Jackie McCoy
Born: Oct.4, 1923
Died: Jan. 13, 1997
Induction: 2021
Born Warren Wayland Spaw on October 4, 1923 in Oxnard, CA. He followed his father, “Sailor” Jack Sparr, into the ring and boxed as a professional bantamweight (1942-51) as Jackie McCoy, having met champions Manuel Ortiz and Harold Dade before retiring with a 34-11-5 (10 KOs) record.
He began managing and training fighters in 1953 and would become regarded as one of the most respected figures in the sport. His first world champion was welterweight Don Jordan (1958) and he would go on to guide a stable of champions including Mando Ramos (WBC lightweight), Rodolfo “El Gato” Gonzales (WBC lightweight), Raul Rojas (WBA featherweight) and Carlos Palomino (WBC welterweight). He also trained former WBA heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa and was cutman for Alan Minter and Danny “Little Red” Lopez. McCoy also worked with contenders Lou Filippo, Frankie Crawford and Alberto “Superfly” Sandoval.
Highly respected for his ability to train and move his fighters with unparalleled skill, McCoy passed away on January 13, 1997 in Anaheim, CA at the age of 73.