unconscious. Tate was in the frame to challenge Larry Holmes for the heavyweight title in 1984, but the fight fell apart due to injury. Tate boxed on and off for the remainder of the 1980s but was often grossly overweight. He weighed in at an astonishing prior to losing a points decision to journeyman Noel Quarless in London, in his final fight in 1988. Tate's professional career record was 34-3, with 23 wins by knockout. Unsanctioned Bouts John Tate took part in three unsanctioned bouts, all of which took place in Beaconsfield, California in 1994. Tate won the first two by KO, which included Marvin Camel before losing the final one against the exciting British heavyweight David Pearce who defeated him by a third round knockout. Outside the ring Tate's life after his championship reign was brief and troubled, suffering from a cocaine addiction during the 1980s, being convicted on petty theft and assault charges, serving time in prison, and at times panhandling on the streets of Knoxville, Tennessee. He was rumored to have ballooned to over in his post-fighting years. Death On April 9, 1998, Tate died of injuries sustained following a one-car automobile accident. It was determined that he suffered a massive stroke, caused by a brain tumor, while driving. The pickup truck crashed into a utility pole. Two other passengers were not seriously injured. Professional boxing record References External links 1955 births 1998 deaths Boxers from Arkansas Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in boxing Boxers at the 1976 Summer Olympics World heavyweight boxing champions World Boxing Association champions People from Marion, Arkansas Sportspeople from Knoxville, Tennessee Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics Road incident deaths in Tennessee American male boxers