Curtis Cokes (June 15, 1937 – May 29, 2020) was an American professional boxer and trainer, who competed in the welterweight division between 1958 and 1972. He was the simultaneous NYSAC, WBA, WBC and The Ring Welterweight Champion between 1966 and 1969.
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 (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 in a ten-round decision to Eddie Pace at Los 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 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, 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, 1969, when he was 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, 1972.
Cokes had a record of 62 wins, 14 losses and four draws, with 30 wins by knockout.
After boxing After retiring, Cokes became a trainer. He worked with fighters such as 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.Curtis Cokes @ IMDB
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
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes80Win62–14–4Ezra MzinyanePTS10Oct 5, 197279Win61–14–4Joseph HaliPTS10Sep 23, 197278Loss60–14–4Elijah MakhathiniPTS10Sep 9, 197277Loss60–13–4Carlos Alberto SalinasSD10Dec 2, 197176Loss60–12–4Rafael GutierrezSD10May 24, 197275Draw60–11–4Fate DavisPTS10Mar 17, 197174Win60–11–3Billy BraggsTKO6 (10)Nov 3, 197073Win59–11–3Harold RichardsonUD10Sep 29, 197072Win58–11–3Fate DavisUD10Sep 11, 197071Win57–11–3Danny PerezTKO7 (10)Aug 10, 197070Win56–11–3Roberto PenaKO5 (10)Jan 27, 197069Loss55–11–3José NápolesRTD10 (15)Jun 29, 196968Loss55–10–3José NápolesRTD13 (15)Apr 18, 196967Win55–9–3Don CobbsKO1 (10)Feb 10, 196966Win54–9–3Ramon La CruzUD15Oct 21, 196865Win53–9–3Joseph SishiKO5 (10)Jul 5, 196864Win52–9–3Willie LudickTKO3 (10)Jun 29, 196863Win51–9–3Joe N'GidiRTD4 (10)Jun 15, 196862Win50–9–3Willie LudickTKO5 (15)Apr 16, 196861Win49–9–3Jimmy LesterUD10Mar 15, 196860Win48–9–3Jean JosselinUD10Feb 5, 196859Win47–9–3Charley ShipesTKO8 (15)Oct 2, 196758Win46–9–3Francois PavillaTKO10 (15)May 19, 196757Loss45–9–3Gypsy Joe HarrisUD10Mar 31, 196756Win45–8–3Mike CruzKO3 (10)Feb 20, 196755Draw44–8–3Francois PavillaPTS10Jan 23, 196754Win44–8–2Jean JosselinUD15Nov 28, 196653Win43–8–2Enrique CruzKO7 (10)Sep 27, 196652Win42–8–2Manuel GonzalezUD15Aug 24, 196651Win41–8–2Luis Manuel RodriguezTKO15 (15)Jul 6, 196650Win40–8–2Billy CollinsUD12Dec 13, 196549Win39–8–2Fortunato MancaPTS10Apr 23, 196548Win38–8–2Marshall WellsTKO12 (12)Mar 15, 196547Loss37–8–2Eddie PacePTS10Aug 27, 196446Win37–7–2Al AndrewsPTS10Aug 10, 196445Win36–7–2Al AndrewsUD10Jun 9, 196444Win35–7–2Tony MontanoUD10May 12, 196443Loss34–7–2Stanley HaywardTKO4 (10)May 1, 196442Win34–6–2Flory OlguinTKO5 (12)May 30, 196341Win33–6–2Stan HarringtonUD10May 21, 196340Loss32–6–2Jose StableUD10Apr 20, 196339Win32–5–2Joey ParksKO5 (10)Feb 25, 196338Win31–5–2Johnny NewmanKO2 (10)Feb 11, 196337Win30–5–2Gregorio CenicerosKO2 (10)Dec 10, 196236Win29–5–2Hubert JacksonKO1 (10)Nov 11, 196235Loss28–5–2Manuel AlvarezUD10Sep 8, 196234Win28–4–2Joey LimasUD10Aug 22, 196233Win27–4–2Rudolph BentKO8 (10)May 11, 196232Win26–4–2Hilario MoralesTKO5 (10)Apr 6, 196231Win25–4–2Kid RayoSD10Feb 13, 196230Win24–4–2Carlos MaciasTKO4 (10)Jan 23, 196229Loss23–4–2Luis Manuel RodríguezUD10Dec 2, 196128Win23–3–2Manuel GonzalezUD10Sep 14, 196127Win22–3–2Luis Manuel RodríguezSD10Aug 3, 196126Draw21–3–2Kenny LanePTS10Jun 8, 196125Loss21–3–1Hilario MoralesUD10Apr 4, 196124Win21–2–1Charley Tombstone SmithUD10Feb 13, 196123Win20–2–1Joe MiceliUD10Jan 16, 196122Win19–2–1Stefan RedlTKO8 (10)Oct 24, 196021Win18–2–1Joe Louis HargroveTKO2 (10)Sep 13, 196020Win17–2–1Pete RuizTKO3 (8)Jul 29, 196019Win16–2–1Lovell JenkinsPTS8Mar 1, 196018Win15–2–1Aman PeckTKO5 (8)Dec 14, 195917Loss14–2–1Frankie DavisSD6Dec 2, 195916Win14–1–1Mel FergusonUD8Sep 14, 195915Win13–1–1Reggie WilliamsKO5 (6)Aug 27, 195914Win12–1–1Rip RandallKO1 (6)Jul 27, 195913Draw11–1–1Rip RandallTD2 (6)May 18, 195912Loss11–1Manuel GonzalezSD10Apr 27, 195911Win11–0Henry WatsonPTS4Apr 1, 195910Win10–0Babe McCarronTKO3 (8)Jan 20, 19599Win9–0Ruben FloresPTS6Dec 1, 19588Win8–0Manuel GonzalezSD8Nov 22, 19587Win7–0Elmo Tex HendersonUD6Oct 27, 19586Win6–0Sammy WilliamsTKO6 (6)Jun 30, 19585Win5–0Cecil CourtneyUD6May 26, 19584Win4–0Babe VanceUD6May 12, 19583Win3–0Jimmy LeachUD6Apr 28, 19582Win2–0Gil TapiaPTS4Apr 7, 19581Win1–0Manuel GonzalezPTS6Mar 24, 1958
Titles in boxing Major world titles NYSAC welterweight champion (147 lbs) WBA welterweight champion (147 lbs) WBC welterweight champion (147 lbs)
The Ring magazine titles The Ring welterweight champion (147 lbs)
Undisputed titles Undisputed welterweight champion
See also
List of world welterweight boxing champions
References
External links