AFTER a couple of days of phone tag, former heavyweight Mark Young says he wants no part of this story. While he is not embarrassed over the way his career turned out, he’s not proud of it either. “I really did not accomplish too much,” he says. “You should write about better fighters.”
Yes, there were better fighters. The stats prove that. Young fought professionally from 1983 to 1999. During that time, he boxed 53 times, compiling a record of 15-37 (9) with one no-contest. He was stopped 22 times and, according to BoxRec, none of his wins were verified as being against fighters with a winning record.
But Young paid his dues and then some. There was a time when Young looked upon himself as a prospect, with all the dreams and aspirations of a limitless tomorrow. After losing his debut, he won his next four, but after a loss to future cruiserweight titlist Bernard Benton in 1984, he was soon cast in the role of an opponent. That would remain his position.
Young gained a reputation as a fighter who could go a few
