What Happened to Richie Kates?

[Flump]

Anybody know what became of Richie Kates? Interesting fighter in some memorable brawls with Galindez and Saad, I notice that he closed his career out with 5 straight wins in decent company then stopped, anyone know why?

[raylawpc]

Last I heard, Richie Kates works for the NJ Department of Corrections and trains amateurs in the Vineland area.

There is an interview with Kates in doghouse boxing. He is vague about why he quit, saying he "prayed to God for direction and have been blessed since."

Here's the full interview:

http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Ken/HissnerMM053108.htm

[BoxBuzz]

Thanks Ray...that was a pretty complete answer to that question, and entertaining to boot!

Every once in a while gold gets struck here when a question is posed. This seems like one of those times!

http://www.doghouseboxingxcom/Ken/HissnerMM053108.htm

You will need to cut and paste to your browser and then substitute a dot "." where the x is in order to read this article. This is a policy due to some past exploitation of this website.

sorry....

[raylawpc]

The link worked for me when I posted it, buzz. I am not sure why our system is doing this. The link works except when I post it to our forum. Try substituting the word "doghouseboxing [dot] com" for "spam" in this link and it should take you there.

[BoxBuzz]

Sorry ray, people will need to exchange the "x" I have inserted for the "dot" before the .com.

It's a recipe thing and apparently there has been some exploitation of this website. IN this case it's sad because this is genuine good stuff.

[raylawpc]

Thanks for the explanation, buzz. I was baffled.

[Flump]

Ray, Buzz, thanks very much guys, whatever his reasons, nice to see he didn't end up as cannon fodder for prospects and seems to have found a pretty rewarding career.

[Expug]

Nice to see Ritchie Kates mentioned.
He was a tough Lightheavy in an era of very tough Lightheavies. I remember him also as a guy who ventured into Rahway to fight James Scott.
Kates was a solid contender.

[dencnslr]

Richie now retired from NJ Dept. of Corrections, still trains young boxers at a local Police Athletic League where they named the gym after him. We've been close friends since the early 70's. My great-uncle and his wife were Richie's co-managers. Many of the light-heavies avoided him (Mike Quarry, Mike Rossman, etc.) or others gave him fights on very short notice. You don't see many guys hook off of a jab like he could anymore. He's doing well, is well-respected, no regrets even though he was robbed in the first Galindez fight.