Curtis Cokes


Curtis Cokes was a boxer from Dallas, Texas, United States. Cokes was the World Welterweight Champion, and he was famous for his training regimen, which he also imposed on other boxers training with him.

Pre-championship career

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, against Garland Randall on June 18 of the same year, ended in a three round no 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, before facing Luis 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 to Eddie Pace at Los Angeles, California, on August 27, 1964, he announced his retirement. On October 14 of that year, however, he announced he was returning to boxing.

Championship

After winning three fights in a row, he and Gonzalez were matched for a fifth time, on August 24, 1966, this time for the WBA/WBC vacant world welterweight title, in New Orleans. Cokes outpointed Manuel Gonzalez to become world welterweight champion. On November 28 of 1966, he retained the crown against Jean Josselin of France in a fifteen round decision. Nat Fleischer was one of the judges for that fight.
On May 19, 1967, he retained the title with a tenth round knockout of Francois Villeiman, and on October 2, he met Charlie Shipes, who was recognized as champion in California. He knocked Shipes out in eight rounds in Oakland.
On April 18, 1968, he retained his title with a fifth round knockout of Willie Ludick, and on October 21, with a fifteen round decision over Ramon La Cruz.

Post-championship career

Cokes lost the world welterweight title on April 18 of 1969, being knocked out by Cuban José Nápoles in thirteen rounds, in Los Angeles. On June 29 the pair had a rematch, in Nápoles' adopted hometown of Mexico 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 in South Africa. He retired after a ten round decision win against Ezra Mnzinyane on October 5 of 1972.
Cokes had a record of 62 wins, 14 losses and four draws, with 30 wins by knockout.

After boxing

Cokes became a trainer after he retired. Some of the fighters he worked with include Quincy Taylor and Ike Ibeabuchi.
Cokes also made one film appearance in the year of his retirement. He appeared in the 1972 John Huston film Fat City alongside future Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges and Stacy Keach.
In 2003, Cokes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Death

Cokes died at age 82 of heart failure on May 29, 2020.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
80Win62–14–4 Ezra MzinyanePTS10Oct 05, 1972 Langa Stadium, Cape Town
79Win61–14–4 Joseph HaliPTS10Sep 23, 1972 Centenary Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth
78Loss60–14–4 Elijah MakhathiniPTS10Sep 09, 1972 Curries Fountain, Durban
77Loss60–13–4 Carlos Alberto SalinasSD10Dec 02, 1971 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento
76Loss60–12–4 Rafael GutierrezSD10May 24, 1972 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
75Draw60–11–4 Fate DavisPTS10Mar 17, 1971 Armory, Akron
74Win60–11–3 Billy BraggsTKO6 Nov 03, 1970 Eagles Club, Milwaukee
73Win59–11–3 Harold RichardsonUD10Sep 29, 1970 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
72Win58–11–3 Fate DavisUD10Sep 11, 1970 Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth
71Win57–11–3 Danny PerezTKO7 Aug 10, 1970 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
70Win56–11–3 Roberto PenaKO5 Jan 27, 1970 Convention Center, Fort Worth
69Loss55–11–3 José NápolesRTD10 Jun 29, 1969 Monumental Plaza de Toros México, Mexico CityFor WBA, WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles
68Loss55–10–3 José NápolesRTD13 Apr 18, 1969 Forum, InglewoodLost WBA, WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles
67Win55–9–3 Don CobbsKO1 Feb 10, 1969 Arena Exposition Hall, Saint Louis
66Win54–9–3 Ramon La CruzUD15Oct 21, 1968 Municipal Auditorium, New OrleansRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles
65Win53–9–3 Joseph SishiKO5 Jul 05, 1968 New Kingsmead Soccer Stadium, Durban
64Win52–9–3 Willie LudickTKO3 Jun 29, 1968 Praça de Touros Monumental de Lourenço Marques, Maputo
63Win51–9–3 Joe N'GidiRTD4 Jun 15, 1968 Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg
62Win50–9–3 Willie LudickTKO5 Apr 16, 1968 Memorial Auditorium, DallasRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles
61Win49–9–3 Jimmy LesterUD10Mar 15, 1968 Auditorium, Oakland
60Win48–9–3 Jean JosselinUD10Feb 05, 1968 Palais des Sports, Paris
59Win47–9–3 Charley ShipesTKO8 Oct 02, 1967 Oakland Arena, OaklandRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles
58Win46–9–3 Francois PavillaTKO10 May 19, 1967 Memorial Auditorium, DallasRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles
57Loss45–9–3 Gypsy Joe HarrisUD10Mar 31, 1967 Madison Square Garden, New York
56Win45–8–3 Mike CruzKO3 Feb 20, 1967 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
55Draw44–8–3 Francois PavillaPTS10Jan 23, 1967 Palais des Sports, Paris
54Win44–8–2 Jean JosselinUD15Nov 28, 1966 Memorial Auditorium, DallasRetained WBA welterweight title;
Won vacant WBC and The Ring welterweight titles
53Win43–8–2 Enrique CruzKO7 Sep 27, 1966 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi
52Win42–8–2 Manuel GonzalezUD15Aug 24, 1966 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans Won vacant WBA welterweight title
51Win41–8–2 Luis Manuel RodriguezTKO15 Jul 06, 1966 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans
50Win40–8–2 Billy CollinsUD12Dec 13, 1965 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans
49Win39–8–2 Fortunato MancaPTS10Apr 23, 1965 Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma
48Win38–8–2 Marshall WellsTKO12 Mar 15, 1965 Sportatorium, Dallas
47Loss37–8–2 Eddie PacePTS10Aug 27, 1964 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
46Win37–7–2 Al AndrewsPTS10Aug 10, 1964 Kearney Bowl, Fresno
45Win36–7–2 Al AndrewsUD10Jun 09, 1964 Castaways Hotel, Las Vegas
44Win35–7–2 Tony MontanoUD10May 12, 1964 Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque
43Loss34–7–2 Stanley HaywardTKO4 May 01, 1964 Blue Horizon, Philadelphia
42Win34–6–2 Flory OlguinTKO5 May 30, 1963 Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque
41Win33–6–2 Stan HarringtonUD10May 21, 1963 Civic Auditorium, Honolulu
40Loss32–6–2 Jose StableUD10Apr 20, 1963 Sunnyside Garden, Sunnyside, Queens
39Win32–5–2 Joey ParksKO5 Feb 25, 1963 Wichita Falls
38Win31–5–2 Johnny NewmanKO2 Feb 11, 1963 Moulin Rouge, Hollywood
37Win30–5–2 Gregorio CenicerosKO2 Dec 10, 1962 Dallas
36Win29–5–2 Hubert JacksonKO1 Nov 11, 1962 Sportatorium, Dallas
35Loss28–5–2 Manuel AlvarezUD10Sep 08, 1962 Monterrey
34Win28–4–2 Joey LimasUD10Aug 22, 1962 Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque
33Win27–4–2 Rudolph BentKO8 May 11, 1962 Sportatorium, Dallas
32Win26–4–2 Hilario MoralesTKO5 Apr 06, 1962 Sportatorium, Dallas
31Win25–4–2 Kid RayoSD10Feb 13, 1962 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio
30Win24–4–2 Carlos MaciasTKO4 Jan 23, 1962 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston
29Loss23–4–2 Luis Manuel RodriguezUD10Dec 02, 1961 Convention Center, Miami Beach
28Win23–3–2 Manuel GonzalezUD10Sep 14, 1961 Sportatorium, Dallas
27Win22–3–2 Luis Manuel RodriguezSD10Aug 03, 1961 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
26Draw21–3–2 Kenny LanePTS10Jun 08, 1961 Texas Livestock Coliseum, Dallas
25Loss21–3–1 Hilario MoralesUD10Apr 04, 1961 Auditorio Municipal, Ciudad Juarez
24Win21–2–1 Charley Tombstone SmithUD10Feb 13, 1961 Sportatorium, Dallas
23Win20–2–1 Joe MiceliUD10Jan 16, 1961 Sportatorium, Dallas
22Win19–2–1 Stefan RedlTKO8 Oct 24, 1960 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
21Win18–2–1 Joe Louis HargroveTKO2 Sep 13, 1960 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
20Win17–2–1 Pete RuizTKO3 Jul 29, 1960 Dudley Field, El Paso
19Win16–2–1 Lovell JenkinsPTS8Mar 01, 1960 Sports Arena, Amarillo
18Win15–2–1 Aman PeckTKO5 Dec 14, 1959 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
17Loss14–2–1 Frankie DavisSD6Dec 02, 1959 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston
16Win14–1–1 Mel FergusonUD8Sep 14, 1959 Sportatorium, Dallas
15Win13–1–1 Reggie WilliamsKO5 Aug 27, 1959 Memorial Stadium, Baton Rouge
14Win12–1–1 Rip RandallKO1 Jul 27, 1959 |Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
13Draw11–1–1 Rip RandallTD2 May 18, 1959 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
12Loss11–1 Manuel GonzalezSD10Apr 27, 1959 Sportatorium, Dallas
11Win11–0 Henry WatsonPTS4Apr 01, 1959 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
10Win10–0 Babe McCarronTKO3 Jan 20, 1959 Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock
9Win9–0 Ruben FloresPTS6Dec 01, 1958 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
8Win8–0 Manuel GonzalezSD8Nov 22, 1958 Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock
7Win7–0 Elmo Tex HendersonUD6Oct 27, 1958 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
6Win6–0 Sammy WilliamsTKO6 Jun 30, 1958 Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
5Win5–0 Cecil CourtneyUD6May 26, 1958 Sportatorium, Dallas
4Win4–0 Babe VanceUD6May 12, 1958 Sportatorium, Dallas
3Win3–0 Jimmy LeachUD6Apr 28, 1958 Sportatorium, Dallas
2Win2–0 Gil TapiaPTS4Apr 07, 1958 Sportatorium, Dallas
1Win1–0 Manuel GonzalezPTS6Mar 24, 1958 Midland High School Gym, Midland