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.
Chase Briscoe won Sunday's Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, beating Joe Gibbs…
James Madison is leaving the Sun Belt Conference for the American Conference, the university announced…
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels took responsibility after a chaotic final overtime sequence cost his…
The New York Yankees fan whose reach over the outfield wall negated a game-tying home…
Football fans turned Lambeau Field into a sea of sweater vests, sunglasses and mustaches on…
Following the retirement of Lane Johnson, the Philadelphia Eagles traded center Cam Jurgens to the…