Tyson influenced Matt Sysack to become a boxer The rise of Mike Tyson in the 1980s fueled Matt Sysack’s interest in boxing which is still present. Sysack shares a birthday with Reuben Carter on May 6. Sysack was born in 1968 in Cleveland to Parents Russ And Joanne Sysack. He has a younger brother. As a child growing up Sysack was a huge fan of the Browns and Indians and spent many summer and fall nights playing baseball and football. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1986. After high school with no more sports leagues to take part in, the activity  of weightlifting appealed to Matt. Also during the time in the late 1980s a young phenom by the name of Mike Tyson became the sports youngest heavyweight champion. Getting together with friends and a 6 pack to watch Tyson steamroll his opponents was the highlight of many weekends. The results of February 11 1990 left a lasting impact on Matt. After witnessing Buster Douglas KO Mike Tyson. Sysack wanted to give boxing a try. “Before joining a boxing gym l fought once on the school yard in 5th grade a no contest.“ Sysack fought in the Golden Gloves tournaments (1991, 93 and 94) at Estabrook. Sysack started boxing in his twenties as a sub novice but due to age restrictions had to fight in the more experienced open division with fighters like Julius Joiner,  Keith Burnside and David Robinson. Sysack had his last amateur match in August of 1994 at the Ample Club in Old Brooklyn versus Ted Dunleavy from Samson’s BC. Brunswick.

By 1995. Sysack earned his college degree and began his teaching career while still a regular at the different boxing gyms. He continued to enjoy sparring. roadwork and training young fighters. Despite being hindered by a severe work related knee injury in 1998. from 1998-2004. Matt competed in several “Tough Man Competitions.“ Despite being handicapped by the bad knee brief I minute rounds. Sysack enjoyed success in these “very brief” matches. Due to State health and age restrictions. he engaged in his last competitive match in January of 2004 in Youngstown. During his career. Sysack had close to 60 matches winning more than he lost. Post 2004. Sysack continued to attend other gyms to spar. help other fighters prepare for fights such as Vonda Ward. Joe DiSalvo. Jose Rivera. Dan Jambor. Don Rowland. and Corey Gregory. Sysack has also sparred and trained with fighters from the Valley Forge high school boxing club. helping them win many novice. sub novice Golden Gloves titles. Sysack last sparred at Bill Brown’s gym on Super Bowl Sunday. Sysack enjoys at- tending the boxing Hall of Fame in New York. local fight shows. watches boxing on TV and reading boxing themed books. Sysack sums up his feelings about the sport: “boxing is the hardest. greatest sport in the world and has so many life lessons to teach. it is more than hitting someone. You learn healthy living habits. how to defend yourself in the ring and respect others out- side of the ring. I am grateful and honored to be going into the hall of fame class of 2017. Sysack is currently a teacher at a juvenile prison and he a 12 year old son. Sysack is being inducted into the Hall of Fame along with A. Maserati Riggins. Bryan Gedeon. and Carl Burton.