Rick "Rocky" Lockridge


Rick "Rocky" Lockridge was an American professional boxer. He is perhaps best known for having handed Roger Mayweather his first defeat—a first-round knockout in just 98 seconds—earning him the WBA and lineal super featherweight titles. He later won the IBF super featherweight title. He is also known from his 2010 appearance on the A&E television series Intervention and a meme of him crying that was made from the show.

Early life and career

Rocky Lockridge was born on January 10, 1959, in Tacoma, Washington. After relocating to Paterson, New Jersey, at 19 years old in 1978, he made his debut fight in the professional ring on August 9, defeating Tony Reed by TKO. On September 18, 1979, he defeated Gerald Hayes via unanimous decision to win the New Jersey State Featherweight Championship, and on February 19, 1980, he won by TKO against Fel Clemente to win the USA Featherweight Champion title.
On October 4, 1980, he fought for the WBA World Featherweight title against Eusebio Pedroza, losing by a majority decision; this defeat was Lockridge's first in the professional ring. On April 6, 1981, he retained the New Jersey featherweight title by defeating Ernesto Gonzalez by unanimous decision. On August 22, 1981, in a fight for the US featherweight title, he was knocked out by Juan Laporte. On April 24, 1983, he met Pedroza again in the fight for the WBA featherweight title, losing by unanimous decision.
On February 26, 1984, he knocked out the undefeated Roger Mayweather in round one and won the WBA junior-lightweight world championship. After defeating Mayweather, Lockridge and his wife Carolyn moved to Mount Laurel, New Jersey, where they gave birth to twin sons Ricky and Lamar on August 23, 1984. Lockridge made two successful title defenses: on June 12, 1984, he won by TKO in round eleven against Tae Jin Moon, and on January 27, 1985, he won by TKO in round six against Kamel Bou-Ali, a future WBO world junior-lightweight champion himself. However, on May 15 of the same year, he lost the title by majority decision to Wilfredo Gómez.
On August 3, 1986, he lost by majority decision in the fight for the WBC world junior-lightweight title to the undefeated Julio César Chávez. On August 9, 1987, Lockridge defeated Barry Michael after Michael refused to continue the fight after the 8th round and won the IBF world junior-lightweight championship. On October 25, 1987, he defeated Johnny de la Rosa and defended the title, and on April 2, 1988, by unanimous decision, he defeated Harold Knight and again defended his title. On July 23, 1988, he lost by unanimous decision to Tony Lopez and lost his title to the Mexican-American. On March 5, 1989, a rematch took place between Lopez and Lockridge, which ended in the same way as the first fight. After the second defeat to Lopez, Lockridge retired following a victory against Mike Zena in 1989.

Later years and death

Lockridge returned with his family to Tacoma in 1991 – 18 months following his retirement from boxing – and he and Carolyn separated shortly thereafter due to financial stress and Rocky's drug addiction. 30 months after his original retirement, Lockridge attempted a comeback under new management in Washington, but both his fights in this period ended in losses. In 1993, Lockridge moved to Camden, New Jersey, alone, and he began working as a cleaner and painter for a drum and barrel company in January 1994. Shortly after, he was arrested for burglary and sentenced to five years probation. Three years later, he was arrested on a similar charge and served 27 months in prison before being released in July 1999. Lockridge spent the following years in homelessness, living on a monthly $140 and food stamps provided by the government, as well as pocket change from panhandling. He suffered a stroke in 2006, requiring him to use a cane.
Lockridge was eventually brought by his family onto the A&E television series Intervention in 2010. A scene from the episode, in which an emotional Lockridge loudly wails, became an internet meme titled "best cry ever". Following this appearance, Lockridge spent 90 days in a facility, and had remained sober since. Lockridge died on February 7, 2019, at the age of 60, after being placed on home hospice care following multiple strokes. He was removed from life support about one week prior to his death. In the weeks preceding his death, he was hooked to a feeding tube due to an inability to swallow, and suffered from aspiration pneumonia. His caretaker had set up a GoFundMe to help cover his medical expenses.

Lockridge is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
53Loss44–9Sharmba MitchellUD10Apr 22, 1992Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
52Loss44–8Rafael RuelasUD10Jan 30, 1992Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
51Win44–7Mike ZenaKO8 Jun 18, 1989Caesars Tahoe, Outdoor Arena, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
50Loss43–7Tony LopezUD12Mar 5, 1989Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.For IBF super-featherweight title
49Loss43–6Tony LopezUD12Jul 23, 1988Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.Lost IBF super-featherweight title
48Win43–5Harold KnightUD15Apr 2, 1988Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained IBF super-featherweight title
47Win42–5Johnny De La RosaTKO10 Oct 25, 1987Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.Retained IBF super-featherweight title
46Win41–5Barry MichaelRTD8 Aug 9, 1987Blazers Night Club, Windsor, Berkshire, England, U.K.Won IBF super-featherweight title
45Win40–5Dennis CruzKO7 May 24, 1987Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
44Win39–5Felipe OrozcoUD10Oct 22, 1986Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
43Loss38–5Julio César ChávezMD12Aug 3, 1986Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, MonacoFor WBC super-featherweight title
42Win38–4Efrain NievesTKO3 Mar 12, 1986Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
41Win37–4Fernando SeguraTKO4 Dec 18, 1985Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
40Loss36–4Wilfredo GómezMD15May 19, 1985Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto RicoLost WBA and The Ring super-featherweight titles
39Win36–3Kamel Bou AliTKO6 Jan 27, 1985Palazzo del Congress, Riva del Garda, Trentino-Alto Adige, ItalyRetained WBA and The Ring super-featherweight titles
38Win35–3Julio LlerenaKO6 Jul 29, 1984Castello Sforzesco, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
37Win34–3Tae Jin MoonTKO11 Jun 12, 1984Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.Retained WBA and The Ring super-featherweight titles
36Win33–3Roger MayweatherKO1 Feb 26, 1984Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, U.S.Won WBA and The Ring super-featherweight titles
35Win32–3Jeff GoodwinTKO3 Nov 23, 1983Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34Win31–3Cornelius Boza-EdwardsUD10Sep 9, 1983Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
33Win30–3Danny CruzTKO1 Jul 14, 1983Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
32Loss29–3Eusebio PedrozaUD15Apr 24, 1983San Remo, Liguria, ItalyFor WBA and The Ring featherweight title
31Win29–2Alberto CollazoTKO9 Nov 24, 1982Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
30Win28–2Angel LiraTKO6 Sep 25, 1982Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
29Win27–2Miguel Angel HernandezTKO3 Aug 22, 1982Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
28Win26–2Daniel FelizardoKO2 Jun 24, 1982Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
27Win25–2Jose NietoTKO8 May 23, 1982Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26Win24–2Robert MullinsTKO5 Apr 10, 1982Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
25Win23–2Jose ResendezTKO5 Mar 14, 1982Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24Win22–2Tony TrisUD10Dec 10, 1981Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
23Win21–2Refugio RojasMD10Nov 12, 1981Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
22Loss20–2Juan LaporteKO2 Aug 22, 1981Showboat Hotel & Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Lost USA New Jersey State featherweight title
21Win20–1Sergio ReyesTKO3 May 21, 1981Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
20Win19–1Ernesto GonzalezUD12Apr 6, 1981Caesars Boardwalk Regency, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained USA New Jersey State featherweight title
19Win18–1Ernesto GonzalezKO1 Jan 22, 1981Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
18Win17–1Benny MarquezTKO3 Dec 18, 1980Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
17Loss16–1Eusebio PedrozaSD15Oct 4, 1980Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.For WBA featherweight title
16Win16–0Livio NolascoTKO4 Aug 21, 1980Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win15–0Alfonso EvansTKO5 Jul 13, 1980Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
14Win14–0Marcial SantiagoTKO3 Jun 19, 1980Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win13–0Joey MayesTKO2 Apr 1, 1980Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
12Win12–0Richard RozelleKO2 Mar 8, 1980Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
11Win11–0Fel ClementeTKO7 Feb 19, 1980Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.Won vacant USBA featherweight title
10Win10–0Sammy GossTKO5 Jan 8, 1980Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
9Win9–0José OrtizKO2 Oct 30, 1979Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0Gerald HayesUD12Sep 18, 1979Giant's Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.Won USA New Jersey State featherweight title
7Win7–0Ronnie GreenKO1 May 31, 1979Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
6Win6–0Francisco MaldonadoKO2 Apr 27, 1979Robert Treat Hotel, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0Melvin BoyntonKO2 Apr 17, 1979Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
4Win4–0Melvin BetheaKO1 Mar 13, 1979Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0Tony HernandezTKO1 Nov 14, 1978Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0Jose Luis LaraUD6Oct 5, 1978Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
1Win1–0Tony ReedTKO2 Aug 9, 1978Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.