Big Art Tucker... A success story.

Arthur Tucker, more commonly known as Big Art Tucker, was born in Newark New Jersey. Art would often find himself taking the wrong paths as a youth, this lifestyle would land him in Rahway Prison, now known as East New Jersey state prison. During his stay, he and other inmates organized the Lifer’s Group Juvenile Awareness Program, a program which would air on national tv as Scared Straight. This program was formed to help juveniles progress through the system by using tough love methods, tactics that would seem harsh, a raw, direct approach, this program was acclaimed for its success.
Arthur was turning his life around, he earned an Associates Degree in Business from Mercer County College whilst in Rahway, and later he would find his other calling. Art found boxing. Within a few months he was competing against and demolishing anyone who dared try to compete with him. Towering over the majority of his opponents at the height of 6’6”, Rahway is where he got his start as a professional Boxer on the undercard of famed Rahway inmate James Scott.
After serving 12 years, two in solitary confinement, Arthur was released by the Governor of New Jersey on Executive Clemency. Tucker continued his boxing career outside of prison and on August 4th 1987 Art would score his first victory as a free man, he would remain unbeaten through 1988 beating John Big Red Morton and Mark young. 1989 would see him knock out the huge Lucious Kirkley at the felt forum and decision Andrew Stokes, compiling a record of 16 and 0 with 12 KOs . Next was a fight at Caesars AC, on the Meldrick Taylor v Courtney Hooper undercard against tough journeyman Kimmuel Odum. Odum had never been stopped and had been in against quality opposition, losing by a majority decision on his debut to Oliver McCall and losing only once more to Jamaican Melton Bowen. As the fight unfolded Art looked uneasy, Odum was catching Tucker too often, and looked unmoved by anything Art threw in return, in round 6 Tucker was dropped more from exhaustion than anything, but Odum saw the breakthrough. Art Tucker had met someone who could match him for the first time since jail, a further knockdown in round 8, spelt curtains as Odum would knock Tucker out in the penultimate round..  This was the toughest moment for a man who sought solace in boxing as a way out of a dark place.. Could Art bounce back from such a hard knock? Tucker would answer that 10 months later disposing of 7 footer Marseilles Brown in a single round..  Tucker was ranked as high as 9 in the WBA, but what happened next was a badly calculated risk..  Art would be matched with 1988 Olympic silver medalist Riddick Bowe in Bowe's 18th outing, he was currently 17 and 0..  The result was ominous...  Bowe knocked Tucker out in the third round of a mismatch. It had only been two fights since the Odum debacle, Bowe was a horrible match.
Art would return to winning ways until 1991, when in a challenge for the USBA title he would be knocked out by former Champion Tim Witherspoon in the 3rd, followed by a knockout loss to another future champion Tommy Morrison in a 2 round stoppage..  Art Tucker had come a long way in boxing for a late starter, his story is a success. On the 7th April 1993, 5 years after first beating him, Tucker would win a points decision over Mark Young, it would be Art Tucker's last fight. In ten years Arthur Tucker had done a complete 180 with his life, he would amass a respectable record of 21wins, 5 losses and a single draw. 15 wins by knockout.
Still an avid fan of the sport, Big Art enthusiastically seeks to use his experiences inside and out of the ring as a problem solving facilitator where he enables people to make informed choices about their lifestyle. He is a licensed bail bondsman with Octavia Bail Bond and the Co-Founder of Cops, Cons, and Kids, a voluntary non-profit organization designed and established to address issues and situations concerning at-risk youths and ex-convicts making the transition back into society in an effort to build self-esteem and life skills. He is also the National of Islam’s F.O.I. Captain of Muhammad Mosque #25 in the City of Newark, under the guidance of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, where he trains God fearing men to be humble, tolerant, courteous, honest, and dependable.
Art has also done Executive Security for many professionals and artists in the entertainment business. However, one of his biggest post-boxing achievements was his assistance in the historical gathering of “Bloods” and “Crips” gang members of six different sects in one room, without incident, to sign a cease-fire peace treaty. He is constantly working to help make this peace treaty a reality.
Art takes his work with Cops, Cons, and Kids very personal and has entered the homes of many families armed with that tough love style.
Art has been honored by the City of Newark as an “Unsung Hero.” He is a firm believer that “building strong communities starts with building strong individuals.” Whether fighting in the ring or fighting for a human cause, Arthur Tucker.. Is a success story.
Art resides in East Orange, New Jersey with his wife of 12 years, Toya, and is the parent of 4 sons (1 sadly deceased) and 6 daughters.