By Bob Ryder
Sad to report former middleweight contender of the 1980’s, Dwight “Dynamite” Davison has passed here in his hometown of Detroit.
Davison ran his record to 28-0 before suffering his first loss to Robbie Epps on the undercard of the Larry Holmes-Trevor Berbick fight in Las Vegas. Davison recovered to score several wins and gained a title eliminator fight with Tony Sibson. Sibson won the match and earned the right to challenge Marvin Hagler.
Davison never came close to securing another chance at the title despite scoring an important stoppage of future world champion Lindell Holmes. By the second half of the 1980’s Davison began to fade, losing 6 of his last 13 fights to finish out his career at (44-8, 33 KOs). In addition to his win over Holmes, Davison beat Murray Sutherland, Willie Monroe, Sugar Ray Seales, Curtis Parker and Wilfred Scypion.
He was never stopped or knocked out. Davison was a month shy of his 65th birthday at the time of his passing.
Another very good fighter from the not too distant past. I would not have expected Bump City or DD to pass at such young ages.
RIP champ.
Just hearing about my homeboy passing, I stay down the street from Dwight use to eat over at his house was a groomsmen in his wedding going to miss my homie, I also boxed with my brother rest in peace dyno.
rest easy DD
Wow, two fighters from the same era gone within days of each other. He and Bumphus gone too soon. Davison was one of many geat fighters from the Kronk stable. I thought he held the Junior Middleweight belt at one time? One of the cool things about the Kronk Gym was that all the fighters that came out of there were from Detroit, they didn’t move there to seek out Manny Steward like fighters do today to train with Freddy Roach, Virgil Hunter, Buddy MgGirt etc. Kronk had the home grown talent. Rest easy Mr. Davison
You are correct. For the most part, a Kronk fighter was crafted by Steward and his able staff for amateur and pro success.
Interest here not the same as the days when Steward was training the greats like Hearns.
I remember watching his fights as a young teen, dynamite puncher.
RIP champ!
Humble and exciting fighter. May he Rest In Peace and may God comfort his family and loved ones…
Hagler and hearns was great
But arturo and mickey were
The best i’ve ever seen.
Two great fighters
Johnny Bumphus and now Dwight Davidson RIP Champs
So many good fighters who were groomed at Kronk during the 80’ & 90’s but this is a few Alvin Too Sweet Hayes, Hurley Snead, Milton McCrory, The late Steve Blues man McCrory, Frank Tate, Thomas Tate, Caveman Lee, Anthony Baby Jones, Arthell Bam Lawhorn, Mickey Goodwin, the late Dejuan Johnson, the late Gary Notorious Ice Martin, all Michigan fighters to name a few
Hilmer Kenty was the first world champ Kronk produced and Tony Tucker came out of there as well. Steward also trained Marc Breland and The Body Snatcher, but they both came over from Brooklyn. I think Steward trained Gerald McClellan as an amateur and early in his pro career as well. Of course later on Steward became the elite trainer for hire.
Mark Breland wasn’t really trained in Detroit he just came and boxed. Helmer is originally from Ohio as a amateur also but won his belt at Kronk professionally. Gerald is from Illinois but fought most of his pro career at Kronk. Mike McCallum was already a seasoned vet when he joined Kronk in fact beat two Detroit fighters in David Braxton and Milton McCrory whom he both stopped. The same can be said for Eddie Mustafa Muhammad who fought a few fights at Kronk and Leon Spink at the tell end of his career.
Great knowledge! I thought for sure Kenty was from Detroit, but yes, he grew up in Columbus, Ohio. A few years back he was still living in Detroit and working as a janitor for the Detroit school district.
Yes I was in the gym with those guys at kronk back in the early 80″ s Dwight took me under his wing for a minute going to miss my homie played chess together was one of his groomsmen in his wedding rest in peace my brother.
Very sad newshe will be missed,be he is home now
Eric Joshua, you are right man but you forgot Kronks 1980’s former jr middleweight champion Duane Thomas who was murdered and former Kronk amateur standout and Holyfield rival Ricky Womack who sadly took his own life. Just sad. Rest In Peace May God be with the families..
Visited the Kronk gym at its new location in the basement of a red brick church building 2 years ago. Lady at the front door the gym mom was nice enough to let me watch the pros spar and workout. Saw Joseph Bonas. 26 years old and a former multiple national golden gloves champ. Only 7 fights though. I guess he just inked a contract. If he would dump his street thug attitude and become disciplined he would go somewhere.
So sad to hear this news! He was a very talented Fighter. RIP
He was a solid pro ,and fought some good fighters, I remember his fight with sibson…r.i.p
Was friends back in the day. Gods Speed RIP…..!