Greg Page American boxer Date of Birth: 25.10.1958 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Amateur Career
2. Professional Debut and USBA Title
3. WBC Championship Challenge and WBA Title
4. Tyson's Sparring Partner and Retirement
5. Tragedy and Lawsuit
6. Legacy and Death

Early Life and Amateur Career

Born on October 25, 1958, in Louisville, Kentucky, Greg Page began boxing at age 15 under the guidance of Leroy Emerson. He gained attention for his resilience against Muhammad Ali in a sparring session. In 1976, Page defeated Igor Vysotsky at the USA-USSR Amateur Heavyweight Championships, who had previously beaten Teofilo Stevenson twice. He became the National AAU Heavyweight Champion in 1977, retaining the title and winning the National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championship in 1978. Page ended his amateur career with a record of 94 wins and 11 losses.

Professional Debut and USBA Title

Turning professional in February 1979, Page started with 13 consecutive wins, 12 by knockout. In February 1981, he claimed the USBA Heavyweight Championship with a victory over Stan Ward, which he successfully defended against Jimmy Young in May 1982. His first professional loss came against Trevor Berbick the following month, after fighting with a broken thumb. Page regained the USBA title by defeating Renaldo Snipes in 1983.

WBC Championship Challenge and WBA Title

One of Page's career highlights was his WBC Heavyweight Championship fight against Tim Witherspoon in March 1984. Witherspoon lost after 12 rounds, prompting Page to fire Leroy Emerson and hire Janks Morton as his new trainer. After defeating Gerrie Coetzee, Page captured the WBA Heavyweight Championship but lost it to Tony Tubbs on April 29, 1985. Compounding this loss, Page's hotel room was robbed, costing him his championship belt and a $13,000 watch. Experts consider this a turning point in his career.

Tyson's Sparring Partner and Retirement

Throughout the late 1980s, Page served as a regular sparring partner for heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. He retired in 1993 and briefly coached young boxers, but found it unfulfilling. Returning to the ring in 1996 despite a lack of success, Page fought primarily for financial reasons, especially after declaring bankruptcy in 1998. For the first time, he worked a 9-to-5 job in the early 2000s.

Tragedy and Lawsuit

On March 9, 2001, Page suffered a devastating blow to the chin against Dale Crowe. Amidst chaos and inadequate medical care, he sustained a massive brain hemorrhage and stroke, leaving him paralyzed on the left side of his body for the rest of his life. Page filed a lawsuit against the state of Kentucky in 2007, later settled out of court.

Legacy and Death

Greg Page passed away on April 27, 2009, at his home in Louisville. Throughout his career, he faced 76 opponents, winning 58 fights (48 by knockout), losing 17, and drawing once. He defeated notable boxers such as Jimmy Young, James Tillis, Tim Witherspoon, and Gerrie Coetzee. Page's legacy as a skilled boxer and his tragic post-fighting years serve as a reminder of the challenges and consequences of professional fighting.