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Curtis Cokes Boxing DVD:
$12.95
$12.95
Curtis Cokes (born June 15, 1937) is a former boxer from Dallas, Texas. Cokes was 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, he began to box professionally, defeating another boxer who would later fight for the world
title, Manuel Gonzalez, by 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 (his one draw was against Kenny Lane, a boxer who twice challenged Carlos Ortiz for world
championships), 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 by 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's vacant world welterweight title, in New Orleans. Cokes outpointed Gonzalez to become world
welterweight champion. On November 28 of 1966, he retained the crown against Jean Josselin of France by a
fifteen round decision. The WBC had decided to also recognize this fight as a world championship fight,
therefore, Cokes became the unified world champion. 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 Mexican José Nápoles in
thirteen rounds, in Los Angeles. On June 29 the pair had a rematch,in Nápoles 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 has worked with have been 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.[1]
In 2003, Cokes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
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, he began to box professionally, defeating another boxer who would later fight for the world
title, Manuel Gonzalez, by 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 (his one draw was against Kenny Lane, a boxer who twice challenged Carlos Ortiz for world
championships), 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 by 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's vacant world welterweight title, in New Orleans. Cokes outpointed Gonzalez to become world
welterweight champion. On November 28 of 1966, he retained the crown against Jean Josselin of France by a
fifteen round decision. The WBC had decided to also recognize this fight as a world championship fight,
therefore, Cokes became the unified world champion. 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 Mexican José Nápoles in
thirteen rounds, in Los Angeles. On June 29 the pair had a rematch,in Nápoles 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 has worked with have been 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.[1]
In 2003, Cokes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
