Curtis Cokes
Curtis Cokes was the third Texan, and the first from Dallas, to win an undisputed world boxing championship. In 1966, Dallas manager Doug Lord convinced Cokes to enter a tournament for the World Boxing Association Crown. Cokes knocked out Luis Rodriguez and won a unanimous decision against Manuel Gonzales to earn a clear-cut title shot. The title chance finally came on November 28, 1966 in Dallas, where he unanimously defeated the renowned Jean Josselin of France for the WBA crown. He successfully defended the championship five times before losing in April 1969 to Jose Napoles. He retired in 1973 with a 62-14-3 record. Cokes is continuing his boxing legacy by serving as a trainer at his Home of Champions gym in Dallas. In 1995 he trained Dallas native Quincy Taylor to the World Welterweight Title. Cokes was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.
