BoxRec

has anybody got any knowledge if the singer dean martin was a former pro ? and how many fights he had ?

From the Biography channel

As a teenager, he tried his hand at boxing, and fought several amateur bouts under the sporting name of “Kid Crochet”. He also turned his hand to several part-time jobs that weren’t totally legal.

So probably not. I think like many young men from his age he may have boxed on unlicensed or poorly regulated shows but I dont think there is any evidence to say he had official pro boxing career. It may have suited his publicity at the time to be known as bit dodgy or a bad boy, so the boxing thing may have been useful for that.

This may have been the closest he actually got to boxing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyP1wQWfC7E

apparently when they first met deano and bing decided to have a short boxing contest just to get a feel for the blokes they were and to cement a friendship. after a first round where no punches were thrown dean made a big lunge with a swinging right hand which made its slow arc towards bing's bonce. Crosby was quick enough to see it coming and dodged it, he then threw a perfect straight right of his own to martins nose, he flew back about ten feet and dropped like an old rag to the canvas. there was claret everywhere - dean never laced on the gloves again but remained forever dedicated to the claret.


Yes, I just made this story up