Andrew Maynard (boxer)

Andrew Maynard (born April 8, 1964 in Laurel, Maryland) was an American boxer, who won the Light Heavyweight Gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Amateur career

As an amateur, Maynard was a relentless pressure fighter often throwing 100 punches per round. Maynard was the 1987 and 1988 United States Amateur Champion in the Light Heavyweight division. He won a bronze medal at the 1987 Pan American Games

Maynard won the Light Heavyweight Gold Medal for the United States at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Results were:
*First round bye
*Defeated Mikaele Masoe (Samoa) RSC 2
*Defeated Lajos Eros (Hungary) 5-0
*Defeated Henryk Petrich (Poland) TKO 3
*Defeated Nurmagomed Shanavazov (Soviet Union) 5-0

Professional career

Maynard began his professional career the following year for the Team Mike Trainer/Sugar Ray Leonard. He wasn't nearly as successful as expected which is widely attributed to his weak chin, he himself insists that his management team changed his style and turned him into a fighter who fought too defensively.

He won his first 12 bouts in the light heavyweight division (175lbs), prior to getting stopped in the 7th round by Bobby Czyz. Maynard then went on a six fight winning streak, stopping shopworn legend Matthew Saad Muhammad in 1991 and setting up a fight with Frank Tate (boxer). Tate crushed Maynard in the 11th round, dropping him and prompting referee Joe Santarpia to stop the fight.

The following year Maynard moved up to cruiserweight to challenge WBC Cruiserweight Title holder Anaclet Wamba, who knocked Maynard down and won a unanimous decision.

After the loss, Maynard continued to fight, but faded into obscurity. Among his remaining notable fights were a KO loss to Thomas Hearns and a TKO loss at heavyweight to Brian Nielsen. Maynard retired in 2000.

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