Billy Soose the former NYSAC World Middleweight Champion almost never gets mentioned on this forum so I thought I would start a thread on him to see what others opinions were of him.
From what I have read about him he was a strong and determined fighter who was seen as something of a hot prospect whilst a novice professional and was tipped by many to be a 'sure thing' to win a World title. I also understand that he was a very intelligent man outside of the ring with a strong educational background. Unusual for fighters of that time.
Soose eventually after a few setbacks did win a version of the World Middleweigh Title by beating Ken Overlin on a disputed decision. Although many at the time may well have recognised Tony Zale as the real Middlweight Champion.
Soose never defended his title and soon retired from the sport.
Soose's life and career are both unique to say the least
There was confusion, and frankly, something a little fishy going on in the MW landscape at that time. At a time when split titles were usually unified posthaste, Zale, Overlin or Soose never got together to unify the title.
Unification never came until Zale fought Abrams in 41
Funny thing is, Soose actually beat Zale and Overlin prior to the title fight with Overlin, but been beaten by Abrams three times, twice before and once after his title fight.
Soose shattered his right hand early in his career, and never fully regained the use of it.
Soose has so far, been denied induction to the boxing hall of fame, some say because it is beleived by some that the decision in the Overlin fight was fixed. It is widely known, that Soose kept company with some shady characters. He owned a resort in Pennsylvania, that was a place where one could find movie stars, politicians and mobsters all in the same dining room.
Others say it was because he never defended his middleweight title.
His brother claims that in spite of his success in the ring, Boxing as a sport was not his first love, but rather , he simply used boxing as a means to celebrity status
There is a book on Soose called "The champion that time forgot". the book is flattering and is very much in praise of Soose, but even some who knew him, say that much of it a bit too flattering and somewhat inaccurate.
Soose for me is the perfect example of TOP fighters given their chance to prove there 'mettle', which he did and he proved it well, and against other TOP boys like him...
should he be thought of as a 'great', of course, because he showed that he was - regularily, and this was perhaps the greatest MW Era of all, late 30s-40s...
was he alone (?), "far from it", there were plenty more then as good and many better!
