Category Archives: Eddie Futch

A Lady, My Friend – Eva Futch

FLASHBACK *** This article was originally published on www.dmboxing.com on October 18, 2007

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

In all my years following boxing, since 1961, there have been lots of people that have given me gifts for my collection, and believe it or not, after 46 years, I can honestly tell you exactly
who gave me what and when!

This is a short story about just one of those boxing gifts that I recently received from a lady, my friend, Eva Futch, the widow of the late Eddie Futch.

Most of the boxing world certainly knows who Eddie Futch was – he was without a doubt one of the all time top trainers and corner men in boxing… ever .

He worked with boxers such as: Don Jordan, Hedgemon Lewis, Bob Foster, Joe Frazier, Virgil Hill, Ken Norton, Alexis
Arguello, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Trevor Berbick, and Riddick Bowe – just to name a few .

In my opinion, Eddie was best remembered for two things in his outstanding career in boxing, which were: on March 8, 1971, in what we in boxing know as the “Fight of the Century”, he guided Joe Frazier to a 15 round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten
Muhammad Ali; and in 1975 for his decision to stop the Ali vs. Frazier fight, “The Thrilla in Manila”.

Joe Frazier could not see the punches Ali was throwing because of his swollen eyes after 14 brutal rounds.

Continue reading A Lady, My Friend – Eva Futch

Eddie Futch – Remembering In Honor and Respect

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

October is the anniversary month of the passing of Eddie Futch. Eddie was born on August 9, 1911, in Hillsboro, Mississippi, and passed away on October 10, 2001. There have been, past and present, many great trainers in boxing and when I think of my personal best, that has to be Eddie. He is just ahead of my next five, and (alphabetically) they are: Cus D’Amato, Jack Blackburn, Charley Goldman, Bill Slayton, and Emanuel Steward – quite a group!

Eddie was simply the man that I consider #1, the best boxing trainer during my lifetime of following the sport. He trained or managed twenty-two world champions, which included Don Jordan, Hedgemon Lewis, Bob Foster, Joe Frazier, Virgil Hill, Ken Norton, Alexis Arguello, Michael Spinks, Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Wayne McCullough, Montell Griffin, Marlon Starling, and Mike McCallum, to name a few.

Continue reading Eddie Futch – Remembering In Honor and Respect

Why Mike Tyson is NOT in My Top Ten

*** FLASHBACK – this article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on September 8, 2008


By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I have rated many fighters in many different divisions, eras, and ethnic groups. One of my first ranking features that I posted on this Web site (see Archives / August 2007 or Rankings on menu to view) was my view of the top ten heavyweights of all time (i.e.) “Rating the Heavies”, in which I have gotten some criticism for not including Mike Tyson in my elite group.

First let me say that it is always a pleasure to write what I have seen in my 48 years of following boxing as a sport I deeply love. I have seen every heavyweight champion fight, either by living during his era, by film or by speaking with individuals who actually saw these champions fight, even at the turn of the 20th century. I respect everyone’s opinions and, of course, have mine to tell after having studied this very subject, giving a great degree of research on my part.

As I get older, the majority of people who have disputed that Tyson could have beaten Ali or Holmes if they fought in their primes are mostly people whom, if I asked, “Who was Cassius Clay?”, would not know the answer any more than they would know that George Reeves was the first Superman. This simply tells me that they never knew the fighter that beat a more feared man than Tyson ever was, that being Sonny Liston, and who also survived the biggest knock down in his career in the 1963 Henry Cooper fight, and all when he was Cassius Clay.

Continue reading Why Mike Tyson is NOT in My Top Ten

Eddie Futch (revisited)

By David Martinez
Boxing Historian

 

NOTE:  This article feature was originally posted two years ago … re-posting in honor and remembrance of the legendary boxing trainer Eddie Futch on the anniversary month of his passing … may his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord.

 

October 10, 2012 will be the anniversary date of the passing of Eddie Futch. Eddie was born on August 9, 1911, in Hillsboro, Mississippi, and passed away on October 10, 2001. He was a man that I consider to be the best trainer in boxing in my era of the sport.
 
He trained or managed twenty two world champions, which included Don Jordan, Hedgemon Lewis, Bob Foster, Joe Frazier, Virgil Hill, Ken Norton, Alexis Arguello, Michael Spinks, Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Wayne McCullough, Montell Griffin, Marlon Starling, and Mike McCallum, to name a few.

FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

Untitled-1dmboxing1_edited-(Fall 2013 Edition)

On a quarterly basis I always want to take the time to say thank you to a group of people that help make this website the success that it has become since I brought it to you in July 2007.

These people are: John Boitnott (Web Master), Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reader & Photo Editing), Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner), Dave Wilcox (Glove2Glove), Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer), Tom Donelson (Member Boxing Writers Association), Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader), Phyllis Vincent (Proof Reader) and the many others who have contributed input with their article features and comments to this site. Johnny Ortiz and Steve Corbo are personal friends who offer their views and I respect both as they are pure boxing experts to the highest degree.

Eddie FutchA thank you is also in order to John Palminteri (KEYT Newschannel 3 ABC-TV) for his outstanding photos and coverage on the recent Henry Calles professional fight at the Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California on August 16, 2013.

With the recent passing of Ken Norton, I want to acknowledge that he was trained by the legendary Eddie Futch, who also trained 21 other world champions. Eddie trained four of the five boxers that beat the great Muhammad Ali; they were Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. The anniversary of Eddie’s death is next week on October 10th; we lost Eddie in 2001. I would like to offer a prayer for a man that I consider the best trainer in boxing in my lifetime, Eddie Futch.

Continue reading FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

Eddie Futch

By David Martinez
Boxing Historian
 
NOTE:  This article feature was originally posted two years ago … re-posting in honor and rememberance of the legendary boxing trainer Eddie Futch on the anniversary month of his passing … may his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord.
 
October 10, 2012 will be the anniversary date of the passing of Eddie Futch. Eddie was born on August 9, 1911, in Hillsboro, Mississippi, and passed away on October 10, 2001. He was a man that I consider to be the best trainer in boxing in my era of the sport.
 
 
He trained or managed twenty two world champions, which included Don Jordan, Hedgemon Lewis, Bob Foster, Joe Frazier, Virgil Hill, Ken Norton, Alexis Arguello, Michael Spinks, Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Wayne McCullough, Montell Griffin, Marlon Starling, and Mike McCallum, to name a few.

50th Anniversary – First World Champion – Eddie Futch

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

December 5, 2008 is the date that will mark the 50th anniversary of legendary trainer Eddie Futch’s first of 22 world champions in his remarkable career. Don Jordan won the welterweight championship on December 5, 1958 with a unanimous 15 round decision over Virgil Akins at the Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.
Continue reading 50th Anniversary – First World Champion – Eddie Futch

Why Mike Tyson is NOT in My Top Ten!


By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I have rated many fighters in many different divisions, eras, and ethnic groups. One of my first ranking features that I posted on this Web site (see Archives / August 2007 or Rankings on menu to view) was my view of the top ten heavyweights of all time (i.e.) “Rating the Heavies”, in which I have gotten some criticism for not including Mike Tyson in my elite group.

First let me say that it is always a pleasure to write what I have seen in my 48 years of following boxing as a sport I deeply love. I have seen every heavyweight champion fight, either by living during his era, by film or by speaking with individuals who actually saw these champions fight, even at the turn of the 20th century. I respect everyone’s opinions and, of course, have mine to tell after having studied this very subject, giving a great degree of research on my part.

Continue reading Why Mike Tyson is NOT in My Top Ten!