Photos of Cokes then and later, courtesy Sandra Clark Funeral Home
In 1966, Oak Cliff resident Curtis Cokes boxed his way to an undisputed World Champion title, and he did it without benefits (apprenticing with Golden Gloves, for example, or hiring a powerful promoter or being financially liberated to practice his sport full-time) enjoyed by white athletes, as this remarkable 2013 Dallas Morning News Sports Day feature suggests.
“No son of Dallas before or after has carried the most sacred modifier in boxing — ‘undisputed.’ Closest would be Quincy Taylor, who held a sliver of the middleweight title for seven months in the mid-1990s under the guidance of trainer Curtis Cokes,” the newspaper reported. (A quick search reveals this remains true today).
In addition to becoming the welterweight world champ while also supplementing his income during much of his early professional career as a bank messenger, Cokes, throughout the 1960s, “served youth in a dramatic way from his well-equipped Dallas gymnasium.”
That is according to this (scroll to bottom) 1967 Texas Archive of the Moving Image (provided by The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration) video.
The footage goes on to tell viewers that “for six years Cokes has operated a personally finance, integrated youth program whose accent is on physical fitness. At the last headcount, some 750 boys took advantage of this unique opportunity to understudy the champ.
“Cokes’ youngsters, well-versed in track, won 6 of 4 at the state meet and represent Texas in the junior olympics. Despite financial red tape postponing his title defense, Cokes’ main concern is his kids.”
Why share this today? The Texas Archive is celebrating 20 years and has asked supporters to mark the occasion by “sharing your favorite video from TexasArchive.org on social media. Be sure to use the hashtag #TAMITurns20 and tag @TexasArchive.”
Now, I think I have demonstrated, in the number of times I have written about it, that my favorite Texas Archives video is the Dallas Municipal Archives 1977 White Rock Lake riot.
The below Curtis Cokes video, however, is much more uplifting.
Cokes was an Oak Cliff guy, “famous for his training regime, which he instilled in the boxers he coached at his gym, The Home of Champions,” says his obit.
He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. He made one film appearance in 1972, in the John Huston film, Fat City, alongside Jeff Bridges, and Stacy Keach.
He died in 2020 at 82. A comment on his obituary, from a neighbor named Martha, indicates he spent some time living in East Dallas too. “Although we did not know him well, and only found out after the family moved away that he was a renowned champion,” she notes, “we always felt that he provided strength, calm, wisdom and peace to our neighborhood.”
Fans of TAMI also can participate in the Texas Film Round-up. The nonprofit is collecting films and videos for free digitization until April 30. Details here.