Futch celebrates 90th birthday

Futch looks on at a training session in the mid-nineties

Eddie Futch, one of the greatest boxing trainers in the history of sport, has celebrated his 90th birthday.

The trainer worked with 20 world champions including five heavyweights.

"It's got to be a happy day to be able to look back and see all that he's done," said Larry Holmes, one of his former heavyweight charges.

Futch, a Golden Gloves lightweight champion who never turned professional, also trained Joe Frazier, Riddick Bowe, Michael Spinks and Trevor Berbick.

Other champions Futch worked with included light heavyweights Bob Foster and Montell Griffin, junior middleweight Mike McCallum, lightweight Alexis Arguello and welterweights Don Jordan - who was his first champion in 1959 - and Marlon Starling.

Stopped

But Futch came to public prominence during the Thrilla' in Manila between Frazier and Muhammad Ali in 1975.

In the 14th round he stopped the fight without knowing that Ali had won the fight on three official scorecards.

"He's a good father and I want him to see his kids grow up," Futch said of Smokin' Joe at the time.

His adversary in Ali's corner, Angelo Dundee, described Futch as a "talented, classy, and very warm human being".

Futch left the fight game four years ago but remains a part of it because of his vast knowledge.

"I keep getting interviewed, and I keep getting asked my opinions on fighters," Futch said from Las Vegas, where he lives with his wife, Eva.