Public Memorial Service Honoring 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist Boxer, Howard Davis Jr.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304, January 6, 2016 (Newswire.com) - An American legend in boxing, a dear friend of many and beloved husband & father has passed on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at 9:17pm at age 59 after a challenging cancer fight. 

A Public Memorial Service to be held in his honor, Thursday, Jan. 7th at 6:00PM.

"All are welcome to honor HOWARD DAVIS JR. and his family!"

Adrienne Mazzone, Director of Communications, Howard Davis Jr. Foundation

Howard Davis Jr.,1976 Olympic Gold Medalist Boxer that was born in Glen Cove, New York, has died from what was a shocking diagnose of stage 4 lung cancer that gave a grim diagnose from the start.  The news of this original diagnose was a true shock as Davis was a health and fitness advocate, never smoked or drank alcohol, and was always a positive forward thinking man, a true inspiration to many.    

"My husband was the strongest man that I've ever known and he went the way that he wanted," said his wife Karla Guadamuz-Davis. "I held him in my arms and told him how much he has meant to all of us.  He heard great things in his ear before he passed. I'm so blessed that I had time to say goodbye."

Howard had a long career as a pioneer in mixed martial arts as a boxing coach and trainer to many top fighters such as Chuck Liddell, Thiago “Pitbull” Alves, Din Thomas and others.  He was also a successful MMA promoter as the Co-Founder of Fight Time Promotions. Before every fight Howard would get in the cage and announce “It’s Fight Time!”

Davis’s long boxing career earned him National recognition, as well as the New York Golden Glove Championships and was also awarded the Val Barker Trophy at the Olympics, beating out such boxers as Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks.  A lengthy list of achievements and even his little known musical talents career, can be found on his website in the about Howard section of his website.

A very humble man and Broward County Sports Hall of Famer that faced an inoperable late stage of metastasis cancer had to trade his gloves for a port in his chest yet did not stop him from showing up at his Fight Time Promotions fights.  Anyone that has been to their fights felt that they were all part of a family.  Howard, along with his wife and partner, Karla Davis, always started with a warm speech, honored our country and moments of silence for many respected people in the world.

Howard Davis Jr. is survived by his wife, Karla and their 5 year old daughter, Samiha.  He is also survived by daughters and sons, Diarra, Anika, Howard Davis III, Amira, Dyah, Imaan, Yazmeen, Maryuum, Kamalli, Bryce and his brothers William, Kenneth, Sylvestor, Eric and sisters Shirley, Catherine, Cheryl, Kisha and Debby.

A Street is named in his honor in Glen Cove, New York and Fight Time Promotions will continue to flourish in Howard’s honor.
In lieu of flowers, the family is keeping to Howard’s mission and wishes to assist families that desire to turn to alternative treatments and need financial support in order to do so.