Celebrated trainer Tommy Brooks passed away on Tuesday at the age of 71 following a brief battle with cancer.
Born the eldest of 11 children in Little Rock, Arkansas, Brooks grew up in San Diego. He began boxing at the age of 14 at the William J. Oaks Boy’s Club in San Diego, later moving to a club run by boxing legend Archie Moore. He won the Southern California Golden Gloves and the Las Vegas Regional Golden Gloves in the Novice Division before joining the US Air Force. He continued boxing while in the military, becoming the All Air Force middleweight champion, Interservice Champion, and CISM (World Military) champion.
In 1975 he defeated Michael Spinks to become Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) middleweight champion.
He turned pro in 1978, but after starting his career with seven straight wins, he suffered the decision defeats in a row and turned his attention to training, initially working under Hall-of-Famers Lou Duva, George Benton, and Eddie Futch.
“I always say in boxing ‘I got my AA and BA degrees from Archie Moore, my MA from George Benton and my PhD from Eddie Futch,’” he once quipped, “and Lou Duva taught me to stand up for your guy. It should be done more often, fighters get screwed, so you’re just standing up for yourself.”
Brooks’ relationship with the Duva family would prove especially strong. He not only worked with numerous fighters who boxed under the banner of the Duvas’ company Main Events, he also married Lou’s daughter Donna.
Among the fighters Brooks coached were Pernell Whitaker, Junior Jones (with whom he twice defeated Marco Antonio Barrera), Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, and Freddie Pendleton, although he is probably best known for his partnership with Evander Holyfield, including Holyfield's two wins over Mike Tyson. Brooks subsequently also worked with Tyson, steering him through six fights before they parted ways following Tyson’s loss to Lennox Lewis.
He is survived by his wife Donna, sons Brian, Marlon, Jonathan, and daughter Cassandra and her husband, boxing trainer and former light heavyweight contender Shaun George.
Commenting on X, promoter Lou Di Bella lamented, “Too young. Great boxing man and even better person, he was just a solid dude.”
