Eddie Futch

About

Eddie Futch was a renowned American boxing trainer, born on August 9, 1911, in Hillsboro, Mississippi. He grew up in Detroit, where he excelled in sports, particularly basketball and boxing. Futch won the Detroit Athletic Association Lightweight Championship in 1932 and the Detroit Golden Gloves in 1933. However, a heart murmur prevented him from turning professional, leading him to transition into training. He began coaching at the Brewster Recreation Center, where he mentored young boxers and eventually trained top contenders. Futch is celebrated for training numerous world champions, including Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton, and Riddick Bowe. He developed strategies that led to significant victories, notably against Muhammad Ali. Futch was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994 and received several awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America. He retired in 1998 at the age of 87 and passed away on October 10, 2001. Futch's legacy as one of boxing's greatest trainers endures through his contributions to the sport and the success of his fighters.