Career
On March 24, 1958, he began to box professionally, defeating another boxer who would later fight for the world title, Manuel Gonzalez, by a six round decision. His next fight, against Garland Randall on June 18 of the same year, ended in a three round no contest. He and Randall had an immediate rematch and on August 27, he knocked out Randall in the first round.
He beat Rodriguez by a ten round decision, outpointed Gonzalez in their fourth fight, and lost to Rodriguez in their second fight, also by points.
He went 13-4 in his next seventeen fights, and, after losing by a ten round decision to Eddie Pace at Los Angeles, California, on August 27, 1964, he announced his retirement. On October 14 of that year, however, he announced he was returning to boxing.
After winning three fights in a row, he and Gonzalez were matched for a fifth time, on August 24, 1966, this time for the WBA/WBC vacant world welterweight title, in New Orleans. On November 28 of 1966, he retained the crown against Jean Josselin of France by a fifteen round decision.
National Fleischer was one of the judges for that fight.
He knocked Shipes out in eight rounds in Oakland. On April 18, 1968, he retained his title with a fifth round knockout of Willie Ludick, and on October 21, with a fifteen round decision over Ramon Louisiana Cruz. Cokes lost the world welterweight title on April 18 of 1969, being knocked out by Mexican José Nápoles in thirteen rounds, in Los Los Angeles
On June 29 the pair had a rematch,in Nápoles hometown of Mexico City, Mexico, and Nápoles repeated his victory, this time by a tenth round knockout.
Cokes had eleven more fights before retiring, winning seven, losing three and drawing in one. His last three fights were in South Africa.
Cokes had a record of 62 wins, 14 losses and four draws, with 30 wins by knockout. Cokes became a trainer after he retired.
Some of the fighters he has worked with have been Quincy Taylor and Ike Ibeabuchi.
Cokes also made one film appearance in the year of his retirement. In 2003, Cokes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
