Mark Anthony BRELAND

Mark Breland was the most heralded American boxer prior to the 1984 Olympics, as much for his acting career as his boxing record. Breland would win the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, to end his amateur career with a record of 110 wins against only one loss. He won the New York Golden Gloves for five consecutive years (1980-84), and was US Champion as a welterweight in 1981-83.

In 1983 Breland had also starred in the movie “The Lords of Discipline,” a movie about a Southern military institute that was allowing the first black man to join the Corps of Cadets. Although fictitious, the movie was based on the novel by Pat Conroy, and is considered to have been based on the Citadel, a military college in South Carolina. Breland would later play in a few episodes of the popular 1980s television show, “Miami Vice,” and after he stopped boxing, he appeared in a few roles from 1999-2011.

Breland turned professional as a boxer after the 1984 Olympics. He won the WBA welterweight title in 1987 but lost it in his first defense. He regained that title in 1989 and had four successful title defenses before losing the crown to Aaron Davis. Breland retired from fighting in 1997 with a career professional record of 35 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. In addition to his acting he also then worked as a boxing trainer.