Trainer Tommy Brooks Passes Away at 71
By Gabriel F. Cordero
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 31 Jul 2025
Sadly, famed trainer and Boxing Hall of Famer Tommy Brooks passed away at the age of 71 this Tuesday, July 29th, after a long battle with cancer. Brooks was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and grew up in San Diego.
He began his boxing career with Archie Moore and Eddie Futch and later fought for the United States Air Force. Brooks won a U.S. national title as an amateur boxer and then turned professional in 1977, posting a 7-3 record. He won the AAU national middleweight title in 1975, defeating Tom Sullivan and a young Michael Spinks.
He worked as a trainer with legends such as Lou Duva and George Benton, and throughout his career, trained some of boxing's greatest figures, including Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis; the Klitschko brothers, Pernell Whitaker, David Price, Freddie Pendelton, Charles Murray, Meldrick Taylor, Mike McCallum, Vinny Pazienza, Charles Murray, and many others.
He is survived by his wife, Donna (Duva), his sons, Brian, Marlon, and Jonathan, his daughter, Cassandra, and her husband, boxing trainer, Shaun George. Funeral services in Georgia and New Jersey will be announced soon. Rest in peace, Tommy.
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