Tillman Gives Comeback a Lift With Knockout
Henry Tillman, the 1984 Olympic heavyweight champion whose pro career plummeted nearly as quickly as his amateur career had ascended, knocked out former Mexican heavyweight champion Gerardo Valero of Tijuana just 1 minute 7 seconds into the second round of a scheduled 10-round bout Tuesday night at the Country Club in Reseda.
Tillman, who won the North American Boxing Federation championship in 1986 in just his 10th pro fight, lost to Bert Cooper later that year and then was crushed by former Olympic team roommate Evander Holyfield in 1987.
He later lost to Canadian Doug de Wit--the man he defeated in the Olympic final--and also lost to little-known Duane Bonds.
He stayed out of the ring for a year and a half before launching a comeback last December in Florida.
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