Mark Anthony Breland (born May 11, 1963) is an American boxing trainer. As an amateur, he was a Gold Medal winner at the 1984 Summer Olympics, with a 110-1 record as an amateur and is regarded among the greatest amateur fighters ever. He competed as a professional from 1984 to 1997, and held the WBA welterweight title twice between 1987 and 1990. He later became an actor with a wide range of movie and television credits, having made his debut in The Lords of Discipline, and also appeared in the music video for The Pointer Sisters' 1985 hit single, "Dare Me."
Breland was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began fighting when he was 7 years old, taking on challengers in the lobby and hallways of the housing project where he lived. At 9 years old, he earned a spot on Muhammad Ali’s youth boxing camp at his Deer Lake, New York, training camp. At 13 he entered the gym and embraced boxing as a way of life.[2] He won five New York Golden Gloves titles (1980–84) with a record of 21–0 (19 KO's), with 14 knockouts coming in the 1st round, surpassing Sugar Ray Robinson for the most wins in the history of the Golden Gloves. Breland is notably the only amateur boxer to have ever been featured on the cover of Ring magazine, and the only amateur whose picture hangs in Colorado Springs U.S. Olympic Training Center.[as of?] The Smithsonian Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington, DC displays an honorary picture of Mark Breland & his coveted 1984 Olympic team in recognition of their achievements.[as of?]
At age 18 in 1981 Breland was already being offered huge sums up to $300,000 by boxing promoters to sign a professional contract. Still, he turned them down, partly in anticipation of participating in the 1984 Olympics (and the exposure the Games would bring), and in part scorn: "It's not 'cause I need the money. It's 'cause they need the money. Hey, I can get hurt." Breland always sought to take the fight game on his terms; even then he planned to leave the ring before turning 30.[2]
Breland compiled an impressive amateur ring record of 110–1 (with 73 knockouts).[3] His single loss, to Darryl Anthony[citation needed] was even by a 3rd round TKO over Anthony as a professional in a scheduled 10 round bout.[citation needed] Plus one unaccounted loss by medical disqualification,[4] due to withdrawal because of toxic poisoning, which caused Breland to spend most of the fight week in a New York hospital.[5]
Breland won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, was awarded the 1982 Boxer of the Year by USAABF,[5] and rated #1 amateur welterweight in the world by AIBA in 1984.[6]
Breland was so exceptional as an amateur that he had been having trouble getting sparring partners in the Bedford-Stuyvesant Boxing Association Gym. Fighters were known to delay their trip to the coveted NYC Daily News Golden Gloves during Mark Breland’s five year consecutive reign in order to avoid facing him. In June 1984, when he was preparing himself for the forthcoming National Olympic Trials, he went to Grossinger, New York, to train with the Kronks, there he sparred with WBC Super Welterweight champion Thomas Hearns, who in turn was preparing to fight Roberto Durán. At that time Breland was being trained by Emanuel Steward.[7] At that time he narrowly escaped bigger troubles, falling under destructive influence of his teammate Ricky Womack, who happened to be an authoritative figure for Breland, eventually was sentenced and jailed.[8]
Breland turned professional in 1984. In 1987 he won the vacant WBA welterweight title by defeating Harold Volbrecht by TKO in the seventh round. He lost it in his first defense to Marlon Starling. In 1989 Breland again won the vacant WBA welterweight title by defeating another contender, Seung Soon Lee, by first round knockout on 4 February, 1989, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[9] He made four successful title defenses (most notably, one against Lloyd Honeyghan) before losing it to Aaron Davis in a back-and-forth 9-round contest that was nearly called off twice because of injuries to Davis' eye before Breland was knocked out in round 9.
Breland retired in 1997 with a professional record of 35–3–1 (25 KOs). His losses were to Jorge Vaca, Aaron Davis, and Marlon Starling, with whom he also earned his only draw.
Breland has served as a boxing trainer, having had Vernon Forrest and former WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder among other notable clients.[10] In recent years, he has been an assistant trainer for Jermall Charlo.