Just read that Richie Kates passed this past Saturday shy of his 70th birthday. Had the pleasure of rapping with him on the phone a couple yrs back. We're going to meet up for lunch then bang covid hit. One of the nicest gentlemen I ever spoke to in my life. Sad news.
Kates, born in Georgia and fighting out of New Jersey, was a staple on the light heavyweight scene in the late 1970s and on his way out by the early 1980s. He beat the likes of Jerry Martin, Jerry Celestine, Murray Sutherland, Don Fulmer and Len Hutchins. His losses on a 44-6 career mark included Celestine, Matthew Saad Muhammad, James Scott and Victor Galindez x2 in attempts to win the WBA world title. Kates had some slickness but would also mix it up. Always came to fight and never avoided a fight. Credit to the game. Apparently, Kates turned pro at 16 and had a 14-year career, retiring on a five-fight win streak and still ranked. But at 30 he’d had enough. His 44 wins are the most of any fighter from the Atlantic City area. He’s a member of the AC Boxing Hall of Fame. RIP.
RIP Richie Kates his famous wars vs Muhammad, Galindez 1, will long live in the memory. A fantastic fighter that was unfortunate to come long in one of the strongest Light Heavyweight eras of all time.
Just reading your list of Kates' wins and losses points out the stunning depth of the light heavyweights at that time. What an amazing era for the 175 pound division.
Brilliant fighter, arguably on par with the likes of Conteh, Galindez and Saad for ability and skill. Probably one of the best fighters at most weights outside of the Murderer's Row and great colour line victims who never won the title. RIP.
I was stunned and impressed back in the day when - in one of his greatest wins - he took the decision over the outstanding Pierre Fourie, in South Africa no less, at the height of apartheid. No mean feat. RIP Richie
RIP Richie Kates. A really nice stylist. His fights with Saad Muhammad and Galindez are a must watch. Also needs his own Wikipedia page.
