Willie de Wit

Willie de Wit, boxer (b at Grande Prairie, Alta 13 June 1961). One of Canada's most outstanding amateur boxers, de Wit's amateur record was 67-12 and included the North American amateur heavyweight championship (twice) and the world amateur heavyweight title (also twice). At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics he lost the gold medal match to Henry Tilman of the US and had to settle for the Olympic silver. He turned professional immediately after the games and, persuaded by a contract offer reportedly worth $5 million, began to train and fight out of Burnet, Texas. Although he defeated Ken Lakusta to capture the Canadian heavyweight championship, he faced a number of undistinguished opponents before his professional career suffered a severe setback when he was knocked out by American Bert Cooper. He successfully defended his title against Lakusta again in 1987, but after another loss that year he retired from boxing.

Links to Other Sites
Willie de Wit
See a photo and biography of Canadian championship boxer Willie de Wit. From the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Museum.

Canadian Olympians: Willie De Wit
See a series of photos of Willie De Wit in a boxing match at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles. From Library and Archives Canada.