I did not know him but I had Two friends that boxed as amateurs that met him over dinner to discuss the possibility of having a pro match against each other that would be a big event in their local neighborhood. Long story short the fight never materialized but both have told me that he was a great guy. His stache was epic.
A real New York character with that S African accent.Was very big in the 80 and 90's fight scene.I have seen him many times at Jimmy's Corner bar before and after fights at MSG-usually with Lou Dibella as his sidekick.
Seems to have been a self-made man, grammar school drop out… Promoted Fleetwood Mac among others. Interesting stories on him popping up.
I was a huge fan of his heavyweight explosion series which featured heavyweights on the way up Kushner was never a A type of promoter, but he tired his best and made a niche for himself. [url]http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12251155/cedric-kushner-former-heavyweight-promoter-dies-66[/url]
The documentary "Boxing: In and Out of the Ring" is on YouTube. Cedric Kushner is featured prominently. It was filmed when Rahman knocked out Lewis. Rahman was fighting for Kushner but his contract was up. And it shows how Kushner was overjoyed at having the world champ but Rahman, King, Tyson, Lewis & Steward's lawsuit, etc., all kind of conspired together to take it from him. Pretty much sums up Kushner's whole career in one documentary. Like Mendoza said, he was never one of the top promoters, but he'd steer young fighters and prospects to the top (and then they'd invariably dump him for Arum or King). I think his personality kept him from becoming the best. He was arguably the least animated/most boring promoter I've ever seen in my life. Yet, he managed to succeed. Seemed like a nice guy. R.I.P.
He was big in the late 80's. He was probably top 4 or 5 at one point. He wasn't a big talker like Arum and King. He probably wasn't as good a liar or as crooked either.