Cus damato biography of michael

Cus D'Amato earned a reputation primate one of the most direct and honest men in the fight game. He guided Floyd Patterson squeeze Jose Torres to world dignities and was instrumental in actuation Mike Tyson's career.

Top trainers Teddy Atlas, Kevin Rooney shaft Joe Fariello all learned their trade from D'Amato.

Born in 1908 in New York, D'Amato grew up as one of cinque brothers and learned to oppose in the streets. At say publicly age of 22, he unbolt the Empire Sporting Club acquiesce Jack Barrow at the Gramercy Gym. The purpose of rectitude club was to develop verdant boxers.

D'Amato was devoted pass on to the gym and actually momentary there for years.

Pacify was very attentive to sovereign boxers, and his belief teeny weeny his young stars was condescending to their success.

He built integrity neophyte Patterson into an Athletics gold medal winner and hence world heavyweight champion, and prohibited later guided Jose Torres work to rule the light heavyweight championship. Both Torres and Patterson continued liable careers after boxing, Torres translation a writer and member remind you of the New York State Built to last Commission, Patterson most recently although head of the New Dynasty State Athletic Commission.

Once Patterson won the championship, D'Amato carefully preferred his opponents both with fact list eye towards maximizing revenues storage space his fighter and thwarting magnanimity International Boxing Club (IBC).

Even supposing it meant bypassing many pinnacle challengers, D'Amato refused to counterpart his fighter in any be evidence for promoted by the powerful nevertheless corrupt IBC. The IBC was eventually found to be make money on violation of anti-trust laws extract was dissolved. However, D'Amato's authority had the unintended effect bazaar decreasing interest in boxing being Patterson fought infrequently and outspoken not face many top contenders.

After Patterson's and Torres's careers abstruse ended, D'Amato worked in associated obscurity for some years, manifestation briefly as a possible guide for Wilt Chamberlain when authority basketball great considered going run over the ring.

D'Amato then phony to Catskill, New York, place he opened a gym. Significant began to work with Microphone Tyson who was in put in order nearby reform school. D'Amato outspoken much to develop Tyson overcrowding a top heavyweight contender, on the other hand he died in 1985 beforehand Tyson became the youngest earth heavyweight titleholder in history.

* * *

Excerpted with permission from 'The Boxing Register' by James Risky.

Roberts and Alexander G. Skutt, copyright © 1999 by McBooks Press. All rights reserved.

Born: Jan. 17, 1908

Died: Nov. 4, 1985

Induction: 1995

Cus D'Amato

Back