Boxer Curtis Cokes
Curtis Cokes, the first world champion boxer to come from Dallas, died on Friday at 82 from heart failure. Cokes has spent the week leading up to his death in hospice care, according to Erwin Sparks, Cokes’ business partner.
Cokes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. He had a career record of 62-14-4, which included 30 knockouts. Cokes was also a former welterweight champion, holding the title from 1966-1969. Cokes also claimed a vacant Texas title belt in 1965. After losing his WBC and WBA title, Cokes never really returned to the top of the mountain.
Following his career, Cokes would serve as a trainer. One of the guys Cokes trained was Quincy Taylor, who is a former middleweight title holder. Cokes opened a gym along with Sparks in Dallas, the ‘Home of Champions’ gym.
SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
On Thursday, as the World Series champion Dodgers gathered at the White House for a…
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez has renewed debate over the future of the FIFA World Cup…
Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness says she plans to seek her board's approval for…
The Kansas City Chiefs pulled back the curtain Wednesday on the first design renderings for…
The Boston Red Sox's remarkable turnaround season reached a new milestone Wednesday, as the Red…
A day after his ejection helped seal Argentina's World Cup final defeat, midfielder Enzo Fernández…