Boxing legend Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, died in Toronto, according to Win Wahrer, the director of client services for the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted. He died in his sleep from prostate cancer at 76.
Carter’s boxing career, 27 wins and an astounding 19 knockouts, was cut short after he was accused for murder in 1966. Two years after losing the middleweight championship, Carter was twice convicted for the murder of three people in Paterson, New Jersey bar. The boxer spent years fighting the wrongful conviction that kept him behind bars for 19 years. After winning his trial for lack of evidence and racial misconduct, Carter was released in November 1985.
Carter later told his life story the in 1974 autobiography The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender to Number 45472. That book was later turned in the 1999 biopic Hurricane, in which Denzel Washington portrayed the boxer and won a Golden Globe for the role.
The boxing legend told CNN, “His time in prison his destiny might lie in fighting for justice.” He served as executive director of the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted.
Fans of those closest to him expressed their reactions on Twitter after news of his death was confirmed.
We a lost a great man today, Rubin “hurricane” Carter, the boxer who was wrongfully accused and became a symbol for racial injustice. RIP
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) April 20, 2014
“@Mannysaur: @rosieperezbklyn Hey I just read that Rubin “Hurricane” Carter passed away.” TY. Just heard. What a testament he lived. #rip.
— Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) April 20, 2014