DALLAS, TX – Dallas boxing icon Curtis Cokes believes he understands what makes Manny Pacquiao so popular with fans and media worldwide and why he’ll win big March 13 over Joshua Clottey.
Curtis Cokes, 72, a lifelong resident of Dallas, was the undisputed world welterweight champion between 1966 – 1969. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY with the class of 2003. In a career spanning 80 fights, Cokes compiled a record of 62-14- 4 (30 KO’s).
Cokes certainly has credentials you have to respect.
“Pacquiao is on one of the best hot streaks ever right now,” said Cokes. “His better opponents have not caught up to his style. Some never had a chance. You can’t be a scientific fighter to beat Pacquiao. You have to take him into the streets and brawl but you have to be smart also. You must throw the correct punches, not just those that score.
“I thought Cotto would beat Pacquiao because of his natural size advantage. But Cotto ran out of gas early.
“Clottey just fights, he doesn’t think. It will be exciting while it lasts. You have to hit Pacquiao a lot of times. One big punch won’t do it. So you have to be intelligent and not just brawl all the time. Pacquiao’s speed covers up a lot of his flaws such as his poor balance and not twisting his body with his punches. Clottey is too far along to change his ways though. Clottey has no plan.”
Cokes believes Pacquiao will win the fight going away against Clottey. Cokes believes Clottey has to be respected like any other world class fighter but beyond that believes the way Clottey has been fighting lately he has nothing special to challenge Pacquiao.
Cokes has long been considered a fine trainer. Among his pupils were former middleweight world champions Reggie Johnson and Quincy Taylor; heavyweight contenders Ike Ibeabuchi and Kirk Johnson; and two-time cruiserweight title challenger Randy Stephens.
“I’d like to see Mayweather and Mosley fight. The winner would have just as much claim to the pound-for-pound bragging rights. But I won’t make a prediction on it.”
Today Cokes is still active at his Home of Champions Gym just south of downtown Dallas, but doesn’t like to do all the traveling and heavy lifting with the younger fighters that he used to do.
“Times have changed. Today many trainers are just valets.”
Cokes looked a fightin’ fit and ready 166 pounds on his slight 5’9 frame when I saw him. He walks in his Oak Cliff neighborhood of South Dallas almost every day and when at the gym he jumps rope and works on a speed bag.
“My heavyweight Kirk Johnson, 36, is coming back after three years off. He mostly lives in Canada. He’s going to have to find a shortcut and then pull an upset to get back in the game. I turned him pro. He can’t fight all the younger fighters though.”
Cokes moved into his mother’s old home soon after he won the title in 1967 and has raised six children there and he still lives there. He couldn’t count how many grandchildren he has.
Cokes had his world championship belt stolen from his gym office several years ago. Through the efforts of some of the World Boxing Council executives living in Dallas such as Spider Bynum, Steve Crosson, and business partner Erwin “Sparky” Sparks, WBC President Jose Sulaiman sent him a brand new belt which was presented to him at a local fight card three months ago. Today it is proudly displayed behind glass on a wall in his home.
Cokes is proud of the Pacquiao vs. Clottey fight coming to Dallas – Fort Worth in March. He couldn’t make the press conference in Arlington last week but plans on being at the fight March 13 and possibly a few pre-fight festivities to lend support.
Cokes defended his title at the old Dallas Memorial Coliseum four times. In all he had seven title fights included two losses to fellow Hall of Famer Jose Napoles.
Cokes won the world welterweight title vacated by Emile Griffith.
One of Cokes’ best memories was by coincidence having the same business agent (Associated Bookings) as the great jazz trumpeter Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and met him a few times.
He also played golf through the 1970s with country-western singing legend Charlie Pride. He had a 10 handicap at his best but now is happy to stay under 100. Another long-time friend was the late Reece “Goose” Tatum, the original “crown prince” of the Harlem Globetrotters who sent Cokes a telegram in the dressing room when he won the title.
Cokes never had an amateur fight, going directly to the pro ranks. He turned pro in 1958. This is because of the nasty times of racial segregation in Dallas. His first professional manager was Robert Smith of Dallas for his first seven fights and later Doug Lord for the remainder of his career.
Cokes won the welterweight title vacated by Emile Griffith.
Cokes, a right-hander, was born June 15, 1937.
Among the best modern fighters Cokes says he has ever seen are Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Bernard Hopkins.
“They were and are old school fighters. They do everything right. The most skilled I ever saw were Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Joe Browne.”
