Pete Balcunes Heavyweight dead

[DavidEpstein]

Former Heavyweight boxer Pete Balcunes has died at 69 in Davie, Florida on March 28, 2016. I posted his Miami Herald obituary on his boxrec page. Note: boxrec has his name as Pete Balcunes. That is incorrect, it is Pete Balcunas. His obit says Balcunas, and I checked his FACEBOOK page and confirmed the spelling. Also, he was born in Hamburg, New York, and his hometown was not Ft.Lauderdale. but Davie, Florida. Thank you.

[ImranSarwar]

RIP! I'll look him up! Thanks for the post. How is it you have the strong interest?

[DavidEpstein]

I live in Florida and I am a big fan of Florida boxing. Also, I saw Balcunas fight a few times. Regards.

[wsbuf]

I have an article from a Hamburg NY newspaper from 1974 where he said he was 4-0-1 after his one round KO over John Thomas. I know heresay record but wonder if we missing some of his fights.

[DavidEpstein]

Might be possible,seems there was some error in the spelling of his last name.

[ImranSarwar]

I live in Florida and I am a big fan of Florida boxing. Also, I saw Balcunas fight a few times. Regards.

Thanks David. (I like Port Orange, there in FL!)//
You ARE NOT related to Steve Epstein are you? Do you know whom he is(?)
About your interest in Pete Balcunes..IF you ever were to do book on him you will need to do the boxing part up "minor"..but..that still leaves a lot. Career police officer; was in USMC.
For the boxing..point out to you that one of his opponents, O T Davis....Davis turned pro against Pete. Then he went onto 22 bout career. He wasn't "elite" but....the guy is note worthy with two big names on his record (Trevor Berbick, when Trevor was 34-6-1 &.. Tony Tucker when Tucker was 25-0-0)
If you have Fb, you can see my Fb at JohnWilkinson My-bidforoffice. I'm retired boxer (24-15-1 amateur; 13 bouts pro..a "good-bad" record) work in the pizza industry 21 years and right now in a 24/7 mini mart. +, a "hoarder recovery" project...boxing..If only Oscar de la Hoya had my same theory!