The boxing world is mourning the death of legendary boxing trainer Tommy Brooks.
Lou DiBella, a Hall of Fame boxing promoter, shared on social media that Brooks died Tuesday after battling a very aggressive cancer. Brooks was 71.
“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,” DiBella tweeted. “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.”
In a follow-up tweet, DiBella expressed that the tragic news was hitting him hard.
“This is now a real tough stretch of losing real #boxing people,” he added. “It’s getting to me.”
Related: The Origin Behind Mike Tyson’s Infamous ‘I Want to Eat His Children’ Interview Revealed
4 Jun 1998: Evander Holyfield spars with Tommy Brooks (R) during a workout at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Mike Tyson’s trainer Tommy Brooks (r) laughs after Tyson has difficulty answering questions from the media at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow. Tyson is due to fight Lou Savarese at Hampden Park. (Photo by Ben Curtis – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
Ben Curtis – PA Images/Getty Images
Brooks was born in Little Rock, Arkansas but grew up in San Diego, California. He started boxing at 14 years old and went on to win the prestigious Southern California Golden Gloves and Las Vegas Regional Golden Gloves.
Brooks later joined the Air Force and won a middleweight belt there, too. He’d go on to defeat Michael Spinks in 1975 to become the nation’s top amateur in the middleweight division. He’d go on to turn pro and win his first seven fights before ultimately deciding to retire and focus on training boxers.
Brooks’ pedigree is one for the ages. He guided Holyfield’s two wins over Tyson before ultimately partnering with Iron Mike. Those under Brooks’ tutelage also included Pernell Whitaker and Vitali Klitschko.
Source:: Life – Fitness – mensjournal
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