Who Is the Guy in the Crying Meme? the Surprising True Story Behind the Viral Reaction
The contrast between the meme and the man's resume could hardly be sharper. Born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1959, Ricky "Rocky" Lockridge emerged as one of the fiercest super featherweights of the 1980s.
In February 1984, Lockridge knocked out Roger Mayweather, uncle and trainer to Floyd Mayweather Jr., in just 98 seconds to capture the WBA super featherweight championship. He held that crown until 1985 and subsequently took the IBF junior lightweight title in 1987. Across a 14-year professional career, Lockridge compiled a record of 44 wins and 9 losses, earning a reputation for his relentless inside punching and iron chin.
His life outside the ring, however, began unraveling before his retirement in 1992. After prize-fight earnings dried up, severe substance use took over. By the late 1990s, Lockridge had lost his home, his savings, and regular contact with his children. The man immortalized in digital group chats had survived a 2006 stroke that impaired his speech, leaving him vulnerable long before the documentary cameras arrived.
