Shawn O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Shawn O'Sullivan (born May 9, 1962 in Toronto
, Ontario
) is a retired Canadian boxer
who won gold at the World Amateur Championships in 1981 and the light middleweight silver medal
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
.
.
were both favored to win the gold medals in their classes: de Wit as a heavyweight and O'Sullivan as a light middleweight.
In the gold medal bout with Frank Tate, O’Sullivan took Tate to two standing-eight-counts in the second round (and nearly a third as the round ended), but the judges unanimously gave the decision to Tate. O'Sullivan dominated the second round; however, four of the judges (Keith Walker
of New Zealand
, Han Dong Jin of South Korea
, Noureddine Addala of Tunisia
and Muili Ojo of Nigeria
) gave Tate the round by the slim margin of 20-19.
Tate was booed when the gold medal was draped around his neck. Tate had won in a 5-0 decision and even his coach, Emanuel Steward
, admitted O'Sullivan may have won. O'Sullivan, who also had benefited from a controversial decision earlier in the tournament against Christophe Tiozzo
, was gracious in defeat and called the outcome "unfortunate".
His results were:
by TKO in the 3rd in 1986 in Toronto's Exhibition Place. O'Sullivan injured his right hand in the first round (he later underwent surgery to repair torn knuckle joints).
O'Sullivan quit boxing in 1988 after consecutive defeats to Luis Santana and Donovan Boucher, but launched a pair of short-lived comebacks in 1991 and 1996. He retired in 1997 with a record of 23-5-0, with 16 knockouts.
Since retiring from boxing, he has been diagnosed with brain damage, as a cumulative result of blows to the head during his boxing career. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/torch-run/Former+Olympic+boxer+Shawn+Sullivan+thrilled+carry+torch/2545887/story.html During an interview, he said that he suffers from boxer's dementia, commonly known as "punch drunk" syndrome. On February 10, 2010, O'Sullivan carried the 2010 Olympic torch on a stretch through Vancouver. He is currently living in Belleville, Ontario
where he can be seen walking his dog (a boxer) and offering a friendly greeting to fellow dog walkers.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a retired Canadian boxer
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...
who won gold at the World Amateur Championships in 1981 and the light middleweight silver medal
Olympic medalists in boxing
This is the complete list of Olympic medalists in boxing from 1904 to 2008.-Light flyweight:*1968 - : up to 48 kg.-Flyweight:*1904: up to 105 lb *1920-1936: up to 112 lb *1948-1964: up to 51 kg...
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
.
Background
O'Sullivan first learned boxing under his father, Michael, a Toronto bus driver. His next teacher was Peter Wylie a member of the Toronto police department - a specialist in defusing bombs. He trained at a warehouse in CabbagetownCabbagetown
There are two neighborhoods named Cabbagetown:*Cabbagetown , Canada*Cabbagetown , USA*Cabbagetown , a novel by Hugh Garner about Cabbagetown in Toronto and the Spanish Civil War...
.
Olympics and controversy
Leading up the 1984 Olympics, O'Sullivan and fellow Canadian Willie de WitWillie de Wit
William Theodore "Willie" de Wit is a Canadian lawyer and retired professional Canadian boxer. De Wit fought for Canada and won the Heavyweight silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics...
were both favored to win the gold medals in their classes: de Wit as a heavyweight and O'Sullivan as a light middleweight.
In the gold medal bout with Frank Tate, O’Sullivan took Tate to two standing-eight-counts in the second round (and nearly a third as the round ended), but the judges unanimously gave the decision to Tate. O'Sullivan dominated the second round; however, four of the judges (Keith Walker
Keith Walker
Keith Walker is an American professional wrestler who competes in North American and international promotions including Ring of Honor, Harley Race's World League Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah....
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Han Dong Jin of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Noureddine Addala of Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and Muili Ojo of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
) gave Tate the round by the slim margin of 20-19.
Tate was booed when the gold medal was draped around his neck. Tate had won in a 5-0 decision and even his coach, Emanuel Steward
Emanuel Steward
Emanuel Steward is an American boxing trainer, commentator and inductee of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.-Life and career:...
, admitted O'Sullivan may have won. O'Sullivan, who also had benefited from a controversial decision earlier in the tournament against Christophe Tiozzo
Christophe Tiozzo
Christophe Tiozzo was a French boxer, who won a Light Middleweight Bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics...
, was gracious in defeat and called the outcome "unfortunate".
His results were:
- 1st round bye
- Defeated Mohamed Halibi (Libya) RSC 2
- Defeated Ahn Dal-Ho (South Korea) RSC 1
- Defeated Rod Douglas (Great Britain) 5-0
- Defeated Christophe TiozzoChristophe TiozzoChristophe Tiozzo was a French boxer, who won a Light Middleweight Bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics...
(France) 5-0 - Lost to Frank TateFrank Tate (boxer)Frank Tate was an American boxer.-Amateur career:Tate was the 1983 National Golden Gloves light middleweight champion. Even though he was down two times during the final bout he controversially won the Light Middleweight Gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics vs Canadian Boxer Shawn O'Sullivan...
(United States) 0-5
Pro career
O'Sullivan began his professional career that same year and won his first 11 bouts in the welterweight division. He lost in his 12th fight to future titleist Simon BrownSimon Brown (boxer)
Simon Brown is a former professional boxer. Known as "Mantequilla", a name given to him by his famous trainer Jose 'Pepe' Correa, Brown was an welterweight fighter who held titles at multiple weight classes and at one point was considered one of the best pound for pound fighters in boxing.Brown...
by TKO in the 3rd in 1986 in Toronto's Exhibition Place. O'Sullivan injured his right hand in the first round (he later underwent surgery to repair torn knuckle joints).
O'Sullivan quit boxing in 1988 after consecutive defeats to Luis Santana and Donovan Boucher, but launched a pair of short-lived comebacks in 1991 and 1996. He retired in 1997 with a record of 23-5-0, with 16 knockouts.
Life after boxing
In May, 2007, O'Sullivan's apartment was broken into and the thieves made off with nine rings. They included: a world championship ring with a diamond signifying a second title — he won in both 1981 and 1983; rings from the Commonwealth Games; one from his high school, St. Mike’s, in Toronto; a Canadian championship ring; a cheap childhood ring bearing his initials, S.O.S.; and a claddagh ring, bearing an Irish symbol of two hands clutching a heart topped with a crown.Since retiring from boxing, he has been diagnosed with brain damage, as a cumulative result of blows to the head during his boxing career. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/torch-run/Former+Olympic+boxer+Shawn+Sullivan+thrilled+carry+torch/2545887/story.html During an interview, he said that he suffers from boxer's dementia, commonly known as "punch drunk" syndrome. On February 10, 2010, O'Sullivan carried the 2010 Olympic torch on a stretch through Vancouver. He is currently living in Belleville, Ontario
Belleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
where he can be seen walking his dog (a boxer) and offering a friendly greeting to fellow dog walkers.