Eddie Futch
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  American |
| Born | August 9, 1911 Hillsboro, Mississippi |
| Died | October 10, 2001 (aged 90) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Boxing |
Eddie Futch (August 9, 1911 – October 10, 2001) was a boxing trainer. Among the fighters he trained are Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, and Trevor Berbick, four of the five men to defeat Muhammad Ali.
Eddie Futch was the trainer of record for Joe Frazier, Riddick Bowe, and Montell Griffin when they defeated and handed future Hall of Fame fighters Muhammed Ali, Evander Holyfield, and Roy Jones, Jr., their first professional defeats.
Futch was born in Hillsboro, Mississippi, but moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan when he was five years old. They lived in the Black Bottom section of the town. When Futch was a teenager, he played semi-professional basketball with the Moreland YMCA Flashes. He planned to attended the YMCA College School at the University of Chicago, but when the Great Depression happened, he was forced to continue his job at the Wolverine Hotel to support his family. Here is where he trained promoter and trainer Don Arnott[1]
In 1932, Futch won the Detroit Athletic Association Lightweight Championship, and in 1933, he won the Detroit Golden Gloves Championship. He trained at the same gym as Joe Louis, the Brewster Recreation Center Gym, and often sparred with the future champion.
A heart murmur prevented Futch from turning professional, and he began training boxers. His first world champion was Don Jordan, who won the world welterweight championship in 1958. Other world champions Futch worked in the corner with included Bob Foster, Mike McCallum, Alexis Argüello, Michael Spinks, Marlon Starling, Montell Griffin, and Riddick Bowe.
He also trained founder of the Motown record label Berry Gordy as an amateur boxer.[2]
Freddie Roach trained as a pro under Futch and later became his assistant. From under his tutelage Roach has emerged to become one of the most respected coaches in boxing. Roach describes Futch as "the greatest trainer in the world".[3]
