Mickey Goodwin-1958-2009. One of Kronk's first stars

MICKEY GOODWIN | 1958-2009

Kronk's 1st star killed




BY ERIC LAWRENCE AND MIKE BRUDENELL • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITERS • March 3, 2009

Mickey Goodwin, the Downriver boxer who became Kronk’s first star, was found bludgeoned to death in his home Tuesday, according to Melvindale Police.


Goodwin’s body was discovered about 5 p.m. at the house on Ruth Street in Melvindale he shared with his mother, Lt. Keith Guyot said.Goodwin’s mother was not home at the time. Officers went to check on Goodwin, 50, after being told that he had not shown up for work at a River Rouge gym where he trained boxers. Police declined to release other information, but asked anyone with information is asked to call 313-429-1070.


Trained by Emanuel Steward, Goodwin won the Golden Gloves title in 1975 and turned professional two years later. Goodwin (40-2-1, 28 KOs) and Tommy Hearns became the Kronk’s “KO Twins,” but it was the young Goodwin, with his Beatle haircut and good looks, who stole the show. Steward remembered Goodwin, from Melvindale, coming into the Kronk as a youngster, taking his shirt off and knocking out one of Steward’s experienced fighters. “He just kept turning up and knocking guys out,” Steward said. “Mickey was the big attraction at first at Olympia and around Detroit, not Tommy.” Steward said he had spoken recently to Goodwin about coming over to his River Rouge Boxing Club on Jefferson and taking a look at a new young heavyweight he was training. “I’m just shocked,” Steward said. “He was getting his life together. When he was boxing, he had all the Downriver people following him. Mickey was a star.”

Goodwin, however, never won a championship belt, like teammates such as Hilmer Kenty and Thomas Hearns. Referee Frank Garza officiated several of Goodwin’s fights. Garza, who lives in Lincoln Park, had spoken to Goodwin on Monday about a TV or radio boxing show Goodwin had in mind. “Mickey was guy who was always offering to help you,” Garza said. “He was a super guy — that’s what puzzles me, I don’t know anyone who would want to hurt him. He gave his time to kids at the gym. He was a real Damon Runyon-type of character. I never saw a violent side of him. He took a lot of pride in his work.” Garza rated Goodwin a very good middle and light heavyweight. “He was underrated,” Garza said. “He had weight problems throughout his career. But he was a damn good fighter, an out standing footballer and athlete. I’m extremely shook up right now.” Kenty, Kronk’s first world champion, trained with Goodwin as an amateur and pro.

“I liked Mickey; he was genuine,” Kenty said. “We’d call him ’Sneaky P.’ He’d sneak that left hook into you. …“He’d have climbed the middleweight ladder. His biggest opponent was his weight. He had to move up to light heavy and he was giving fighters three or four inches.”


I knew Mickey aka "Sneaky P" and/or "Swea P" back in the day and he had one of the best left hooks I have ever seen. He also was a great kid for whom I had a lot of respect. This is just plain awful news. I'm shocked by it. And terrbly saddened.

RIP Mr. Goodwin.

Good post, people forget the real heroes.

UPDATED AT 2:14 P.M.

Mickey Goodwin, the Downriver boxer who became Kronk’s first star, died of a stroke in home, Melvindale police said this afternoon.
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Goodwin’s body was discovered about 5 p.m. at the house on Ruth Street in Melvindale he shared with his mother, said Lt. Keith Guyot.

Goodwin’s mother was not home at the time.

Melvindale Police Detective Mike Welch said that Goodwin was not beaten as suspected earlier. Welch said the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s office had ruled that the death was not a homicide.

“It looks like he might have had a stroke and fallen down the stairs,” Welch said of the 51-year-old boxer.

Officers went to check on Goodwin after being told that he had not shown up for work at the River Rouge gym where he trained boxers.

Trained by Emanuel Steward, Goodwin won the Golden Gloves title in 1975 and turned professional two years later.

Goodwin (40-2-1, 28 KOs) and Thomas Hearns became Kronk’s “KO Twins,” but it was the young Goodwin, with his Beatle haircut and good looks, who stole the show.

Steward remembered a youngster from Melvindale coming into Detroit, taking off his shirt and knocking out one of Steward’s experienced Kronk fighters.

“He just kept turning up and knocking guys out,” Steward said. “Mickey was the big attraction at first at Olympia and around Detroit, not Tommy.”

Steward said he had spoken recently to Goodwin about coming over to Mickey Goodwin’s River Rouge Boxing Club on Jefferson to look at a young heavyweight he was training.

“I’m just shocked,” Steward said. “He was getting his life together. When he was boxing, he had all the Downriver people following him.

“Mickey was a star.”

Goodwin, however, never won a championship belt. After a draw and a loss in 1985, he went eight years before his next fight. His last came Nov. 29, 1994, when he beat Jamie Stevenson on points in Royal Oak. http://ringsidereport.com/forum/Them...ify_inline.gif

Mickey was a very well respected fighter and person. 51 is so young...RIP

The more well known Kronk champions have always cast a huge shadow....sounds like Mickey was ever bit the equal Champion in many ways.Very nice post Holmcall.Rip Mickey

Good post Holmcall, RIP Mickey Goodwin

Thanks, mates. This one hurt.