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.
Eddie, in my opinion, will be most remembered for two things in his outstanding career: on March 8, 1971, in what was known as the “Fight of the Century”, he guided Joe Frazier to a 15 round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Muhammad Ali; and in 1975 his decision to stop the Ali vs. Frazier fight, “The Thrilla in Manila”, because of Frazier’s eyes which were swollen shut after 14 brutal rounds. An interesting fact about Eddie was that he trained four of the five boxers that defeated the great Muhammad Ali in his career; they were Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick.
A man that is respected by all who knew him, may we remember Eddie in prayer in this anniversary month of his death; and I would personally like to offer my sincerest blessing to his widow, my wonderful friend, Eva Futch.
May his soul continue to rest peacefully in heaven with God forever.
Great tribute to my favorite trainer in my lifetime as well. I had the honor to meet him in 1999 during my first IBHOF visit.