Local Legends from my hometown

The Scranton Assassin · Post by **The Scranton Assassin** » 26 Feb 2006, 05:42

As many of you already know I am from Scranton PA and I box at the Irish Boxing Club at Weston Field in Scranton. You don't have to be Irish to join the club but it seems like you have to be Irish to be a successful fighter in this town. There are some Italians and a few black guys but it seems like they all fail to make it in the pros. Here is a list of most of the pros I can remember from my hometown.

Chris Walsh - 19-7-1 (7)kos former WBF intercontinental middleweightchampion. Holds a win over Hector Camacho,also fought Jermaine Taylor, and Mads Larsen

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=31057

Geen Reed - 26-8-2 (6)kos former IBC and WAA lightweight champion. fought Dennis Holbeck Pederson, Artur Grigorian, Philip Holiday,and King Soloman.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=6146

Jason Gavern - 8-1-2 (4)kos Heavyweight who fights alot on FSN. He moved away from Scranton last year. Fought Malcom Tann and Travis Walker.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=179373

Marty Flynn - 9-1(5)kos Good LghtHeavywgt prospect and former amature star who trains with Bernard Hopkins but has run into problems with injuries and has not fought since 2004. I see him around the gym once in a while

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=42421

Chris Mills - 26-2(22)kos former toughman fighter who was once regaurded as a great lghtheavy prospect but lost when he steped up against Robert Koon and Tony Meenefee. He was a great puncher but lacked stamina

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=23331

Bruce Corby - 16-24 (14)kos Former WBF welterweight champion. He was a street fighter who began boxing on a bet. He never trained seriously but was one of the hardest punchers I've ever seen. Fought lots of contenders including Jason LaHullier,Willie Gibbs, Julio the cuban lover Garcia, Nadar Hamden, and MAnard Reed. He holds first round knockout victories over Ron Crull, Thomas Cameron, and Joe Freytag.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=20095

Ryan Poletti - 21-1 (16)kos He was also once considered to be a future champ at crusier but was kayoed in his only step up against Jacob Mofokeng

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=17487

Tommy Finn - 10-5(8)kos another former toughman who showed flashes of greatness but long layoffs and lack of serious training stoped him short.He was kayoed by Marty Flynn in his last fight. He holds a win over Dennis Burley and fought a great trilogy against Ron Krull wining 2 out of 3 times.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=41910

Dennis Burley - 14-42-1(7)kos A journey man from the begining. He only had one amature fight then he got in the ring in his first fight against Drake Thadzi. He also fought Boris Sinitsin in his 10th pro fight.He has fought many top guys and has a hard overhand right. He is also a freind of mine and a great guy.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=1513

Waklimi Young - 4-15-2(2)kos This guy is a total asshole and I hope I never see him again. Every time he sparred he would try and knock the other man out then when he starts to lose he will just get fed up and quit. He fought Miguel Cotto and was stopped in 2. He was convicted of selling crack and sentenced to 5 years. I hope he never gets out

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=040884

Anthony Cussamano - 0-1-1(0)kos A crafty fighter with good handspeed good combos but lacked power and chin. He could have been a decent pro if he fought in the amatures for a few years

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=187162

Mike Daugherty - 0-4 (0)kos An exelent amature who for whatever reason didn't fare well at all in the pro's. He was knocked out in all his fights. Great guy and good friend of mine.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=079486

All of these fighters have since retired or moved and my beloved gym has kind of gone to shit. There are only a few amatures left and we are without trainers and just kind of lost. Geen Reed comes around once in a while but he dosen't work with anyone like he used to. Us amatures are forced to fend for ourselves. My town has seen many great fighters in the past but I don't think our area will ever get back on the map. Here is a list of old timers from Scranton who once fought pro.

Jerry Tomasetti - 13-6 (9)kos Heavyweight contender who fought Chuck Wepner 4 times knocking him out in their 3rd fight. I think his record is incomplete on this site

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=16102

Jerry Foley - 13-13(9)ko's Another heavy jouneyman who gave Mitch Green his first pro win.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015849

Tom Sheean - 10-18-1(5)kos Heavy who also fought Wepner

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=16119

Billy Dohlphin - 12-3-1(7)kos A good middleweight who never realy took a step up.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=78323

Tony Berrios - 15-11-1(6)kos A good welterweight and middleweight but he never quite made it against the better fighters of his day.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=23052

Billy Kelly - 26-10-4(3)kos Former PA Flyweight champion. A good solid pro and if he had any power at all might have made it to the top

Pete Latzo - 73-34-4(23)kos FORMER WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION!
Pete Latzo is by far the best fighter to ever come from Scranton. He won the world title by beating Mickey Walker! He then went on to fight for the Light heavyweight title but lost in 2 attempts. A great boxer and a hard puncher he would have been even better but he cut a tendon in his hand on a piece of broken glass and his hand was never the same. He also fought Tommy Loughran, Leo Lomski(who he beat)Maxie rosenbloom(who he also beat) and Tiger Flowers. Thats a pretty good list of opponents if you ask me.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=12068

I hope you enjoyed reading about the local legends from Scranton PA. Maybe someday I'll be on this list.

p.s. sorry about my horrible spelling

The Scranton Assassin · Post by **The Scranton Assassin** » 09 Mar 2006, 01:55

Read this again . Replies would be nice.

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 09 Mar 2006, 02:04

I like that ya know your hometowns Boxing history, its impressive . To bad about you gym though. Once you get set in a good gym its real hard to see it go. Believe me I know. If ya ever want to fight pro wear would you go to train? It sounds like you might have to relocate. But it also sounds like you are real fond of your community. Thats good.

The Scranton Assassin · Post by **The Scranton Assassin** » 09 Mar 2006, 14:57

heres a few more I found.

Hughie Glynn 5-2-2 (2)kos

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=60499

Young (playboy)Louis 14-9(11)kos

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=064777

Jimmy Smith 17-2(9)kos

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=106307

Jack (The Giant) Downey 0-6

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=250730

Joe(not Jack) Downey 8-1(6)kos

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=060505

The Scranton Assassin · Post by **The Scranton Assassin** » 09 Mar 2006, 15:30

Johnny Stern 1-1(0)kos

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=250133

Wally Baden 1-9(1)ko

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=046661

Jack Munley 11-7-1(kos)faught Ken Overlin,Billy Soose, Georgie Abrams,and holds a win over Tony Cisco

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=047722

Joe Nealon 3-9-3(0)kos

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=040841

Joey Eavarone8-3-1(1)ko

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=065839

Danny Dempsey 1-4(1)ko

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=057989

Irish Eddie Brink 30-38-11(2)kos

Solid pro who fought lots of world beaters. Look at this list of his top opponents. Henrey Armstrong, Maxie Burger ,Johnny Bellus, Wesley Ramey, Sammy Angot,Toni Canzoneri,Freddie Cochrane, Al (bummy)Davis,Milt Aron,Ralph Zanneli.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=009586

Charley Russo 2-0

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=308834

Vince Murphy 0-3

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=067212

Freddie Haverlack 8-6-3(1)ko

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=066516

There will be more to come as I keep finding more and more of these hometown guys Ive never heard of. The talent pool of these welterweights lightweights and featherweights of my area in the 30's and 40's is increadable campared to today.

joshua · Post by **joshua** » 10 Mar 2006, 22:54

What about Pep O'Brien, Willie Stanton

joshua · Post by **joshua** » 10 Mar 2006, 22:55

do you count Wilkes-Barre as Scranton?

The Scranton Assassin · Post by **The Scranton Assassin** » 11 Mar 2006, 22:47

Technically yes. All of the fighters in this whole area trained at my gym at Weston Field at one time or another. Plus Wilkes Barre is only 10 mins. away.

The Scranton Assassin · Post by **The Scranton Assassin** » 11 Mar 2006, 23:17

Pep O Brien 6-20-2-(2)kos

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=52407

Jimmy Goodrich 78-37-19(11)kos FORMER WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION. Jimmy Goodrich beat a string a top contenders right in a row in 1925. He beat Harry Kid Brown, Jimmy Fruzetti, Clyde Kid Jeakle, Sammy Mandel, and Benny Valger in a lightweight elimination tournament to find a number 1 contender to fight the champion the undefeated Stanislaus Loayza.He knocked him out in the second round in 1925 to win the world light weight title. Then in his very next fight he gave his freind Pep OBrien a big hometown payday fight in a no decison 10 rounder in Scranton a month after winning the title. He then lost the tilte in his first fight against Rocky Kansas.After losing the title he continued fighting until 1930 against many contenders including James Red Herring, Tom Morgan, Mushy Callahan, Ruby Goldsten, Baby Joe Gans, Peter Mueller, Jack Bernsten, Bruce Flowers , King Tut, Phil Goldstien,and Bobby Tracey. He is probably the second best fighter behind Pete Latzo ever to call Scranton his home.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=041689

The Scranton Assassin · Post by **The Scranton Assassin** » 12 Mar 2006, 00:04

Pete Suskey 11-11-4 (4)kos
A very tough journeyman who beat Jimmy Goodrich in Goorich's last fight. He also beat Sergeant Sammy Baker ,fought 2 ten round draws with Buckey Lawless and went 10 rounds with Solly Krieger.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=042358

Mickey Serrian 28-25-7 (9)kos
Another great journeyman who faught buttloads of good fighters and holds wins over Sammy Mandel, Steve Hallaiko, Henry Emond, Tommy Jones, Patsey Pasculli and Johnny Jadick.

Rego Dell 10-18-3(0)kos
A tough middleweight who went the distance with Eddie Dolan.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=050014

Lew Murphy 3-4 (0)kos
Lightwelterweight journeymanwho only fought pro for 10 months.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=080063

Steve Gacha 5-6(1)ko
A lightweight who beat the bigger Lew Murphy.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=204428

This thread will probably never end as there is a seemingly endless amount of lightweights and welterweights from th 30's and 40's who lived in Scranton. I hope enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed researching it. There will be many more to come.