Former Mike Tyson And Evander Holyfield Coach Passes Away At 71

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield were among Tommy Brooks' long list of pupils

Tommy Brooks is most famously known for his association with Holyfield, training the former undisputed heavyweight champion in the 1990s and the 2000s. He led Holyfield to his two wins against Tyson in 1996 and 1997.

He later also trained Tyson before breaking up in 2002, following Tyson's defeat to Lennox Lewis. Apart from that, Brooks also worked with the famous Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.

During his fighting career, Brooks won the US national championship as an amateur. He went 7-3 as a professional and managed two wins against Michael Spinks back in 1982 as an amateur.

But the Arkansas born trainer really left his mark as a trainer, coaching some of the biggest heavyweight legends in the golden era of the division.

Speaking of his credentials as a boxing trainer, Brooks once told the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame: "I always say in boxing: I got my AA and BA degrees from Archie Moore, my MA from George Benton, and my PhD from Eddie Futch. And Lou Duva taught me to stand up for your guy. It should be done more often. Fighters get screwed, so you’re just standing up for yourself."