Duane Bobick

Duane David Bobick (born August 24, 1950) is an American former boxer. As an amateur, Bobick won the gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games and fought at the 1972 Olympics. He then turned professional in 1973 and retired in 1979 with a record of 48 wins (42 by knockout) and four losses, all by knockout. He scored notable wins over future heavyweight champion Mike Weaver and contenders Chuck Wepner, Scott LeDoux, Randy Neumann and Manuel Ramos. From 1973 to 1977, he compiled a record of 38–0 with 32 knockouts which made him the number 3 contender in the division before he was defeated by number 1 contender Ken Norton by a TKO in the first round after 58 seconds of fighting.

Amateur career Bobick was part of a boxing family and grew up with the sport in the 1960s. A good puncher who developed well early by virtue of countless hours in the gym and ring, Bobick had an outstanding amateur career that included a win over Teófilo Stevenson at the 1971 Pan American Games. Bobick added another future champion to his list when he beat Larry Holmes to be named to the 1972 U.S. Olympic boxing team. But lurking on Bobick's amateur record were two devastating second-round one-punch knockout losses at the hands of future heavyweight contender Ron Lyle. The first time, Lyle dispatched of him at the national AAU quarterfinals. The second time, fighting for a spot on the national team, Bobick was dropped with a straight right at 30 seconds of the second round, and was unconscious in the ring for over five minutes.

While being an amateur Bobick served as a quartermaster in the U.S. Navy. He was a three-time Navy Heavyweight Champion, two-time All-Service Heavyweight Champion and two-time International Military champion. By that time he had a record of 93 wins (60 by KO) and 10 losses.

Highlights All-Navy Championships, Mare Island, California, April 1971: Finals: Defeated Rick Harris KO 2 Inter-service Championships, Mare Island, California, April 1971: 1/2: Defeated Kenneth Hassan KO 1 Finals: Defeated Louis Slaughter by decision National Championships, New Orleans, Louisiana, April–May 1971: 1/16: Defeated William Anderson KO 2 1/8: Defeated Michael Weaver KO 1 1/4: Defeated Don Nelson KO 1 1/2: Defeated Fred Houpe KO 2 Finals: Defeated Ronald Draper by decision 1971 Pan-American Games Heavyweight champion

1972 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion

Pro career

Bobick trained hard to start his pro career, which did not begin until the spring of 1973. He trained with and was managed by heavyweight legend Joe Frazier. Bobick's first match was against Tommy Burns. He sent Burns to the canvas four times on his way to a first-round KO. Bobick had 14 other fights in 1973, winning them all by KO, including a win over former contender Manuel Ramos. Bobick won his first 19 fights by knockout.

Loss

RTD 6

Loss

KO 1 1979-02-17

Win

KO 2 1978-12-23 Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.

Win

TKO 3 1978-12-05

Win

TKO 7 1978-11-30

Win

TKO 5 1978-10-31

Win

KO 1 1978-10-09

Win

KO 3 1978-08-30

Win

KO 2 1978-08-16

Win

TKO 8 1978-03-20

Loss

KO 3 1978-02-04

Win

KO 3 1977-11-30

Win

TKO 8 1977-07-28

Loss

TKO 1 1977-05-11

Win

UD 10 1976-10-30

Win

TKO 6 1976-10-02

Win

TKO 8 1976-05-24

Win

UD 10 1976-04-22

Win

UD 10 1976-02-06

Win

TKO 4 1975-12-12

Win

RTD 4 1975-11-13

Win

KO 2 1975-10-21

Win

KO 8 1975-08-26

Win

KO 3 1975-06-25

Win

TKO 2 1975-05-31

Win

UD 10 1975-04-23

Win

KO 2 1975-04-04

Win

TKO 2 1974-08-10

Win

TKO 7 1974-07-26

Win

TKO 1 1974-07-16

Win

KO 3 1974-06-22

Win

UD 10 1974-04-22

Win

UD 10 1974-04-06

Win

TKO 2 1974-03-20

Win

KO 3 1974-02-19

Win

TKO 2 1974-02-05

Win

KO 2 1974-01-25

Win

KO 2 1973-12-06

Win

TKO 2 1973-11-24

Win

KO 5 1973-10-30

Win

KO 2 1973-10-16

Win

KO 4 1973-09-25

Win

TKO 7 1973-09-15

Win

KO 2 1973-08-22

Win

TKO 3 1973-08-15

Win

KO 3 1973-08-08 Binghamton Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Binghamton, New York, U.S.

Win

KO 1 1973-07-06

Win

TKO 2 1973-06-15

Win

TKO 2 1973-05-31

Win

KO 5 1973-05-12

Win

TKO 3 1973-04-21

Win

KO 1 1973-04-10

Life after boxing Bobick returned to Minnesota and took heavy industry work before a machine accident nearly killed him in 1997. Both his arms were caught and crushed between huge paper rolls being rotated in a paper mill. He narrowly avoided amputation after a complex surgery to re-attach muscles and tendons and repair skin and bone damage. After this, he went into coaching and public speaking, using his celebrity to try to encourage and help others. In November 2006, he was elected as a city councilman.

Personal life Bobick's younger brother Rodney Bobick was also a heavyweight boxer. He died in a single car crash in 1977.

After his retirement, Bobick worked as a travel agent in Ventnor, New Jersey. He suffers from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (also known as dementia pugilistica). Originally diagnosed in 1997 after his arm injury, his progressive decline has been noteworthy in recent years. He was quoted in 2011 by the Morrison County Record saying "I'm not sure I would have gone into boxing back then if I would have known all the effects of head trauma that I know today, but I don't regret the experience, intense training and discipline I learned from the sport."