Latest news with #EvanderHolyfield
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Former boxing coach of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield dies aged 71
Legendary boxing coach Tommy Brooks has died at the age of 71 following a battle with cancer. Promoter Lou DiBella confirmed Brooks' passing on Tuesday, 29 July, paying tribute to him as a "great boxing man and even better person". Brooks was renowned for coaching two-weight undisputed champion Evander Holyfield, guiding him to two victories over Mike Tyson. He also worked with Mike Tyson himself until 2002 and later with heavyweight greats Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. Before his coaching career, Brooks was an amateur boxer, winning a national title, and had a professional record of 7-3.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Tommy Brooks dead at 71: Legendary boxing coach who trained Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield dies after battle with cancer
Mike Tyson 's legendary former boxing coach, Tommy Brooks, has died aged 71 following a battle with cancer. Brooks was a national champion as an amateur and had a respectable 7-3 record as a pro but became better known for his work as a trainer. He coached former heavyweight stars Evander Holyfield and Tyson and Lou DiBella, the famous promoter, confirmed the sad news on Tuesday. He wrote on X: 'Got more bad news a little while ago. It was just confirmed by his family that esteemed #boxing trainer Tommy Brooks died tonight, after having fought a very aggressive cancer. 'Too young. Great boxing man and even better person, he was just a solid dude. 'Shared many memorable nights with Tommy and his wife, Donna Duva, during the glory days of Main Events. 'My love and prayers to Donna and all their fam. This is now a real tough stretch of losing real #boxing people. It's getting to me.' Brooks was Holyfield's coach during the 90s and 2000s, also working with Iron Mike during the 2000s. Ironically, it had been him who helped Holyfield beat Tyson in their infamous couple of encounters before helping the defeated fighter come back. Tyson and Brooks split in 2002 following the powerful American heavyweight's defeat by British star Lennox Lewis. Holyfield and Tyson weren't the only big names on Brooks' coaching CV. He also spent time with both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, working alongside the iconic Ukrainian brothers. Brooks will be remembered for his brilliant technical and psychological expertise during one of heavyweight boxing's most colourful eras.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Tommy Brooks, former coach to Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, dies aged 71 after cancer battle
Tommy Brooks has died at the age of 71, the legendary boxing coach passing away following a battle with cancer. Brooks is best known for his stint coaching former two-weight undisputed champion Evander Holyfield, while he also trained heavyweight great Mike Tyson. Promoter Lou DiBella confirmed the news of Brooks's passing on Tuesday (29 July). DiBella wrote on X/Twitter: 'Got more bad news a little while ago. It was just confirmed by his family that esteemed #boxing trainer Tommy Brooks died tonight, after having fought a very aggressive cancer. 'Too young. Great boxing man and even better person, he was just a solid dude. Shared many memorable nights with Tommy and his wife, Donna Duva, during the glory days of Main Events. 'My love and prayers to Donna and all their fam. This is now a real tough stretch of losing real #boxing people. It's getting to me.' Brooks won a national title in the US as an amateur boxer, before turning professional in 1977 and going 7-3. However, he is better known for his ensuing coaching career, having worked with Holyfield in the 1990s and 2000s, and Tyson during the latter decade. In fact, Brooks guided Holyfield to his two victories over 'Iron Mike' – in 1996 and 1997 – before partnering with the latter as Tyson looked to rebuild. Brooks coached Tyson up until 2002, parting ways with his fellow American after a defeat by Lennox Lewis. Brooks also worked with brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, who are considered heavyweight greats in their own right.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Tommy Brooks dead at 71: Boxing trainer who coached Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield passes away after cancer fight
LEGENDARY boxing trainer Tommy Brooks has died aged 71 after a fight with cancer. Brooks was a national amateur champion in America before turning professional in 1977. 1 He only had a brief boxing career, winning his first seven bouts before losing three on the spin to retire and focus on training fighters. Brooks shot to recognition as a coach first with Evander Holyfield. But after Mike Tyson was twice beaten by Holyfield, who also turned to Brooks during his comeback trail. And Brooks coached Tyson up until his 2002 loss to Lennox Lewis - parting way afterwards. Brooks also coached Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko as well as 2008 British Olympic bronze medalist David Price. Hall of Fame promoter Lou DiBella paid tribute, posting: "Got more bad news a little while ago. "It was just confirmed by his family that esteemed boxing trainer Tommy Brooks died tonight, after having fought a very aggressive cancer. "Too young. Great boxing man and even better person, he was just a solid dude. "Shared many memorable nights with Tommy and his wife, Donna Duva, during the glory days of Main Events. "My love and prayers to Donna and all their fam."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former world champion boxer Dwight Muhammad Qawi dies at 72
Hall of Fame boxer Dwight Muhammad Qawi, who took up the sport in prison and won world titles in two different weight classes, has died at age 72. Qawi's sister, Wanda King, said he died on Friday, July 25, after a five-year battle with dementia. "He was a great father, a great Pop-Pop to his grandchildren," King told BoxingScene. "He had a heart of gold, and he fought his dementia illness just like he was fighting in the ring." Born Dwight Braxton and raised in Camden, New Jersey, he learned to box at Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery. He turned pro after he was released in 1978 and later changed his name after converting to Islam in 1982. Nicknamed "The Camden Buzzsaw," Qawi won his first world title in 1981, defeating Matthew Saad Muhammad for the WBC light heavyweight crown. After winning a rematch with Saad Muhammad the following year, he lost to WBA champion Michael Spinks in a unification bout in March 1983. Despite being just 5-7, the compactly built Qawi moved up to cruiserweight in 1985 and dethroned champion Piet Crous before facing Evander Holyfield in what experts regard as one of the weight class's best fights of all time. Holyfield won the 15-round split decision in Atlanta on July 12, 1986, and then defeated Qawi in a rematch the following December. Qawi would have one more high-profile fight, a March 1988 loss to heavyweight George Foreman before retiring later that year with a career record of 41-11-1 and 25 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, and spent a large part of his retirement as a youth advocate and drug and alcohol counselor in New Jersey. Contributing: Field Level Media This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Hall of Fame boxing champ, dies at 72
