Salmaci began his boxing career at the age of 8 at Kronk Gym in Detroit. He compiled an amateur record of 136–12, and earned a spot in the Olympic Trials where he fought his way to the finals, just missing the U.S. Olympic team.[2]
Professional career
Salmaci turned professional after the Olympic Trials and signed with manager Jackie Kallen.[3]
Salmaci won his first eighteen professional bouts and finished his career in May 2005 with an overall record of nineteen wins and three losses.[1]
Acting
In the first season of NBC's reality show The Contender, Salmaci was one of 16 fighters chosen worldwide to participate on the show,[5] Although Salmaci lost in the first round of the show's tournament,[6] he was voted back as a "fan favorite" to fight once more.[7]
^"Calzaghe cruises to WBO defence". BBC Sport. January 25, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2016. German-based Sobot, a late replacement for American Tarick Salmaci, who pulled out after a row with his management, beat the count but immediately came under renewed punishment.
^Hauser, Thomas. "Keeping An Eye On 'The Contender'". SecondsOut. Retrieved November 17, 2016. Salmaci lost to Juan De La Rosa in the first round of the Contender tournament on September 9th of last year.
^"Jimmy Lange: More than a Contender". Boxing Insider. March 24, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2016. As the show came to an end, Lange was voted back on to fight in a "fan favorite" bout. It was there where he beat contestant Tarick Salmaci in a majority decision.