Popular promoter Cedric Kushner dies of heart attack at 66
Music Promoter and fight Promoter Cedric Kushner is well remembered for his work with heavyweights. He specialized in heavyweight matches. He also did budget pay-per-view telecasts called “Heavyweight Explosion” and promoted an eight-man, one-night heavyweight tournament called “Fistful of Dollars” (won by Tony Thompson). He was the promoter of Hasim Rahman when Rahman won the heavyweight title in 2001 by knocking out Lennox Lewis in South Africa. However Rahman then abandoned Kushner and signed with rival promoter Don King.
Popular promoter Cedric Kushner dies of heart attack at 66
Music Promoter and fight Promoter Cedric Kushner is well remembered for his work with heavyweights. He specialized in heavyweight matches. He also did budget pay-per-view telecasts called “Heavyweight Explosion” and promoted an eight-man, one-night heavyweight tournament called “Fistful of Dollars” (won by Tony Thompson). He was the promoter of Hasim Rahman when Rahman won the heavyweight title in 2001 by knocking out Lennox Lewis in South Africa. However Rahman then abandoned Kushner and signed with rival promoter Don King.
RIP, cedric.....
Wasn't he David Tua's promoter for some years?
Yes, he had a bunch of heavyweights. He used to have a monthly ppv called Heavyweight Explosion. It was only around 14 dollars and it had all sorts of fighters from Ike Ibeabuchi to Oleg Maskaev. Cable networks like MSG and Sunshine Network used to play the delayed replays a few weeks later. Great times for heavyweight fans!
One of my favorite Kushner moments was when he talked about the time Ike Ibeabuchi was in prison and called Cedric at 3:00am to tell him his cell was filled with demons.
Cedric's response:
"I understand the part about the demons, what I don't understand is why he phoned me."
Kiwi heavyweight David Tua's ex-promoter Cedric Kushner dies from heart attack
Cedric Kushner, the colourful boxing promoter and long-time manager of David Tua, has died.
Specialist website BoxingScene.com reported today that Kushner suffered what close friends described as a "massive heart attack".
He was 66.
Kushner, a native South African who moved to the United States in 1974 and operated his business out of New York, handled Tua for about a decade up till 2010.
A regular visitor to New Zealand, he was in the unusual position of promoting both Tua and American journeyman Monte Barrett when they fought to a controversial draw in Atlantic City that year.
Kushner had long battled obesity, trying a multitude of diets and even having gastric bypass surgery (stomach stapling) to reduce his weight.
With his trademark walrus mustache, he cut a larger than life figure at ringside and around the gyms, always willing to offer a considered an opinion with a special liking for the heavyweight division and open admiration for Tua's power and personality.
After a successful career as a music promoter that included handling tours by the Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac, Kushner turned his attentions to boxing in 1984.
Kushner's other clients included world champions Shane Mosley, Hasim Rahman and Joel Casamayor.
Ad Feedback
- Stuff.co.nz
..............................................................................................................