Curtis Cokes
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(May 2020) |
Curtis Cokes | |
---|---|
Born | Dallas, Texas,U.S. | June 15, 1937
Died | May 29, 2020 Dallas, Texas, U.S. | (aged 82)
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Welterweight |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 80 |
Wins | 62 |
Wins by KO | 30 |
Losses | 14 |
Draws | 4 |
No contests | 0 |
Curtis Cokes(June 15, 1937 – May 29, 2020) was aboxerfromDallas,Texas,United States.Cokes was the simultaneousWBA,WBCandThe RingWorld Welterweight Champion,[1]and he was famous for his training regimen, which he also imposed on other boxers training with him.
Pre-championship career
[edit]On March 24, 1958, Cokes began to box professionally, defeating Manuel Gonzalez, whom he would later fight for the world title, in a six-round decision. He won eleven fights in a row, including a second match with Gonzalez, before losing to Gonzalez in their third fight, on April 27, 1959. His next fight, againstGarland Randallon June 18 of the same year, ended in a three-roundno contest.He and Randall had an immediate rematch and on August 27, he knocked out Randall in the first round. He had an additional fourteen fights, going 11-2-1 in that span (his one draw was againstKenny Lane,a boxer who twice challengedCarlos Ortizfor world championships), before facingLuis Rodriguez,another world welterweight champion, on September 3, 1961. He beat Rodriguez by a ten-round decision, outpointed Gonzalez in their fourth fight, and lost to Rodriguez in their second fight, also by points. He went 13–4 in his next seventeen fights, and, after losing in a ten-round decision toEddie PaceatLos Angeles, California,on August 27, 1964, he announced his retirement. However, on October 14 of that year, he announced he was returning to boxing.
Championship
[edit]After winning three fights in a row, he and Gonzalez were matched for a fifth time on August 24, 1966, this time for theWBA/WBCvacant world welterweight title, inNew Orleans.Cokes outpointed Manuel Gonzalez to become world welterweight champion. On November 28, 1966, he retained the crown againstJean Josselinof France in a fifteen-round decision.Nat Fleischerwas one of the judges for that fight.
On May 19, 1967, he retained the title with a tenth-round knockout ofFrancois Villeiman,and on October 2, he metCharlie Shipes,who was recognized as champion inCalifornia.He knocked Shipes out in eight rounds inOakland.
On April 18, 1968, he retained his title with a fifth-round knockout ofWillie Ludick,and on October 21, with a fifteen-round decision overRamon La Cruz.
Post-championship career
[edit]Cokes lost the world welterweight title on April 18, 1969, when he was knocked out by CubanJosé Nápolesin thirteen rounds in Los Angeles. On June 29, the pair had a rematch in Nápoles' adopted hometown ofMexico City, Mexico,and Nápoles repeated his victory, this time by a tenth-round knockout.
Cokes had eleven more fights before retiring, winning seven, losing three and drawing in one. His last three fights were inSouth Africa.He retired after a ten-round decision win againstEzra Mnzinyaneon October 5, 1972.
Cokes had a record of 62 wins, 14 losses and four draws, with 30 wins by knockout.
After boxing
[edit]After retiring, Cokes became a trainer. He worked with fighters such asQuincy TaylorandIke Ibeabuchi.
Cokes also made one film appearance in the year of his retirement. He appeared in the 1972John HustonfilmFat Cityalongside futureAcademy AwardwinnerJeff BridgesandStacy Keach.[2]
In 2003, Cokes was inducted into theInternational Boxing Hall of Fame.
Death
[edit]Cokes died at age 82 of heart failure on May 29, 2020.[3]
Professional boxing record
[edit]80 fights | 62 wins | 14 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 30 | 3 |
By decision | 32 | 11 |
Draws | 4 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
80 | Win | 62–14–4 | Ezra Mzinyane | PTS | 10 | Oct 5, 1972 | Langa Stadium, Cape Town | |
79 | Win | 61–14–4 | Joseph Hali | PTS | 10 | Sep 23, 1972 | Centenary Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth | |
78 | Loss | 60–14–4 | Elijah Makhathini | PTS | 10 | Sep 9, 1972 | Curries Fountain, Durban | |
77 | Loss | 60–13–4 | Carlos Alberto Salinas | SD | 10 | Dec 2, 1971 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento | |
76 | Loss | 60–12–4 | Rafael Gutierrez | SD | 10 | May 24, 1972 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco | |
75 | Draw | 60–11–4 | Fate Davis | PTS | 10 | Mar 17, 1971 | Armory, Akron | |
74 | Win | 60–11–3 | Billy Braggs | TKO | 6 (10) | Nov 3, 1970 | Eagles Club, Milwaukee | |
73 | Win | 59–11–3 | Harold Richardson | UD | 10 | Sep 29, 1970 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
72 | Win | 58–11–3 | Fate Davis | UD | 10 | Sep 11, 1970 | Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth | |
71 | Win | 57–11–3 | Danny Perez | TKO | 7 (10) | Aug 10, 1970 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
70 | Win | 56–11–3 | Roberto Pena | KO | 5 (10) | Jan 27, 1970 | Convention Center, Fort Worth | |
69 | Loss | 55–11–3 | José Nápoles | RTD | 10 (15) | Jun 29, 1969 | Monumental Plaza de Toros México, Mexico City | For WBA, WBC, NYSAC, andThe Ringwelterweight titles |
68 | Loss | 55–10–3 | José Nápoles | RTD | 13 (15) | Apr 18, 1969 | Forum, Inglewood | Lost WBA, WBC, NYSAC, andThe Ringwelterweight titles |
67 | Win | 55–9–3 | Don Cobbs | KO | 1 (10) | Feb 10, 1969 | Arena Exposition Hall, Saint Louis | |
66 | Win | 54–9–3 | Ramon La Cruz | UD | 15 | Oct 21, 1968 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans | Retained WBA, WBC, NYSAC, andThe Ringwelterweight titles |
65 | Win | 53–9–3 | Joseph Sishi | KO | 5 (10) | Jul 5, 1968 | New Kingsmead Soccer Stadium, Durban | |
64 | Win | 52–9–3 | Willie Ludick | TKO | 3 (10) | Jun 29, 1968 | Praça de Touros Monumental de Lourenço Marques,Maputo | |
63 | Win | 51–9–3 | Joe N'Gidi | RTD | 4 (10) | Jun 15, 1968 | Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg | |
62 | Win | 50–9–3 | Willie Ludick | TKO | 5 (15) | Apr 16, 1968 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | Retained WBA, WBC, NYSAC, andThe Ringwelterweight titles |
61 | Win | 49–9–3 | Jimmy Lester | UD | 10 | Mar 15, 1968 | Auditorium, Oakland | |
60 | Win | 48–9–3 | Jean Josselin | UD | 10 | Feb 5, 1968 | Palais des Sports, Paris | |
59 | Win | 47–9–3 | Charley Shipes | TKO | 8 (15) | Oct 2, 1967 | Oakland Arena, Oakland | Retained WBA, WBC, NYSAC, andThe Ringwelterweight titles |
58 | Win | 46–9–3 | Francois Pavilla | TKO | 10 (15) | May 19, 1967 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | Retained WBA, WBC, NYSAC, andThe Ringwelterweight titles |
57 | Loss | 45–9–3 | Gypsy Joe Harris | UD | 10 | Mar 31, 1967 | Madison Square Garden, New York | |
56 | Win | 45–8–3 | Mike Cruz | KO | 3 (10) | Feb 20, 1967 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
55 | Draw | 44–8–3 | Francois Pavilla | PTS | 10 | Jan 23, 1967 | Palais des Sports, Paris | |
54 | Win | 44–8–2 | Jean Josselin | UD | 15 | Nov 28, 1966 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | Retained WBA and NYSAC welterweight titles; Won vacantWBCandThe Ringwelterweight titles |
53 | Win | 43–8–2 | Enrique Cruz | KO | 7 (10) | Sep 27, 1966 | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi | |
52 | Win | 42–8–2 | Manuel Gonzalez | UD | 15 | Aug 24, 1966 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans | Won vacantWBAandNYSAC welterweight titles |
51 | Win | 41–8–2 | Luis Manuel Rodriguez | TKO | 15 (15) | Jul 6, 1966 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans | |
50 | Win | 40–8–2 | Billy Collins | UD | 12 | Dec 13, 1965 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans | |
49 | Win | 39–8–2 | Fortunato Manca | PTS | 10 | Apr 23, 1965 | Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma | |
48 | Win | 38–8–2 | Marshall Wells | TKO | 12 (12) | Mar 15, 1965 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
47 | Loss | 37–8–2 | Eddie Pace | PTS | 10 | Aug 27, 1964 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles | |
46 | Win | 37–7–2 | Al Andrews | PTS | 10 | Aug 10, 1964 | Kearney Bowl, Fresno | |
45 | Win | 36–7–2 | Al Andrews | UD | 10 | Jun 9, 1964 | Castaways Hotel, Las Vegas | |
44 | Win | 35–7–2 | Tony Montano | UD | 10 | May 12, 1964 | Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque | |
43 | Loss | 34–7–2 | Stanley Hayward | TKO | 4 (10) | May 1, 1964 | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia | |
42 | Win | 34–6–2 | Flory Olguin | TKO | 5 (12) | May 30, 1963 | Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque | |
41 | Win | 33–6–2 | Stan Harrington | UD | 10 | May 21, 1963 | Civic Auditorium, Honolulu | |
40 | Loss | 32–6–2 | Jose Stable | UD | 10 | Apr 20, 1963 | Sunnyside Garden, Sunnyside, Queens | |
39 | Win | 32–5–2 | Joey Parks | KO | 5 (10) | Feb 25, 1963 | Wichita Falls | |
38 | Win | 31–5–2 | Johnny Newman | KO | 2 (10) | Feb 11, 1963 | Moulin Rouge, Hollywood | |
37 | Win | 30–5–2 | Gregorio Ceniceros | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 10, 1962 | Dallas | |
36 | Win | 29–5–2 | Hubert Jackson | KO | 1 (10) | Nov 11, 1962 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
35 | Loss | 28–5–2 | Manuel Alvarez | UD | 10 | Sep 8, 1962 | Monterrey | |
34 | Win | 28–4–2 | Joey Limas | UD | 10 | Aug 22, 1962 | Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque | |
33 | Win | 27–4–2 | Rudolph Bent | KO | 8 (10) | May 11, 1962 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
32 | Win | 26–4–2 | Hilario Morales | TKO | 5 (10) | Apr 6, 1962 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
31 | Win | 25–4–2 | Kid Rayo | SD | 10 | Feb 13, 1962 | Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio | |
30 | Win | 24–4–2 | Carlos Macias | TKO | 4 (10) | Jan 23, 1962 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston | |
29 | Loss | 23–4–2 | Luis Manuel Rodríguez | UD | 10 | Dec 2, 1961 | Convention Center, Miami Beach | |
28 | Win | 23–3–2 | Manuel Gonzalez | UD | 10 | Sep 14, 1961 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
27 | Win | 22–3–2 | Luis Manuel Rodríguez | SD | 10 | Aug 3, 1961 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
26 | Draw | 21–3–2 | Kenny Lane | PTS | 10 | Jun 8, 1961 | Texas Livestock Coliseum, Dallas | |
25 | Loss | 21–3–1 | Hilario Morales | UD | 10 | Apr 4, 1961 | Auditorio Municipal, Ciudad Juarez | |
24 | Win | 21–2–1 | Charley Tombstone Smith | UD | 10 | Feb 13, 1961 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
23 | Win | 20–2–1 | Joe Miceli | UD | 10 | Jan 16, 1961 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
22 | Win | 19–2–1 | Stefan Redl | TKO | 8 (10) | Oct 24, 1960 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
21 | Win | 18–2–1 | Joe Louis Hargrove | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 13, 1960 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
20 | Win | 17–2–1 | Pete Ruiz | TKO | 3 (8) | Jul 29, 1960 | Dudley Field, El Paso | |
19 | Win | 16–2–1 | Lovell Jenkins | PTS | 8 | Mar 1, 1960 | Sports Arena, Amarillo | |
18 | Win | 15–2–1 | Aman Peck | TKO | 5 (8) | Dec 14, 1959 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
17 | Loss | 14–2–1 | Frankie Davis | SD | 6 | Dec 2, 1959 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston | |
16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Mel Ferguson | UD | 8 | Sep 14, 1959 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Reggie Williams | KO | 5 (6) | Aug 27, 1959 | Memorial Stadium, Baton Rouge | |
14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Rip Randall | KO | 1 (6) | Jul 27, 1959 | ||
13 | Draw | 11–1–1 | Rip Randall | TD | 2 (6) | May 18, 1959 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
12 | Loss | 11–1 | Manuel Gonzalez | SD | 10 | Apr 27, 1959 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
11 | Win | 11–0 | Henry Watson | PTS | 4 | Apr 1, 1959 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
10 | Win | 10–0 | Babe McCarron | TKO | 3 (8) | Jan 20, 1959 | Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | Ruben Flores | PTS | 6 | Dec 1, 1958 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Manuel Gonzalez | SD | 8 | Nov 22, 1958 | Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | Elmo Tex Henderson | UD | 6 | Oct 27, 1958 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Sammy Williams | TKO | 6 (6) | Jun 30, 1958 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Cecil Courtney | UD | 6 | May 26, 1958 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Babe Vance | UD | 6 | May 12, 1958 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Jimmy Leach | UD | 6 | Apr 28, 1958 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Gil Tapia | PTS | 4 | Apr 7, 1958 | Sportatorium, Dallas | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Manuel Gonzalez | PTS | 6 | Mar 24, 1958 | Midland High School Gym, Midland |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"The Lineal Welterweight Champs".Cyber Boxing Zone. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-14.Retrieved2016-10-28.
- ^Curtis Cokes @ IMDB
- ^Sherrington, Kevin (30 May 2020)."'... I think I've put up a good fight': Dallas boxing icon Curtis Cokes dies at 82 ".The Dallas Morning News.RetrievedMay 30,2020.
External links
[edit]- Boxing record for Curtis CokesfromBoxRec(registration required)
- 1937 births
- 2020 deaths
- American male boxers
- African-American boxers
- 20th-century African-American sportspeople
- 21st-century African-American sportspeople
- Boxers from Dallas
- World Boxing Association champions
- World Boxing Council champions
- The Ring (magazine) champions
- Welterweight boxers
- World welterweight boxing champions
- International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees