RIP Richie Kates

[scorpio83]

If anyone knows by now, former light heavyweight contender Richie Kates, who fought Victor Galindez for his WBA light heavyweight championship in their first fight had passed away at the age of 69.

RIP Champ

[gilgamesh]

While I think Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore are probably the single 2 best Light Heavyweights ever, and were from a deep era as well.

The 70's era of Light Heavyweight was DEEP as sh*t.

Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Marvin Johnson, Richie Kates, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Vonzell Johnson, Yaqui Lopez

And then Michael Spinks comes into the mix toward the end of the 70's.

Just an unforgettable era of the Light Heavyweight division, and a great time for Boxing altogether.

[goose 5]

Victor Galindez belongs in that mix, too.

[gilgamesh]

Victor Galindez belongs in that mix, too.

Yep. Incredibly stacked era.

[oogiebe]

I remember first taking notice of Kates when he KO'd Jimmy Dupree in 1. He was a terrific fighter who fought many of the best of perhaps the best LHW era ever.

Dupree was on my radar after having 3 pretty good fights with a local boy to me, Bobby Cassidy. Oh the memories.

[Joson]

I interacted with Richie about a decade ago. He came across as very gentlemanly. A fine man, the sort of person who deserved the utmost respect. I'm saddened to hear of his passing.

Richie Kates, rest in peace.

[Joson]

While I think Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore are probably the single 2 best Light Heavyweights ever, and were from a deep era as well.

The 70's era of Light Heavyweight was DEEP as sh*t.

Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Marvin Johnson, Richie Kates, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Vonzell Johnson, Yaqui Lopez

And then Michael Spinks comes into the mix toward the end of the 70's.

Just an unforgettable era of the Light Heavyweight division, and a great time for Boxing altogether.

In the 1975 through 1977 period, Kates ranked just below the two champions in status and ability as a light-heavyweight. He and Yaqui Lopez were the division's preeminent contenders before the advent of Saad Muhammad, Mustafa Muhammad, Marvin Johnson, and James Scott, all of whom surfaced in 1977 or 1978.

Too bad Kates never had a chance to fight John Conteh. That would have been very interesting.

[Ambling Alp II]

The light heavyweight division in the late 1970s and early 1980s was awesome. Kates did beat Murray Sutherland. He also beat Jerry Martin in 1983, his last fight. Nice to go out a winner. RIP.

[Nile4000]

RIP Richie. Had no idea. him and Lance Reddick.