Classic Boxer Profiles

[Underboss]

Manuel Ortiz

Former world bantamweight champion.



Manuel Ortiz had an inau****ious start to his professional career, but matured into one of the great bantamweights. He suffered nine losses in his first two years as a pro, but this was a misleading statistic as Ortiz was fighting men of the calibre of Lou Salica, Small Montana, Jackie Jurich and Richie Lemos.

Born the son of Mexican immigrants in Corona, California on July 2, 1916, Ortiz turned professional in 1938. He gained valuable experience from those early defeats and a winning run earned him a shot at world bantamweight champion Lou Salica in August 1942. Ortiz won on points and made 15 successful defences until losing on a decision to Harold Dade in January 1947.

But two months later the title was back in his possession when he beat Dade on points. He made three more successful defences over the next three years, but often lost in non-title matches when his motivation was obviously not that strong.

His reign as champion finally came to an end when he dropped a points decision to Vic Toweel in Johnannesburg in May 1950. He fought on for a few more years and eventually retired in 1955.

Manuel Ortiz: Fights 127,Wins 96 Losses 28 Draws 3 (Knockouts 49).

By Mark G. Butcher

http://www.secondsout.com/Legends/bi...cs=235&cs=8611





Ruben Olivares

Former world bantamweight and WBA/WBC featherweight champion.



Ruben Olivares boxed for the love of the game. Unlike most fighters, the Mexican ****er came from an affluent background, but fought because he enjoyed boxing. In the ring, he was a devastating puncher and he soon became the idol of the knowledgeable Mexican fight fans.

Born in Mexico City on January 14, 1947, Olivares turned pro in 1965 and it was soon apparent that the teenager was a phenomenal puncher. He won his first 22 fights by knockout and built up a highly impressive 43-0-1 (41) record before knocking out contender Joe Medel in November 1968.

Seven straight knockouts followed until Olivares was matched with world bantamweight champion Lionel Rose in Inglewood in August 1969. He crushed the gifted, pipe-smoking Aborigine in five rounds and was also blistering in his next defence, brushing aside Alan Rudkin in just two before gaining a 15 round points success over compatriot Chucho Castillo in April 1970.

Castillo then beat Olivares on cuts in their October rematch and thus handed Ruben his first pro defeat in 61 contests. But Olivares gained revenge on points the following April before losing on an eighth round knockout in his third defence to Rafael Herrera in March 1972.

He came back in July 1974 as a featherweight and won the vacant WBA title in his new weight class with a seventh round knockout of Japanese Zensuke Utagawa. But his success was short-lived when the great Alexis Arguello knocked him out in the 13th round of his first defence just four months later.

Olivares was still immensely popular and he soon gained another opportunity, halting Bobby Chacon in two rounds to win the WBC featherweight title in June 1975. But, again, he couldn’t hold onto it for long and, three months later, he lost his new title on points to Ghanaian David Kotey.

He enjoyed mixed success after that, falling in 12 rounds in a WBA featherweight title bid against Eusebio Pedroza in July 1979 and embarking on several mini comebacks throughout the eighties without much success, lastly in 1988.

Ruben Olivares: Fights 104, Wins 88 Losses 13 Draws 3 (Knockouts 78).

By Mark G. Butcher

http://www.secondsout.com/Legends/bi...cs=235&cs=8612

[Underboss]

Willie Pep

Former world featherweight champion.



Willie Pep is regarded as the finest defensive fighter ever to grace the game. “Will O’ The Wisp” even won a round without throwing a punch - just by feinting, slipping and blocking punches. All three judges gave the round to Pep, who never landed once, but mesmerised his foe with natural reflexes alone.

Born Guiglermo Papaleo in Middletown, Connecticut on September 19, 1922, Pep became a fine amateur and turned professional in 1940. He won his first 54 contests before outclassing Albert “Chalky” Wright over 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden in November 1942 to win the New York version of the world featherweight title at just 20 years old.

His first defeat came in a scrappy affair against lightweight Sammy Angott in March 1943, but in his natural division Pep remained peerless. He served in the US Army and Navy in World War II, but carried on fighting numerous non-title bouts and defending his title in style.

But an airplane crash in January 1947 severely blighted Pep’s career. He suffered bad injuries to leg and back and doctors’ advised he would never fight again. Yet while Pep returned to defend his title, he would never be the same fighter as before.

By 1948, Pep boasted a 135-1-1 (45) record and had made six successful defences including a 12th round knockout of NBA champion Sal Bartolo to unify the title in June 1946. He was literally untouchable until he ran into the hard-punching Sandy Saddler in October 1948 and was cut and floored en route to a bruising fourth round defeat.

Pep gained revenge with a flawless display in the rematch. The Wisp suffered severe lacerations over the eye, but still outscored Saddler over 15 rounds in New York in February 1949. But after three more defences, Saddler returned to stop Pep in the eighth round in New York in September 1950. One year later, Saddler triumphed again in the ninth of a foul-infested encounter that was so dirty Pep’s New York license was revoked and Saddler’s was suspended.

Pep boxed on and won most of the time before calling it quits in January 1959. He stayed retired until 1965 when he won nine bouts in a brief comeback before hanging up his gloves for good in March 1966.

Willie Pep: Fights 241, Wins 229 Losses 11 Draw 1 (Knockouts 65).

By Mark G. Butcher

http://www.secondsout.com/Legends/bi...cs=235&cs=8613


Eusebio Pedroza

Former WBA featherweight champion.

Eusebio Pedroza was a world champion in the truest sense. During a seven year reign in which he made 19 successful defences, the Panamanian defended his crown in places as diverse as Japan, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, New Guinea, Korea, America and Italy before losing to Irish hero Barry McGuigan in London in June 1985.

Pedroza was born in Panama City on March 2, 1953 and turned pro in December 1973. He started out as a bantamweight even though he stood tall - at 5ft 9ins - for the weight division. Pedroza suffered an early knockout before falling again in just two rounds to Alfonso Zamora in a WBA bantamweight challenge in April 1976. He endured another disappointing defeat before making a welcome move to the featherweight division, which suited his taller frame.

The result was almost immediate and Pedroza won the WBA featherweight title with a 13th round knockout of Spaniard Cecilio Lastra in Panama City in April 1978. Over the next seven years, he fought the best men available including Juan LaPorte (w pts 15), and soon gained a reputation as a strong and aggressive champion, who would defend his crown against any fighter, even in his own backyard.

But the championship reign came to an end in his 20th defence against the pressure-fighting McGuigan when Pedroza was clearly outpointed over 15 rounds in an excellent contest at Loftus Road. He retired briefly after that loss, but made two ill-advised comebacks - the last of which fizzled out in November 1992.

Eusebio Pedroza: Fights 49, Wins 42 Losses 6 Draws 1 (Knockouts 25).

By Mark G. Butcher



Barney Ross

Former world lightweight, light-welterweight and welterweight champion.



Legend has it that Barney Ross once worked for Al Capone and only his ***ish faith stopped him from becoming a made man. The super-tough Ross would have made one hell of gangster, for in the ring he was fast and strong with bundles of heart. He was a world champion at three weights when it really meant something, and the competition was much tougher than it is today.

Ross was born Beryl Rossofsky in New York City on December 23, 1909. Life dealt him a bitter blow at 14, when his rabbi father was murdered by robbers at the family dairy in Chicago’s West Side, sending the family into freefall. His mother suffered a breakdown, resulting in Ross’ three younger siblings being placed in orphanage and forcing Barney to make ends meet by whatever means necessary.

Barney became involved in racketeering to earn money for his separated family, before moving on to the slightly more lawful pursuit of boxing and turning pro in 1929. Ross’ progress was aided by an iron chin and in his entire career he was never stopped inside the distance.

He outpointed former world featherweight champion Bat Battallino in August 1932 and “The Fargo Express” Billy Petrolle in March 1933 to set up a clash with world light and light-welterweight champion Tony Canzoneri. It was a closely-contested battle, but Ross won a points decision and both titles in Chicago in June 1933. The win helped move his family into a large apartment with the rent paid.

Ross travelled to Canzoneri’s backyard to win a rematch on points in New York City three months later and then gave up the lightweight crown due to weight-making difficulties. He made three successful defences of his light-welter title before challenging Jimmy McLarnin for the world welterweight crown in May 1934. They traded knockdowns before Ross earned a hard-fought split decision after 15 rounds. Yet four months later Ross controversially lost the rematch on points.

Barney returned to light-welterweight for three more defences before facing McLarnin for a third time in May 1935 and this time he overcame a broken thumb to win clearly on points. He fought off a tough challenge from Ceferino Garcia (w pts 15) in September 1937 before losing his title to the great Henry Armstrong in his next defence. Ross withstood a 15 round battering against the relentless Armstrong, but showed enormous guts to last the distance in May 1938. He retired immediately afterwards.

Ross served with distinction as a marine during World War II, defending a foxhole almost single-handedly against hordes of Japanese soldiers at Guadalcanal. He was decorated for his service though he became heavily addicted to the drugs used to treat his war wounds. But, after an intense struggle, he overcame his problems with the same bravery he had shown in the ring.

Ross died in Chicago on January 17, 1967.

Barney Ross: Fights 81, Wins 73 Losses 4 Draws 3 No Decisions 1 (Knockouts 25).

By Mark G. Butcher




John L. Sullivan

Former world heavyweight champion.




John L. Sullivan was a true fighting man. He drank, womanised and proudly boasted he “could lick any man in the house”. He was the first world heavyweight champion to wear gloves – as required under the Marquess of Queensbury rules - and boxing’s first ever superstar, commanding combined purses of over a million dollars in the course of his career.

Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts on October 15, 1858, Sullivan turned professional as a high-spirited youngster in 1878. He soon gained the nickname “Boston Strong Boy” and used his brute strength to tear through the opposition before meeting Irish-born Paddy Ryan for the bareknuckle championship of the world in Mississippi City in February 1882.

So fierce was Sullivan’s onslaught that Ryan’s corner threw in the sponge before the start of the ninth round, after their man had taken a sustained beating. Sullivan was now the champion and made his name fighting exhibitions across the land, but he refused to fight any black boxer and drew what came to be known as boxing’s “colour line”.

He only defended his title twice in the next 10 years battling a 39 round draw with Charlie Mitchell in Chantilly, France in March 1888 and knocking out Jake Kilrain in the 75th round in July 1889.

But the end finally came against “Gentleman” Jim Corbett in September 1892 in New Orleans. Sullivan outweighed Corbett by 32 pounds and was a 4-1 favourite entering the fight, but he was old and tired, and the younger, more scientific challenger outboxed the old warhorse before knocking him out in the 21st round. It was the end of an era and the last of the Prize Ring champions was gone for good.

Sullivan drank heavily after that career-ending defeat, but later lectured against the evils of alcoholism. He died in Abingdon, Massachusetts, on February 2, 1918.

John L. Sullivan: Fights 45, Wins 41 Losses 1 Draws 3 (Knockouts 33).

By Mark G. Butcher

[Underboss]

Battling Siki

Former world light-heavyweight champion.





Battling Siki began life as a rich woman’s toy boy and ended it murdered in a darkened street in Hell’s Kitchen. His life frequently touched the bizarre and his real name remains unknown to this day.

Born in St. Louis, Senegal on September 16, 1897, Siki was brought to France by a wealthy Frenchwoman who named him “Louis Phal”, in reference to the young African’s most striking characteristic. But she must have grown bored of him as he was soon earning a living as a dishwasher until he started boxing in 1913, shortly before World War I.

The big African went to war and was awarded the Croix De Guerre for his heroism. He returned to the ring as Battling Siki where he soon gained a following and lost only one of 45 fights. Siki was strong, but crude, and therefore not considered too great a threat when he challenged the celebrated Georges Carpentier for the world light-heavyweight title in Paris in September 1922.

But Siki shocked the complacent Carpentier with a sixth round knockout that was initially declared a disqualification win for the champion, and then reversed to the correct result when the Parisian crowd roared their disapproval.

But Siki’s reign was short-lived and he had the misfortune of defending against Mike McTigue on St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin in 1923. It was at the height of the Irish Civil War and ******* and explosions were audible from outside, but inside the ring McTigue won the title on points after an uneventful encounter.

Siki moved to America later that year though he never managed to recapture his previous form. He gained notoriety for his eccentric behavior and often strolled the streets of New York holding a lion on a leash. He met a tragic end, shot dead in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York on December 15, 1925. He was only 28.

He may not have been the greatest light-heavyweight champion, but Siki was certainly one of the most colourful.

Battling Siki: Fights 93, Wins 63 Losses 20 Draws 5 No Decisions 5 (Knockouts 35).




Salvador Sanchez

Former WBC featherweight champion.



The career of Salvador Sanchez was another case of what might have been. Boxing was robbed of potentially the best featherweight in history when the young Mexican crashed his Porsche into a tractor-trailer in 1982. Sanchez was only 24, but had defended his WBC featherweight title nine times against some outstanding challengers and the feeling was that the best was yet to come.

Sanchez was born in Santiago, Mexico on February 3, 1958 and turned professional at just 17 in 1975. He reeled off 18 straight wins with all bar one coming inside the distance before suffering his only career loss - on points to Antonio Becerra for the Mexican bantamweight title in September 1977.

He rose to featherweight and raced up the rankings with a combination of classy countering and smooth boxing skills. Sanchez was now ready for the hard-punching Danny “Little Red” Lopez, the WBC featherweight champion, and deftly avoided Lopez’s powerful right before stopping him in the 13th round in Phoenix in February 1980.

Sanchez stayed busy, outscoring Ruben Castillo over 15 rounds that April and wearing down Lopez in the 14th round of their rematch in June. He completed an incredible year with points wins over clever Guyanese Patrick Ford and tough Puerto Rican Juan LaPorte, who would later become champion.

Spaniard Roberto Castanon fell in 10 rounds in a March 1981 defence before Puerto Rican ****er Wilfredo Gomez, the WBC super-bantam champ, stepped up in weight to take on Sanchez in August 1981. The unbeaten Gomez had 32 wins with all 32 coming by stoppage against a sole draw and was favoured to beat the mercurial Sanchez, but the Mexican turned on the style to administer a crushing eighth round knockout in the heat of Las Vegas.

Sanchez followed this great achievement with decision wins over Pat Cowdell and Jorge Garcia before meeting unsung Ghanaian Azumah Nelson in July 1982. Few knew that Nelson would mature into greatness, but he gave Sanchez a tough night and a glimpse of his glittering potential before the champion ground him down for a stoppage in the 15th and final round.

The Mexican signed for a rematch with LaPorte when tragedy struck, and he died in a car crash in Queretaro on August 12, 1982.

Salvador Sanchez: Fights 46, Wins 44 Losses 1 Draws 1 (Knockouts 32).





Sandy Saddler

Former world featherweight and super-featherweight champion.



Sandy Saddler was one of a unique band of fighters to have scored 100 knockout wins and was renowned as the arch nemesis of Willie Pep with whom he engaged in four classic battles between 1948-1951. He was a lean and powerful fighter, standing tall for a featherweight at 5ft 8 1/2ins and with a telescopic reach, which he used with devastating effect.

Born Joseph Saddler in Boston on June 23, 1926, he was raised in the Harlem area of New York and turned professional in 1944 after a brief stint as an amateur. It took Saddler almost 100 pro fights before he gained a world title shot, but he did nothing to dispel his reputation as a “dirty fighter” when he challenged Pep for the world featherweight title he had held for almost six years.

Yet the challenger had to make financial sacrifices. Saddler guaranteed Pep $25,000 to take the fight which meant he was boxing for little more than his training expenses, but the gamble paid off as he floored and finally stopped Pep in the fourth to become the new champion in October 1948.

He lost an epic return contest on points the following year, but rebounded to halt Pep twice - in eight rounds in September 1950 and nine in September 1951. The second of those contests was so dirty that Saddler’s New York license was suspended while Pep’s was revoked.

After losing to Pep in 1949, Saddler had gained brief recognition as world super-featherweight champion, outpointing Cuban Orlando Zulueta in December 1949. He defended twice before moving permanently down to featherweight to settle his business with Pep.

Following his final win over Pep, Saddler was out of the game for three-and-a-half years after serving in the army, but returned to outpoint interim champion Teddy Davis in February 1955 and stop rising star Gabriel “Flash” Elorde in 13 rounds in January 1956.

But Saddler suffered a badly injured eye in a car crash and was forced to retire in 1957, aged 30. He later became a trainer.

He died on September 18, 2001. He was aged 75.


Sandy Saddler: Fights 162, Wins 144 Losses 16 Draws 2 (Knockouts 103).

[Underboss]

Gene Tunney

Former world heavyweight champion.



Gene Tunney will always be remembered as the man who tamed Jack Dempsey. “The Fighting Marine” twice outboxed the long-reigning “Manassa Mauler” though arguments will always rage over their second fight - the legendary “Battle of the Long Count” - when Tunney was down for 14 seconds, but allowed to get up and retain the world heavyweight title on points.

Tunney was among the unlikeliest of world champions. He came from a more comfortable background than his contemporaries and led a far different lifestyle. He was teetotal and an articulate gentleman, but also one of the most underrated boxers ever to grace the ring. Tunney was a clever, scientific fighter, who outboxed his foes without the asset of fast hands or heavy knockout blows.

He was born James Joseph Tunney in Greenwich Village, New York, on May 25, 1897 and from a young age dreamed of becoming world heavyweight champion. Tunney turned pro in 1915 against the wishes of his family, but took to the sport like a natural. He was drafted into the Marines at the end of World War I, but even this did not impede his progress. Tunney became the American Expeditionary Force light-heavyweight champion and his exploits earned him the nickname of “The Fighting Marine”.

Tunney returned from France and later stretched his unbeaten run with a 12 round points win over Battling Levinsky to claim the American light-heavy title in New York in January 1922. But later that May, young Gene ran into the notorious “Human Windmill” Harry Greb and withstood a fearsome beating. Tunney’s nose was broken in the first round and his eyes were marked so severely that he could barely see. But despite losing two quarts of blood, the courageous yet half-conscious Tunney survived all 15 rounds before losing on points.

He was in a hospital bed for a week afterwards, but such was the mettle of the man that he returned to fight Greb four more times without defeat, soundly outpointing his rival twice (the first in February 1923 regained his American title) with the other two No Decision bouts.

Tunney angled for a world title shot with good wins over Georges Carpentier ( w ko 15 in July 1924) and Tommy Gibbons (w ko 12 in June 1925) before leaving the light-heavyweights for a crack at world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. An incredible 120, 757 spectators attended their first meeting in Philadelphia and 3-1 underdog Tunney shocked them all by soundly outboxing Dempsey over 10 rounds.

But their rematch in Chicago in September 1927 would prove a more enduring memory. The pattern of the fight started as before with Tunney outboxing the brawling ex-champion with solid jabs and counters. But in the seventh, Dempsey exploded into action and floored Tunney with a vicious combination and the controversy began.

Jack was not familiar with a new rule, which required him to stand in a neutral corner, and he waited over the prone Tunney looking to strike him again. By the time referee Dave Barry had steered Dempsey to his correct position, Tunney had received around 14 seconds between the time he was floored and got to his feet. It was too late for Dempsey and the champion recovered to clinch the decision and regain the title on points.

Tunney defended his title once more with an 11th round knockout of Tom Heeney in July 1928 before retiring as world heavyweight champion. He later became a wealthy businessman and a Navy Commander in World War II. He died in Greenwich, Connecticut on November 7, 1978.

Gene Tunney: Fights 83, Wins 62 Losses 1 Draws 1 No Contests 1 No Decisions 18 (Knockouts 47).





Jimmy Wilde

Former world flyweight champion.



Jimmy Wilde was a highly deceptive fighter. His skinny arms and legs suggested a lack of power, but “The Mighty Atom” was not only one of boxing’s hardest ever punchers, but probably the finest flyweight of all-time.

The Welsh wonder rarely scaled more than 7st 2lbs, but was dynamite in a small frame. He was born in Tylorstown on May 15, 1892 and worked as a pit boy from a very young age. Wilde was soon boxing all-comers in booths and miners’ clubs though many of these fights remain unrecorded. He is believed to have fought in over 500 booth fights during his formative years though he officially turned pro in December 1910.

Wilde’s combination of guile and power soon earned him the haunting fight moniker - “The ghost with a hammer in his hands”. The Welshman’s punching was simply phenomenal and in April 1911, in just his 11th fight, Wilde gave away an amazing 60lbs before hammering former world middleweight champion Billy Papke in three rounds. That’s like Ricardo Lopez knocking out Bernard Hopkins today!

The Welshman tore through the opposition, destroying former lightweight champion Joe Gans in five rounds and also beating the gloriously-named Kid Nutter twice along the way. Wilde knocked out Frenchman Eugene Husson in six in March 1914 to win the European flyweight title and remained unbeaten in over100 bouts.

But British flyweight champion Tancy Lee soaked up all Wilde could offer, and handed the Welshman his first loss in the 17th round in January 1915. Wilde returned as strong as ever and, 12 knockout wins later, stopped British and World champion Joe Symonds in 12 in February 1916.

Yet he did not enjoy universal recognition as world champion. Johnny Rosner was one of two other claimants, but Wilde silenced the American with an 11th round victory in April 1916 before crushing old foe Lee in 11 rounds of their rematch two months later.

Wilde was unstoppable and cemented his claim as world flyweight champion by trouncing Young Zulu Kid in 11 rounds in December 1916. World War I impeded Wilde’s activity, but - after two further defences and wins over outstanding Joe Conn and future world bantamweight champion Joe Lynch - he embarked on a highly successful North American tour in 1920 where he fought a No Decision contest with future world heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey.

He continued winning overseas before returning home to fight world bantam champion Pete Herman, who stopped him in 17 rounds of a non-title bout in January 1921. Wilde stayed semi-retired for two years, only to accept a Ł13,000 offer to defend against Filipino puncher Pancho Villa in New York - against the wishes of his friends and family. They were rightly concerned. Jimmy was rusty and past his peak, and took a sound beating before losing in the seventh round in New York in June 1923. He never fought again.

He died in Cardiff on March 10, 1969.

Jimmy Wilde: Fights 149, Wins 131 Losses 3 Draws 2 No Decisions 13 (Knockouts 101).

[Terry A]

Hialeahz_Finest,
Thanks for posting these photos and mini bios. Very nice!

[Underboss]

thanks .

im posting more soon, if i find more.

[CletusVanDamme]

Awesome threads lately in Boxing History I have griped for awhile about it being slow in hear. Check out the book In This Corner for great fighter interview from 1910-1970. It is a great boxing book.

[Underboss]

Awesome threads lately in Boxing History I have griped for awhile about it being slow in hear. Check out the book In This Corner for great fighter interview from 1910-1970. It is a great boxing book.

what's the name of the book?

[CletusVanDamme]

what's the name of the book?

In This Corner. It is awesome.