, well, he doesn't weigh more than me or punch harder than me, so it's going to be me or him, you know, and I went out there and I dig down, deep aside, and just went out there and beat him. Was it any particular added preparation that you put yourself through an added commitment in the making Olympic team, and once you made your team, the commitment to win the gold

medal? Well, making an Olympic team was really the hardest, because, you know, you're fighting guys like Dennis Mildredani, I said, them guys know a little bit about you, then when he comes to fighting in Olympic, you know, guys you fought, you never heard of, you know, they don't know how you box, they don't know your style, but when it comes to making Olympic teams for the United States, it's very tough because you have at least 20 to 30 guys in each weight class trying to make that one spot, and that's the USA Olympic team. And so at the trials, you know, it was very tough, you know, I fought, my first fighter fought a guy from here, he, um, Reginald Johnson, my second fighter for Darren Allen, and my third fighter for Ronnie Asset for the championship, which I beat him, then I had to fight him again in Vegas for the box off, for, that's the make the team, you know, and I beat him again the first fight, so then I was on the team. That was really hard because, you know, this guy, he, he know how I fight already, but

we had fought twice, and so that second time made it very hard because we were both trying to make the 84 Olympic team. Can you recount what went through your mind that final day, those first, second and third rounds of that final man with those elements? Well, the first couple of days, you know, the crowd can't get to me, you know, I didn't look like front tape, but going on to the semi-finals and the finals, you know, that's when I really turned it on, and I told the reporters, you know, they haven't seen the best of me yet. You know, when it comes time for that goal, I'll give it all a hundred percent, and the first round, you know, I went out there, and I, I'll box you on a cellar, then a second round, I got kind of careless, in which he, he gave me two stand aid counts, which I think the first one, I really didn't need it, but the second I did, so, you know, I said down on that stool, and I started talking to him, I said, well, I'm not going to let him take that gold medal home, he'd be the first guy that I've ever done in 15, 20 years from Canada, in which I wasn't going to do it on me.

And, you know, that's what I was there for, that was my dream, to come back with Dady for a let me go medal. Now that you've turned pro, are there any particular things you want to do with your life, any type of material things you want to obtain? Well, now I'm on the mission, every kind of world champion, you know, I'll say in the middle weight division, in the middle weight or the super middle weight, I'll say within two years I should be going for a title shot, you know, if not, I still, I'm still young and I'm determined, you know, whenever it comes I'll be ready for it. A lot of colleagues in my profession are saying boxing is a brutal sport. Do you think there's, do you think they're doing everything that could be done and can be done to make boxing safer? Well, I don't, I think they'd probably did everything they could do, now they're preventing the thumbless boxing gloves, you know, and I really don't see it any, really that brutal because, you know, it's, it's a quote on who matched you up to fight, you know, because

you both wear the same much, you wear the same ounce gloves and you're going the same rounds and you both train hard for the one certain fight, so it really, it's not advantage on the guy, it's who, it really boxing to me comes from the mind, you know, whoever makes that first move will win the fight. What type of boxing do you consider yourself? Well, I'm just a boxing, you know, lateral movement, a lot of combinations, you know, you know, when I see the knockout I'll take it, but, you know, I don't go out there and try to knock everybody out, you know, I want to find myself, see if I can go six, eight to ten rounds, you know, I don't want to be on the ground, knocking everybody out, then when it comes to go ten rounds, I cannot do it. I was going to ask you, do you see any difficulty going in the six rounds in your first professional bout? No, I don't see it difficult. I've been boxing six rounds up until this fight, you know, running six miles, boxing six rounds every day. So really, it's not hard because when I was at the crunch gym, you know, boxing, Tommy and Milton McCurry, I've been boxing eight to ten rounds with them.

So it, it should be like a sweep to me, you know, like I said, I don't think it's going to be fun six rounds, but if it have to, I'll be ready for it. Do you have any difficulties making the weights staying middleweight or super middle? Well, right now, you know, because I took that long four month time off and it's kind of catching up with me, but I say within this second fight, you know, my way to be right on the money, you know, I'm still, you know, I'm 20 years old, I'm still growing, you know, so, you know, I just can't kill myself to make weight, you know. If I had to move up and move up, do you look at any videotakes of your opponents before you, the fight is actual, you just try to do the best you can and just going to fight to fight that you know how to fight? Well, to me, you know, hard as I train, you know, I take them as they come, you know, because tapes really don't do anything to me, but, you know, if I look at this tape and put my mind on this tape, and this guy comes and fight me a different way, my mind will be set on the way I've watched that tape and I'll be blown to fight.

So I'll take it as it comes. You said you began boxing around 11 years old, do you regret missing some of your teenage years? Well, no, you know, I've been practically almost across the world, you know, places I've ever dreamed of being or seeing, you know, and that has been a good experience, you know, it taught me discipline, you know, when I go to other countries, you know, and find that, find out, learn a little bit about their customers. So, you know, boxing really, to me, has been a great sport, you know, I've never been knocked out in a cut, so I'm just enjoying myself right now, but it's getting more serious now because it's a business. Having traveled extensively as you have, you find difference in the boxers here in America versus European boxes or Asian boxes? Well, yes, the European boxes, they just come straight forward, you know, basically strong guys don't know any basic moves, they're just strong and coming forward just for knock out, you know.

And that's where, when you're fighting for the USA team, you know, you have a lot of young guys, you know, when they're fighting against Cuba, you know, Cuba is number one team in amateur boxing, and it's hard for them to beat them guys because that's a job for them to get paid to do that, and they're just like pros fighting the amateur. So, you know, they basically come at you, you know, you don't know which way they're going to shoot a shot from and bam, you know, the guys is out, right? So, Cuba is very tough team though, I fought it once and fought Russian once, beating both. Did you return back to Detroit after winning the gold mellow, and what type of response at the city give you once returning? Well, when I got back, we had a lot of people at the airport for number one, then a couple of days later we had a big parade, and the mayor gave us a key to the city. You know, awards, and right now I'm still at home, my brother said I'm still getting awards, I don't know what for, but he received them for me.

So, you know, it's been all right, what's in the immediate future for Frank Tate? Well, like I said, these five years, I put it this way, God bless me within these five years, I'm satisfied with professional boxing, you know, I have a year of college in the county, so, you know, I can always go back to that, so, you know, I'm looking forward to these five years, you know, a year before I retire, I'm getting married, so, you know, I had to do the best I can, continue to assess, and good luck, and I want to make that mission true, you know, like I made my dream, I can also make that mission true, become a world champion. And I don't know what weak class, but I'm going to try hard, you know, that's all I can do is try. How do you feel, Dave before, well, the morning before your first professional boxing? Well, I feel good, you know, very confident, you know, looking forward to this fight tonight at 9 o' 10 o'clock, whenever, I'm ready.

Have the preparation been good, have you tried to accomplish everything you want to accomplish doing this preparation period? Yeah, I have accomplished it, you know, I've been running six miles a day by six miles a day, so, you know, I don't see nothing going on. Anything special you're going to do to see even against your opponent? Well, not really, I'm just going to be Frank Tate, and do what I do best, and that's boxing when you're in. Anything that particularly you want to come out of this fight besides being victorious? Well, I want to show the look, you know, and everybody else is looking victorious, that's on the HVA Boston team, so I think it'll be a very good show. Good luck tonight. Thank you. Jesse, how has Frank's preparation been for us, first professional bow? Oh, he's worked real hard, he's, I'm real proud of Frank, he's worked hard for this fight. Are you looking at anything that besides being victorious from this fight, what are you looking at to try to improve on some of Frank's technique, anything you're particularly looking at or want him working on this first professional bow?

Well, really, what I'm looking for is I've worked a little bit on Frank's angles, and I want to see that when he comes out of clenches or out of exchanges, that he pulls in a lower angle or to the side, and I'll be looking for that. But as far as his style or his assortment of punches, Frank had good fundamentals when he started, so I'm just mainly looking at the angles, if he's going to use the angles in this fight. Are there any parts of his game you think he might have trouble with this evening fighting? Well, he's got one bad habit, like when he comes out of clenches, he might pull his head up in the air in a bad position. I'm going to be looking for that because I don't want him to do that, and that's about the main thing that I think that we're working on right now, is the position of his head when he comes out of clenches. What would the schedule be like to rest today once he leaves this way here? Well, mainly to rest and eat the proper foods and not overeat and not drink too much liquids, and I think that Percy and myself will be watching him real close and he does follow the eating diet. I also spoke with Jesse Reed, Frank Tate's manager, Reed is the 12-year veteran of the fight

game. I think he's basically a counter-puncher, and he works a lot off his left hand. I'm trying to not change his style, but to add to it a little bit. I think he poses a little too much in front of the guys. I think he's got to be a little busier with his hands. I think that comes with experience. In your opinion, does he have the potential to be a champion? He definitely has the championship material. He's got quick hands, he's got good punching power, he's got very good fundamental punches as far as the body of the head, he's got a good assortment of punches. He has to learn what I call the inches of boxing. He's got to learn how to use his forms, how to pull in different angles, and have confidence to pull down and counter with uppercuts. He's more men than like most amateurs use their speed and get their punches off quick and then pull straight back. I'm just trying to add a little different to a different stuff to a style. I was going to ask you, what is the adjustments amateur boxers have to make when they go from amateur to pro?

Well, I think it's made... Took me in this case. In this case, it's more learning to relax with the rounds and let the momentum build up, not so much just go out and burn for three rounds. He's got to learn to pace himself, but he has to be busy when he's pacing himself because he's got the good hand speed, and if he doesn't use his hand speed, he'll give the other guy a chance to keep him on a back step. And so I think it's mainly learning how to relax and to be able to be busy with his hands. With the addition of frantic to the youth and boxing association roster, what does that do to the program here in Houston? Well, it's a big uplift for the program because naturally, winning a gold medal, you have the public's eye, and I think he's a type, he's a young fighter that wants to get recognition for himself, and I really think he's going to help the program a lot. A lot of them said about the sport of boxing, what has been done medically to make the game more safer? Well, I think Josephine Abercrombie has the right approach to boxing. She's doing it more like a professional sport, like football or basketball.

She's got a medical program for the kids. If they get injured, they're insured and get a monthly salary. It takes away a little bit mentally, I think, if the kids aren't adjusted to it where they lose the killer instinct, they think everything is like given to them. And that's an argument in both sides, but I do think it's going to help boxing. I think athletes should have a retirement program, they should have a medical program, and this is the things that Josephine's trying to put into the program, and she's doing a good job with it. Frank said he has a five-year goal of winning a championship, making a little money and getting married. Are these goals uncomfortable, in your opinion, at his stage and professional boxing, which we'll see you just coming Friday? Does he have the tools to make those goals in five years? He definitely has the tools to be a champion. If he stays hungry and works hard and doesn't get lazy, I'm sure he'll be there. Fighters, when they're given a lot of things, or everybody making a big fuss over them,

a lot of times they lose their values and they change their attitudes. I feel that Frank has been a kid that has been brought up well by his father. And I think that he's hungry enough, and I really think he wants recognition for himself, and I think it's going to carry him through. How long have you been involved in this particular game, Jesse? Well, I've actually been involved boxing and training and managing probably 16 years, and I've had four world champions in my management and training days, and I've had nine world rated fighters, and then I fought for five years as a professional myself, and on the amateurs I was two years in the amateurs. What, out of different changes you've seen over the years, you've been directly involved in the game? Well, I think there's more safety factors involved in boxing now. I think they're trying to watch the thumming in the eyes of talking about thumbless gloves. I don't particularly think that's a good idea, but I think the glove attached to the thumb attached to the glove is a very good idea, and I think all fighters should have some kind

of protection. I also have heard talk about putting headgears on fighters. It wouldn't stop from getting knocked out, but it would stop a lot of the serious cuts and things that hurt fighters, and Josephine has started a program where they have brain scans twice a year to check their, make sure they don't have pressure on the brain or any damage to the head, and most of your commissions in a different big states have had if a kid gets knocked out has to have a brain scan. The only difference is they put the expense on the fighter, and a lot of these kids don't have the money to pay a thing like that. So I think it should be run by the state, the athletic commission that's here and there, but that's the way I feel it should be run. And Mrs. Abbacromy does pay the cost of the brain scans. In your opinion, what are the difference between amateur and professional as far as the preparation for the particular battles, particularly this coming Friday battle with Frank Tate's first professional battle? Well, like that much difference in preparation?

Yes, there is. I think it's more learning to work a little harder in a longer period of time, also learning when to taper. Amateurs work for speed, they work for strong conditioning and for strength, and they do this in everything like a wind sprints, they might run maybe 10 real fast wind sprints, they might only run two miles for road work. They work maybe 30 second drills on the heavy bags for speed and power and conditioning, where a pro learns to pace, learns to change rhythm, a punch, learns to be more mentally relaxed, to go longer distances, and also learns to explode when he has to. It's like a guy learning how to run a long distance and a short distance all in one. That's what a pro has to learn to do. And that's the big difference in amateur and professional, it's learning to pace. Jesse Reed, Frank Tate's manager. On December 7th, 1984, Frank Tate won his first professional bout with a first round TKO over Mike Poocharelli.

Mike Poocharelli was very short, and I have long arms and very good height, so I took the advantage of that. I stuck, kept the jab in his face so I wouldn't give him a chance to throw any shots and I kept him busy. I'm more of a better pace because I'm going six rounds now, three rounds, you have to give it all you got for three minutes, he's round. Now I can pace myself on six rounds, so it's totally different. What are your plans after your first successful victory? Well, right now I just rest up and think about later what I'm going to do when I fight again. If it's not with a disappointment, I know you want to be victorious, but in the first round you can get a chance to work on some of the things I'm quite sure you and Jesse want to work on it in the first bout. Well, I train very hard for this fight, like I said, it didn't matter to me how it went. You know, I went in there and did what I do best and that's boxing, you know, and I seen the opening, I took the opening and there it was. How do you feel? I feel wonderful. Is this a step in your goal?

Yeah, this is a step, very big step, you know, he had a good record. Let me just say again, while we're waiting here a minute, be sure that you've turned all your paperwork in to Mr. Britton and had your pictures taken if you need a license and be sure you have that medical form filled out and ready for the doctor when he gets here to think about 10 or 15 minutes to do all this in. Britton, what's the contract weight on that one, Tate, what's your rally, what's that? 61. 65. Contract 165. Frank Tate. Okay. Tate 163 and a half. Frank Tate, Olympic gold medal winner, now a professional boxer.

If you have a comment of a like to purchase, they could set copy of this program, write it as the address is in Black America, Longhorn Radio Network, UT Austin, Austin, Texas, 7-8-7-1-2. For in Black America's technical producer, David Alvarez, I'm John Hanson, join us next week. You've been listening to in Black America, Reflections of the Black Experience in American Society. In Black America is produced and distributed by the Center for Telecommunication Services at UT Austin and does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Texas at Austin or the station. This is the Longhorn Radio Network.