In unhappy information, it’s been reported how former IBF cruiserweight champion Ricky Parkey has handed away on the age of 67. Lengthy-time struggle determine Aaron Snowell put the information up on his FaceBook web page. Whereas some tributes have appeared on the web. Parkey misplaced a brief battle with lung most cancers.
Older followers could bear in mind Parkey of Morristown, Tennessee. Going professional in 1981, Parkey received two after which he fought future WBA heavyweight champ James “Bonecrusher” Smith, with the 25 12 months outdated dropping on factors over six rounds. Parkey misplaced his eighth struggle, once more on factors, this time to Bobby Jennings. It was in 1984 when Parkey started combating for titles, however he sadly got here up quick towards Bernard Benton in a USBA cruiserweight title shot, Parkey once more dropping through choice.
Parkey then confronted one other identify heavy, with him getting a cut up choice win over Renaldo Snipes. Parkey, who by no means let a loss trouble him an excessive amount of, with him merely shifting onto the following one, was decisioned by Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, this in September of 1985. By this stage of his profession, Parkey was 16-4 and never too many individuals had been anticipating him to develop into a world champion.
However Parkey did it in October of 1986, when he scored a tenth spherical TKO over Lee Roy Murphy in Italy, profitable the IBF cruiserweight title. Parkey had overcome a lot and now he was a world ruler. Sticking round in Italy, Parkey efficiently defended his belt with a late stoppage win over Chisanda Mutti. Then, in his largest struggle, Parkey was stopped by Evander Holyfield in a two-belt unification struggle in Las Vegas.
Sadly for Parkey, he went on a dropping spell after being stopped in three rounds by “The Actual Deal.” Parkey, combating at each heavyweight and cruiserweight, misplaced to Johnny du Plooy, Gary Mason, and Alonso Ratliff. Parkey was now being stopped in fights on a reasonably common foundation. On Parkey soldiered, going through large names like Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Anaclet Wamba, with Parkey being stopped each instances. Preventing on till Might of 1994, Parkey would lose his remaining 12 fights. Ricky retired with an average-looking 22-20(16) report, however he was a world champion and at his greatest he was a confirmed warrior with loads of coronary heart.
We categorical our condolences to Ricky’s household and buddies at the moment.
