Bey was an outstanding amateur boxer who had taken up the sport to lose weight and eventually competed on the U.S. All Army Boxing Team. He made his professional debut in 1981, defeating future undisputed world heavyweight champion James "Buster" Douglas by a second-round knockout. He built up a record of 14-0, becoming the first man to stop the durable veteran contender George Chaplin (TKO4) as well as defeating future WBA heavyweight champion Greg Page (W12) to capture the United States Boxing Association heavyweight championship.
In March 1985 Bey was given a title shot by long-reigning IBF heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. After a strong start Bey was knocked down twice and stopped by Holmes in the 10th round.
Bey never regained his confidence, losing his USBA title by 11th-round TKO to Trevor Berbick in his comeback fight, then being relegated to 'opponent' status for the remainder of his career, matched against the likes of James "Bonecrusher" Smith, Joe Bugner in Australia, Tyrell Biggs, Johnny DuPlooy in South Africa, Bruce Seldon, and Zeljko Mavrovic in Germany. In 1994 in his final fight Bey knocked out David Jaco in China.
Bey died in a construction accident in Camden in 2017.[1]
18 Wins (14 knockouts, 4 decisions), 11 Losses (8 knockouts, 3 decisions), 1 Draw [2] |
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
{{yes2}}Win | 18–11–1 | {{flagicon|United States}} David Jaco | TKO | 8 | 1994-09-17 | {{flagicon|China}} Macao, China | |
{{no2}}Loss | 17–11–1 | {{flagicon|Croatia}} Zeljko Mavrovic | TKO | 4 | 1993-10-16 | {{flagicon|Germany}} Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany | |
{{no2}}Loss | 17–10–1 | {{flagicon|United States}} Terry Davis | UD | 12 | 1993-02-27 | {{flagicon|China}} Beijing, China | {{small|NBA Continental Americas Heavyweight Title. 111-117, 111-117, 113-116.}} |
{{no2}}Loss | 17–9–1 | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Derek Williams | TKO | 6 | 1991-09-30 | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Kensington, London, United Kingdom | |
{{draw}} Draw | 17–8–1 | {{flagicon|United States}} David Jaco | PTS | 10 | 1991-09-07 | {{flagicon|Florida}} Sarasota, Florida, United States | |
{{no2}}Loss | 17–8 | {{flagicon|United States}} Joe Hipp | TKO | 7 | 1991-02-26 | {{flagicon|Alabama}} Birmingham, Alabama, United States | {{small|Referee stopped the bout at 1:07 of the seventh round.}} |
{{no2}}Loss | 17–7 | {{flagicon|United States}} Bruce Seldon | TKO | 10 | 1990-11-01 | {{flagicon|New Jersey}} Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | {{small|Referee stopped the bout at 0:38 of the tenth round.}} |
{{yes2}}Win | 17–6 | {{flagicon|United States}} Terry Miller | KO | 2 | 1990-08-21 | {{flagicon|North Carolina}} Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 16–6 | {{flagicon|United States}} Paul Bradshaw | TKO | 3 | 1990-02-17 | {{flagicon|Canada}} Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | {{small|Referee stopped the bout at 1:07 of the seventh round.}} |
{{no2}}Loss | 15–6 | {{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Johnny DuPlooy | KO | 9 | 1987-04-27 | {{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Johannesburg, South Africa | |
{{no2}}Loss | 15–5 | {{flagicon|United States}} Tyrell Biggs | TKO | 6 | 1987-03-07 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | {{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:15 of the sixth round.}} |
{{no2}}Loss | 15–4 | {{flagicon|Australia}} Joe Bugner | UD | 10 | 1986-11-14 | {{flagicon|Australia}} Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | {{small|94-99, 94-97, 94-100.}} |
{{no2}}Loss | 15–3 | {{flagicon|United States}} James Smith | UD | 10 | 1986-08-23 | {{flagicon|North Carolina}} Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States | {{small|92-98, 91-98, 92-97.}} |
{{yes2}}Win | 15–2 | {{flagicon|United States}} Wesley Smith | SD | 10 | 1986-01-17 | {{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} Atlanta, Georgia, United States | {{small|Referee stopped the bout at 2:15 of the sixth round.}} |
{{no2}}Loss | 14–2 | {{flagicon|Canada}} Trevor Berbick | TKO | 11 | 1985-06-15 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | {{small|USBA Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:30 of the 11th round.}} |
{{no2}}Loss | 14–1 | {{flagicon|United States}} Larry Holmes | TKO | 10 | 1985-03-15 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | {{small|For IBF, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight titles}} |
{{yes2}}Win | 14–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Greg Page | UD | 12 | 1984-08-31 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | {{small|USBA Heavyweight Title. 116-112, 115-114, 115-113.}} |
{{yes2}}Win | 13–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Leroy Caldwell | PTS | 10 | 1984-03-09 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 12–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Alf Coffin | KO | 2 | 1983-08-17 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 11–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Grady Daniels | KO | 1 | 1983-07-16 | {{flagicon|Nevada}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | {{small|Daniels knocked out at 2:01 of the first round.}} |
{{yes2}}Win | 10–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Chuck Johnson | TKO | 3 | 1983-02-12 | {{flagicon|Ohio}} Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 9–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} George Chaplin | TKO | 4 | 1982-11-26 | {{flagicon|Texas}} Houston, Texas, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 8–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Larry Beilfuss | TKO | 1 | 1982-10-02 | {{flagicon|New Jersey}} Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 7–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Jack Watkins | KO | 2 | 1982-08-14 | {{flagicon|Ohio}} Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 6–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Larry Sims | PTS | 6 | 1982-06-27 | {{flagicon|Ohio}} Highland Heights, Ohio, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 5–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Laverne Bumpers | TKO | 1 | 1982-05-02 | {{flagicon|New Jersey}} Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 4–0 | D.B. Johnson | KO | 1 | 1982-04-09 | {{flagicon|Ohio}} Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 3–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} Steve Flemester | TKO | 2 | 1982-03-20 | {{flagicon|New Jersey}} Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 2–0 | Larry Ham | TKO | 1 | 1982-02-24 | {{flagicon|New Jersey}} Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
{{yes2}}Win | 1–0 | {{flagicon|United States}} James Douglas | TKO | 2 | 1981-11-06 | {{flagicon|Pennsylvania}} Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | |
1. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2017/09/industrial_accident_kills_former_boxer_who_fought.html#incart_river_home|title=Industrial accident reportedly kills former boxer who fought Larry Holmes|publisher=}}
2. ^Boxing record for David Bey. BoxRec.com.