BoxRec

What "gobs" -- sailors who served in their country's navy and fought many of their first bouts in the Navy -- went on to become World Champions?

The Boston Gob of course. And Freddie Steele.

Ed "Gunboat" Smith. He was not world champ but "White Hope heavyweight" champ and also began boxing in the Navy.

Bennie,
Steele was in the Navy before he became champ? I don't believe that's true, my friend. Did he join the Navy in WWII?

Wasn't Jack Sharkey known as "The Fighting Gob"?
Tony Zale won the middleweight title just before the US entered the war. He joined the Navy, served in the Pacific and didn't get to defend his title until he faced Graziano in '46.

I wonder how many fighters with the moniker "Sailor" actually served in their country's navy. I believe it was a fairly common boy's name in the first half of the 20th century, so for many it wasn't a navy-related nickname.

Ric wrote:Bennie,
Steele was in the Navy before he became champ? I don't believe that's true, my friend. Did he join the Navy in WWII?

It was a stab in the dark, Ric.

Randy Turpin

Let's not forget Bantam Champ Johnny Buff, announcer Michael Buffer's grandfather:
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=018030

Ric wrote:Let's not forget Bantam Champ Johnny Buff, announcer Michael Buffer's grandfather:
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=018030

Thanks for the link to this record from the turn-of-the-century east coast "Irish Circuit,", Ric. I wonder when they changed their name to Buffer - or was it only Michael "Mr. Mic" who did so?

Gene Tunney....."the fighting Marine"

;)))

Also, Ceferino Garcia is believed to have served in the US Navy before becoming a professional boxer and World Champion, per the IBRO Journal #78, p. 30.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=009601

Ken Overlin