|
EDDIE COOL HONORED |
||||
|
The greatest night of his professional career no doubt
occurred
on that momentous evening when lightweight king Lou Ambers
came to Philadelphia to face Cool in a non-title bout. The date
was October 28, 1936. Their 10-round contest played
out at the Arena in West Philly, and Cool showed his stuff by
winning the decision in a close and competitive scrap. The
victory earned Cool the #1 contender spot in the world
rankings at 135 pounds, but it did something else as
Even while Cool was at the top of his game, he was a very
big drinker. The legend says that his team would often
discover him passed out drunk way too close to fight night,
but were always able to pick him up, brush him off, and get
him ready to fight. And usually
In his incredible career Eddie, known as the "Tacony Flash", faced a who's who of boxing stars like Tony Falco, Dick Welsh, Tony Morgano, Al Rowe, Pete Nebo, Lew Massey, Harry Dublinsky, Johnny Jadick, Frankie Klick, Benny Bass, Cleto Locatelli, Fritzie Zivic, Tommy Cross, Freddie Cochrane, Leonard Del Genio, Mike Evans, Jackie Wilson, Jimmy Tygh and others.
For 64 years, Eddie lay in an unmarked grave at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham, PA. However, in December 2011 this web site, Philly Boxing History.com, with permission from Cool's next of kin, placed a gravestone on his plot. Cool is buried with his younger brother Jimmy, also a boxer, who died in 1952 at 36 years of age. Now the Cool brothers are remembered and their final place of rest is marked forever. Philly Boxing History would like to thank all those who contributed to the Gravestone Fund. With your generosity, we were able to honor our fourth Philly legend in this way. Also in the club are Tyrone Everett, Gypsy Joe Harris, and Garnet "Sugar" Hart. Now Jimmy & Eddie Cool join them. There are many more to come.
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
Eddie Cool was one of Philly's best fighters.
But he is also
perhaps one of the most forgotten. Given the popularity and
level that he reached back in his fighting days, the crafty
and tough lightweight should be a household name. No
obscure pug, Cool made a name for himself while compiling an amazing record of 95-29-15 with 15 KOs
between 1928 and 1939. Granted he didn't care much for
fighting away from his native Philadelphia, but still he
faced and defeated many fine ring men, and made an impact on
the national boxing scene. 
well. By
showing Ambers and the world exactly what he could do, Cool
earned the reputation as being too tough for his own good.
Neither Ambers nor any other top lightweight wanted anything
to do with him afterward. Cool fought on for another three
years, winning most of his last 21 bouts (12-5-4, with 4 of
the 5 losses coming in his final 4), but
finally retired in frustration at age 27. 
he'd win! Cool was a natural
talent that accomplished a great deal, even without a lick
of discipline. Imagine if he was able to stay focused - and
sober - for his fights. 
Cool's
drinking and undisciplined lifestyle caught up with him on
July 11, 1947. At just 35 years old, Eddie collapsed at work
(he walked horses at Liberty Bell Park) and died from liver
disease brought on by his alcohol abuse. 