Curtis Cokes vs. Luis Rodriguez (1st meeting)

Luis Rodriguez 145 lbs lost to Curtis Cokes 147 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1961-08-03
• Location: Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, USA
• Referee: Zora Folley 87-98
• Judge: Lonnie Hudkins 94-100
• Judge: Dick Dixon 96-95

Walter Robertson of Dallas Morning News had Cokes ahead 98-93.

"Curtis Cokes of Dallas bolted into the national boxing scene last night by flooring No. 1 welterweight contender Luis Rodriguez in the 5th round and going on to win a 10 round split decision. Rodriguez was an easy mark for Cokes after the 5th round. Cokes rocked the Cuban with a right and followed it up with a flurry of punches. A straight right sent Rodriguez to the canvas for an eight-count. Rodriguez had smooth sailing in the first three rounds. His speed and fast left jabs baffled Cokes. But after Cokes big punch (in the 5th) Rodriguez was sluggish." -United Press International

• Unofficial UPI scorecard - 99-92 Cokes
• This bout was rescheduled by a week when Rodriguez' Miami to Dallas flight was hijacked to Cuba.
• Both Cokes and Rodriguez agreed to a rematch in Miami within 60 days.
• Attendance - 2,500

Post fight comment

• "He was lucky to get in that good punch. That was the only one that hurt me." -Luis Rodriguez, on the knockdown.