Longtime Miami-Dade amateur boxing director Dwaine Simpson dies at age 89

The love affair began during his teenage years and lasted the rest of his life.

Dwaine Simpson developed a passion for boxing that never ceased.

First as a fighter and then as a coach and trainer, Simpson always valued the importance of boxing and stated it to anyone who came within earshot.

Simpson, who ran the Miami Dade County Parks amateur boxing program for 42 years, died Aug. 3 at his Weston home after a brief illness, his wife Judy said. He was 89.

“Boxing was his life,” Judy Simpson said. “When we first met, I didn’t know much about boxing. Right away, I knew I’d better get used to it because it mattered so much to him.”

Born to a military family in West Virginia, Simpson grew up in North Carolina before his father was transferred to Opa-Locka in 1951. The boxing bug caught Simpson when he moved to South Florida and he never shook it off.

After an amateur career, Simpson turned professional in 1956. Simpson fought in long-gone local venues such as Little River Auditorium, North Dade Arena and the Pan American Club.

Amassing wins in the small fight club settings helped Simpson land bouts at the Miami Beach Auditorium – the Holy Grail of venues in the 1950s and ‘60s. Chris Dundee had become the preeminent local promoter and his weekly Miami Beach shows attracted top fighters from throughout the country and overseas.

A welterweight, Simpson never reached contending status but became a successful undercard fighter. Moreover, his bouts sometimes provided a comedic touch.

“He was a jokester but always took boxing seriously,” son Guy Simpson said. “There is the well-known story of the inscription under his shoes. One shoe had the word ‘Hello’ and the other said ‘Everybody.’ In case he’d get knocked out, he wanted to make sure to greet the crowd.”

Simpson’s 15-year, 86-fight professional career ended in 1971. After a brief foray in professional boxing promotion, Simpson found his calling with the amateurs.

In 1981, Simpson became director of the Miami Dade Parks amateur boxing program. Simpson oversaw instruction at the county-operated gyms in Liberty City and Tropical Park in Westchester.

“He changed people’s lives in a positive way,” Guy Simpson said. “An honest person of high character. A straight shooter. He had a beef with people who lied themselves to the top.”

Under Simpson’s tutelage, thousands of boxers participated in the program during his tenure. Among the notables were future professional world champions James Warring, Randall Bailey and Robert Daniels.

Warring played college football before becoming a professional kickboxing champion. In his late 20s, Warring transitioned into boxing and credits Simpson for teaching him the skills that helped him win a professional title in the new sport.

“Dwaine was one of the first boxing coaches that saw the importance of video tapes,” Warring said. “He broke down everything I would do wrong in a fight and helped me correct it. The Miami Dade system had several great coaches but Dwaine was a super coach.”

Warring later worked with Simpson at Tropical Park and now oversees an after-school program that teaches self defense at the Liberty City facility.

Simpson cared for the amateur program as if it were another of his children. In the 1970s, the Tropical Park facility became a popular destination for professional world champions to train for their bouts.

They were allowed to use the gym under one strict condition. After 4 p.m., the amateurs took over.

“Dwaine had a soft spot for amateur boxing,” Judy Simpson said. “I don’t know how many times I heard boxers talk about the valuable lessons they learned from him.”

Simpson retired in 2003 but, through his son, found another boxing outlet. Although boxing is no longer a sanctioned NCAA sport, several universities feature club programs. In the mid 2010s, boxing clubs spawned at the University of Miami, Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University. The Simpsons trained boxers that participated in the program.

“It was a good experience that kept him involved with something he loved,” Guy Simpson said. “Some of these boxers didn’t have a background in the sport but he took the necessary time to teach them the basic skills. When the time was right, they moved on to sparring.”

The tournament style program shut down after the COVID pandemic.

“Some of those college students who participated in the program now teach boxing in personal training classes,” Guy Simpson said. “It’s just another example of my dad’s impact on people’s lives.”

Simpson was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. He also became an active participant in annual Hall of Fame events, conducting seminars on training and boxing rules.

In addition to his wife and son, Simpson is survived by daughters Sheree and Dawn, six grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Paige and first wife Ramona.

There will be a celebration of life Aug. 19 at the TM Ralph Funeral Home in Sunrise. For information, call 954-587-6888.