Leroy Caldwell was my boxing trainer for most of my professional career. I met him for the first time when I sparred one of his guys at Johnny Tocco’s gym in Las Vegas where he trained fighters. We hit it off immediately and beginning with my 8th pro fight, he was with me for all my big fights. Our first fight together was at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Washington where I won my fight and also was picked as fighter of the night. We saw each other just about every week from 2001 to 2006 when I retired from boxing after fighting in NYC for the NABF straw-weight title. We traveled the world together and I was his first and only world champion. Unfortunately, having a female world champion at the time didn’t amount to the money that he would have made if I had been the opposite sex, but nonetheless he was so proud of our accomplishment together.
Leroy was a tremendous fighter in his time who fought everybody in the heavyweight division including George Foreman, Ernie Shavers, Ron Liles, John Tate and Gerry Coetzee to name a few. He also sparred with the likes of Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali and Bob Foster. He often took fights on short notice for little pay. His biggest regret in boxing was that he didn’t feel he was ever in shape for any of the big fights he had. He felt if he had had a trainer, manager and promoter behind him, he could have been a world champion. Arne k Lange offers a beautiful tribute to Leroy on the Sweet Science website in Requiem for a Heavyweight Gatekeeper and he discusses his own career in depth on the Boxing Life Stories Podcast with Tris Dixon. (Also check out another article in Sweet Science, Leroy Caldwell, subtle and quiet dignity).
Given the luck he experienced in boxing, resentment and anger could have fueled his existence. But what I loved about Leroy was that he was so positive and kind. He believed in me as a fighter 100% and that confidence led me to some really great performances. I learned so much from him and he shaped who I was more than anyone as a professional fighter. His passion and love for boxing was unconditional. He was my trainer and friend and I can’t believe he is gone. Leroy passed away in February of this year (2023) after spending much time in the hospital. The last time I got to see Leroy was in January 2021. I called him up and he was training fighters at a gym in downtown Vegas. He was in a wheelchair and told me he had spent two months in the hospital when he got COVID, but Leroy is a survivor and a fighter. He was as cheerful and upbeat as ever and introduced me to all of his fighters. I had no idea it would be my last time seeing him. I hate that I never got to tell him how much he meant to me (although I know he knew) or even pay my final respects to him at his funeral. I love you Leroy. You will be deeply missed by the boxing community in Las Vegas and by me, your champ forever. Leroy's Boxing Record Caldwell vs Coetzee Caldwell vs. Shelburg p 1 Caldwell vs Shelburge p 2 Caldwell vs Shelburg p3 Comments are closed.
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AuthorYvonne Caples is a Learning Experience Designer who is passionate about making learning meaningful and engaging for all. Posts
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