Gary Bates
Name: Gary Bates
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Birthplace: Dumas, Texas, USA
Died: 2014-07-11 (Age:69)
Pro Boxer: Record
Gary Bates Gallery
Gary Bates was born December 19, 1944 in Dumas, Texas. He graduated in 1963 from Bishop Gorman High School where he was a high school football star. He served honorably in the Marine Corps where he participated in boxing until 1966, when he began his career as a professional heavyweight boxer under the tutelage of former Governor Mike O'Callaghan and future U.S. Senator Harry Reid. Bates was heavyweight champion of Nevada and fought future world champion Ken Norton in 1969 and future world title challengers Ron Lyle in 1971 and Gerry Cooney in 1978. Bates was a sparring partner for former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston and a bodyguard for U.S. Senator Harry Reid. Bates died from cancer on July 11, 2014. He was 69.