By Jack Hirsch
Coach Charles Mooney is regarded as royalty by the young aspiring boxers at the Palm Beach Boxing facility, not only for his exceptional teaching methods but also for his own achievements in his youth. In the 1976 Olympics, Mooney won a silver medal, making him a highly respected figure. He was part of a legendary US boxing team that is widely considered the greatest in Olympic history, with a remarkable record of five gold medal winners, one silver, and one bronze.
Out of the five gold medalists, four of them – Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks, and Leo Randolph – achieved professional world titles. The remaining gold medalist, Howard Davis, never reached that level but competed for a world championship multiple times. John Tate, the bronze medalist, also managed to secure a world belt. However, Mooney chose not to pursue boxing further after the Olympics, retiring immediately. Despite this, at the age of 73, he has managed to maintain a strong connection to the sport he loves by training fighters, surpassing all of his Olympic teammates in longevity.
Situated within a compact strip mall, the gym may be modest in size but it boasts an impressive interior. Stepping inside, my attention is immediately drawn to Mooney, who is diligently honing his boxer’s skills in the ring. Spotting me, he extends his hand over the ropes for a swift fist bump before returning to his training. Engrossed in the captivating display of boxing prowess, I find myself content to observe the various boxers as they diligently go through their exercises. However, Mooney notices my stationary presence, armed with a pen and notepad, and seeks to find a more engaging task to occupy my time.
He instructs me to take a look at the various pictures and memorabilia that decorate the walls. Purposefully, I prolong my exploration of the gym, ensuring that he doesn’t feel rushed to finish his training session in the ring. Mooney’s perspiration is evident, likely a result of his exertion in the ring as opposed to the intense Florida weather. Surprisingly, he appears to be in remarkable physical shape for a man of 73 years.
Winning an Olympic silver medal is undoubtedly a remarkable accomplishment. However, it unfortunately comes with its own set of challenges and unfair expectations. One of these burdens is the constant reminder and questioning about not winning the gold. This is no different for Mooney. Due to his decision to not turn professional, Charles has been somewhat overlooked and forgotten among the highly regarded United States squad. This was evident during a reunion event in 2016, held during the Hall of Fame weekend in Canastota. As the team gathered on stage during the banquet, they watched clips of their Olympic matches and later had the opportunity to address the audience. Leonard proudly declared, “The USA won the gold.” In reality, four team members did not receive any medals: Louis Curtis, Davey Armstrong, Clint Jackson, and Chuck Walker. When comparing Mooney’s Olympic performance to that of his teammates, he falls right in the middle. He surpasses five teammates, but falls slightly behind the five gold medalists.
Mooney reflects, “Winning the gold medal wouldn’t have significantly altered my life, I believe. Nowadays, today’s fans don’t truly grasp the significance of boxing history, unlike how we did in the past. I’ve tried explaining this to the kids at the gym, but they fail to comprehend that the events of the past shape the future. In my younger days, I was well-versed in the accomplishments of ring legends such as Willie Pep, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Jersey Joe Walcott.”
Receiving a decent level of recognition through the Olympics brought me immense joy. Though I relished in that experience, the thought of pursuing a professional career never truly crossed my mind. Looking back, I believe I could have achieved remarkable success if I had chosen that path. Pep, my coach, even urged me to turn pro, but unfortunately, I was serving in the military at that time. Additionally, the insufficient financial opportunities within my weight class (bantamweight) made it impractical to pursue a professional career.
Unlike other fighters, my situation was unique. I had the privilege of having a remarkable job in the army, serving for a total of 22 years and reaching the rank of Sergeant 1st Class for a significant portion of that time. This allowed me to explore various parts of the world and encounter countless incredible experiences. Although I had dabbled in boxing for fun, it wasn’t until I turned 19 that I truly committed myself to pursuing it seriously.
Mooney hails from the Washington DC region, which is adjacent to Maryland, a renowned hub of amateur boxing talent during that period. Maryland is famous for producing Ray Leonard, who would later become Mooney’s roommate on the Olympic team. However, Mooney reveals that the true unsung hero of the area’s amateur boxing scene was Derrick Holmes, despite Ray’s eventual greatness. In order to secure a position on the United States team, Mooney had to face Holmes and prove himself. He accomplished this feat by engaging in three intense matches with Holmes, emerging victorious in all of them through points.
Mooney faced a daunting challenge in his quest to reach the Olympic Games, as he had to overcome the formidable Bernard Taylor, who was widely regarded as one of the world’s top amateurs regardless of weight class. Mooney was well aware of Taylor’s prowess, having suffered defeats in their first two encounters. The first loss came in a resounding 5-0 decision at the USA Pan American Games trials finals in Wisconsin on September 6, 1975. Then, on May 15, 1976, in the National AAU finals (119lbs division) held in Las Vegas, Taylor once again emerged victorious, securing another points-based win. Remarkably, this bout marked Mooney’s fourth match in as many days, further highlighting the immense challenge he faced.
Mooney’s maturity was his strongest attribute. Being in the service and representing the army, he faced tough competition from his own teammates. In addition, Mooney had already traveled extensively, giving him a worldly perspective. At 25 years old, he would also be the oldest member of his Olympic team. Despite previous losses to Taylor, Mooney remained confident. As an all army champion, he saw Taylor as a formidable opponent, except for their last fight. Mooney had won the Nationals multiple times but felt he lacked experience at that level in their first two encounters. Initially, he had some fear of Taylor due to their similar styles of being busy and throwing a lot of punches. However, Mooney found solace in the fact that Taylor had lost to a boxer Mooney had defeated, Elichi Jumawan, just before their final showdown in the Olympic Trials.
Mooney vividly recalls the match that took place in Vermont on June 26, 1976, as it brought him immense anxiety. The intensity of the fight drained him of his energy, leaving him hyped up and depleted. In between rounds, Mooney found himself gasping for oxygen in his corner. Recognizing his exhaustion, his coach decided to lighten the mood by diverting his attention to a girl in the crowd who expressed interest in meeting him if he emerged victorious. This unexpected distraction eased Mooney’s tension and brought a wave of rejuvenation. With newfound energy, he managed to outperform Taylor, securing his position on the team. Fast forward four years later, Mooney had retired, and Taylor finally earned a spot on the 1980 squad. Unfortunately, due to the USA’s boycott of the games, Taylor was deprived of the opportunity to experience the Olympics.
Mooney reflects on his Olympic teammates, describing them as a tightly bonded group. He recalls how certain sparring sessions surpassed the intensity of actual fights. In particular, the clashes between Howard Davis and Aaron Pryor (Olympic alternate) were fiercely competitive, capturing the attention of everyone in the gym. The lightning speed of Leonard and Davis made it impossible for them to land a punch on each other, regardless of their formidable efforts.
Mooney jokes about Chuck Walker (middleweight), who stood out as the sole white member on the team but fought with the agility and finesse typically associated with black fighters. Walker’s remarkable speed and skill were undeniable. However, despite winning his initial match in the tournament, he faced an unfortunate elimination due to a disputed 3-2 decision in his following bout. Mooney firmly believes that Walker deserved victory, having witnessed the match firsthand from the spectator area. Like the rest of the team, Walker possessed aspirations, making it disheartening to witness his journey conclude in such an unfavorable manner.
Due to our close connection, it was inevitable for Leonard and I to become roommates. The fact that my mother relocated to Palmer Park, Maryland and resided just around the corner from his family further solidified our bond. Additionally, his brother Roger happened to be a good friend of mine.
We all had a strong desire to win, but I don’t believe anyone was as obsessed as Ray. He would actually leave his bed at night and vigorously hit the cubicles on the walls, disturbing my sleep.
Three days prior to the start of the Olympics in Montreal, a significant event unfolded when Davis’ mother sadly passed away. Faced with the decision of whether to remain or leave, Davis, a resident of Glen Cove in Long Island, found solace in seeking counsel from his teammates. Mooney recalls a moment when he and Ray conversed with Davis on the balcony, with Ray advising him to follow his own judgment. Ultimately, Davis chose to stay and not only emerged victorious, claiming the gold medal, but also received the prestigious Val Baker trophy for being the standout boxer of the entire event.
Mooney recalls, “Prior to our arrival in Montreal, we had all spent time together at a camp in Michigan. Our coaches Pat Nappi and Sarge Johnson organized and conducted an exceptional training camp. Personally, I had known them from our time in the service and found great pleasure in having them as our coaches.”
Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Coach Johnson lost his life in the 1980 plane crash. The ill-fated flight was en route from New York to Warsaw and claimed the lives of 22 members of the USA boxing team, including fighters and staff. Reflecting on the heartbreaking incident, Mooney expresses, “Many of my dear friends were aboard that plane. It brings me immense sorrow to discuss it.”
Despite being in Montreal for business purposes, we found ourselves thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. One incident, in particular, left a lasting impression on Mooney. As he was engrossed in watching a cartoon, John Tate demanded that he change the channel. Defiantly, Mooney refused to comply. In response, Tate called him “shut up, little guy” and proceeded to lift him up in the air. Witnessing this, Leon (Spinks) immediately intervened and commanded Tate to put Mooney down. Fearful of Leon’s formidable abilities, Tate promptly obeyed. It was widely known that Leon always had the upper hand in their sparring sessions. Alongside my close friendship with both Leon and his brother Michael, I also shared a strong bond with Leo Randolph and Chuck Walker.
All of the boxing events during the two week period took place at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal. Mooney secured at least a bronze medal after defeating Mohamed Rais (Morocco), Juan Francisco Rodriguez (Spain), Bernado Onori (Italy), and Chul Soon Hang (South Korea). Mooney believed that his toughest competition for the gold medal would be Russia’s Viktor Rybakov, who he faced in the semi-finals. Mooney admitted that Rybakov had caused him significant damage with body shots and described their fight as extremely close, acknowledging that the decision could have gone either way. Despite this, Mooney was ultimately awarded the victory by a 4-1 margin. Rybakov would go on to win another bronze medal at the Moscow Olympics four years later.
Just two days after defeating Rybakov, Mooney faced off against fellow southpaw, Young Ju Gu from North Korea, in the bantamweight gold medal match on July 31, 1976. Gu had previously defeated Britain’s Pat Cowdell. Mooney recalls, “Gu wasn’t friendly at all. I tried speaking to him in Korean, but he didn’t respond.”
Mooney reportedly entered the fight feeling unwell, a fact he acknowledges, however, he claims it had no impact on his performance in the ring. Despite the disappointing 5-0 decision against him, Mooney firmly believes he was the rightful winner, a sentiment shared by his coaches.
“After successfully landing hooks, the referee accused me of slapping and deducted points. It’s difficult for me to accept that not even a single judge scored in my favor. Additionally, Mooney suspects that the judges may have had a hidden agenda. It is possible that certain individuals were dissatisfied with my previous victory over Rybakov, and this could have influenced their decision to balance the scales in this match.”
The most vivid memory I have is strolling back to my dressing room after the event, amidst a commotion of another ongoing fight. Suddenly, the crowd diverted their attention from the brawl and erupted into a thunderous applause, showering me with their heartfelt ovation. The warmth that embraced my heart in that moment was indescribable.
The match featuring Gu was characterized by a fast pace. Gu exhibited powerful punches while Mooney’s strikes were slightly more precise. Determining a clear winner was challenging as neither man demonstrated complete dominance over the other. This was corroborated by the exclusive CompuBox statistics of the fight, which were obtained by Lee Groves and approved by company owner Bob Canobbio. When I shared these stats with Mooney, he was overjoyed. It served as a form of redemption for Charles, as he now had concrete evidence to support the fact that he performed exceptionally well in the fight, contrary to what the judges believed.
The closeness of the match was evident in the numbers, as Mooney landed three more punches overall and threw 23 more. From a statistical standpoint, Mooney was the more active fighter that night. CompuBox’s analysis of the match stated that Mooney deserved a better outcome than a shutout verdict, suggesting that a 3-2 decision in either direction would have been a fairer reflection of the intense action inside the ring.
The Olympic schedule’s lack of balance is often overlooked. Mooney had to win five fights to reach the gold medal match, whereas Gu only had to win four. Among their American teammates, Leonard was the only one who had to box as many times as Mooney, both reaching their gold medal matches in their fifth fights. Similarly, Howard Davis and Leon Spinks both had their gold medal matches in their fifth fights. On the other hand, Michael Spinks and Leo Randolph had only four fights in the tournament, while Mooney had to fight six times.
At the conclusion of the Olympics, Leonard declared his initial retirement from the sport, expressing his intention to pursue higher education. However, his announcement was met with skepticism by many.
Mooney’s situation stood apart from the rest. He had already established a career that provided him with long-term advantages and perks.
Mooney’s path to a professional championship would have remained challenging, even if he had won gold. As he mentions, the lower weight classes of American fighters lacked financial support and attention during that time. Furthermore, boxing was not Mooney’s ultimate goal.
After leaving the military, Mooney pursued a career in education as an RTC instructor within the school system. Additionally, he established the Charles Mooney Academy of Boxing in Laurel, Maryland. Over the years, Mooney has diligently trained notable individuals such as William Joppy, Keith Holmes, Shambra Mitchell, Simon Brown, and Tony Thompson. Notably, Mooney played an integral role in Thompson’s two successful stoppages over David Price in the UK by working in his corner.
At present, Mooney is training a number of aspiring individuals with the goal of helping them transition into professional boxing. Additionally, he is collaborating with Bermaine Stiverne, a former belt holder. However, considering his age in his 40s, Mooney confesses to lacking enthusiasm regarding the fighter’s comeback. “He believed he was still bound by a contract with Don King, which turned out not to be the case,” Mooney chuckled.
Mooney gestures towards a punching bag located on the far side of the gym, indicating Mike Tyson’s occasional visits to it. “Every now and then, Mike Tyson swings by to lay some punches on that bag,” he mentions. “He owns a residence in Boca Raton, which is approximately a 40-minute drive away.”
While not all of the guys from the ’76 team are still with us, I maintain regular contact with those who are. Our bond was strong, and we always supported each other. The reunion we had in Canastota provided a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and reminisce about our shared experiences.
Mooney takes immense pride in forever being associated with that Olympic team.
Jack Hirsch with Charles Mooney
