BoxRec - User contributions [en]

Al Columbo

2012-01-21T21:29:28Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

Helped trainer World Champion [[Rocky Marciano]]

[[Category:Trainers|Columbo, Al]]
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

Jimmy Slade

2012-01-21T21:28:54Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Slade jimmy.jpg|left|photo]]
<boxer>012467</boxer>
'''Manager''': [[Al Joyner]]
 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
*Never fought as an amateur.
*Worked as a radio mechanic.
*Former New York State Heavyweight Champion
Source: IBRO [[IBRO Journal Issue No. 77|JOURNAL #77]], p. 71

[[Category:African American Boxers|Slade, Jimmy]]

Bob Baker vs. John Holman

2012-01-21T21:27:58Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

<fight>52835</fight>
This fight was part of elimination tournament to crown new heavyweight champion.
Baker's most important fight!
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

Gene Fullmer vs. Rocky Castellani

2012-01-21T21:27:00Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

<fight>18001</fight>

"The one judge who voted against him may cost young Gene Fullmer a chance for a rematch with Eduardo Lausse of Argentina. Whttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!hile Fullmer seemed to be breezing to a bruising 10 round victory Wednesday night over Rocky Castellani, judge Charlie Bill saw the fight as a Castellani victory. His score was at odds with those of the other judge and referee, both of whom had Fullmer on top by a comfortable margin. The winner of the bout was supposed to get a shot at Lausse. Because Fullmer gained only a split verdict, and because he brought out the tiger in Castellani in a rousing finish, a rematch between those same two seemed more probable. Fullmer, a wildcat who threw punches from everywhere, was at his best when he worked on Castellani's stomach. The Clevelander tried his usual style of grabbing for his opponent, but soon changed the tactic when Fullmer sailed in with the left, then followed with rights over the back." -United Press

*Unofficial UP scorecard: 98-91 for Fullmer

Post fight comment:

* "I just don't like to have someone running around who has beaten me, that's all. I'll get to Robinson in time." -Gene Fullmer, stating how he preferred a rematch with Eduardo Lausse than a shot at world middleweight champ Sugar Ray Robinson

Bout was action filled for all 10 rounds, it was the first live coast to coast radio & tv broadcast bout of 1956. ''The Ring'' named it the second best fight of 1956.

Rocky Castellani

2012-01-21T21:26:35Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Castellani.jpg|left|325px|thumb|Rocky Castellani]]
<boxer>010912</boxer>
'''Officiating Record:''' [http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=401062&cat=judge Judge] 
'''Officiating Record:''' [http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=401062&cat=referee Referee] 
[[:Image:Castellani.Rocky.jpg|Phohttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!to #2]], [[:Image:Rocky Castellani .7745.jpg|Photo #3]]
 

= Obituary =
Citizens Voice, Thursday, September 11, 2008

One of the Wyoming Valley?s sports legends, Attilio ?Rocky? Castellani, died August 31 in Atlantic City.

The son of Italian immigrants, Castellani was born in Luzerne and went on to become arguably the greatest boxer to ever come out of the Wyoming Valley. His exploits in the ring earned him the 11th spot in The Citizens? Voice Top 100 Athletes in Wyoming Valley.

?Simply, he was the best (boxer) ever from here,? said local surgeon Dr. George Moses. ?I remember seeing him box at Sandy Beach and at the old South Main Street Armory. Later my father (the late Peter Moses) took me to Cleveland to see him fight against George Fullmer and Rocky went 15 rounds with him.?

Dr. Moses recalled that Castellani was one of the quickest middleweights ever. ?He never got hit,? Moses said. ?but when he did . . .?

Another old friend, Buddy Rush, recalled that Castellani became a local hero in the 1950s.

?Everybody watched,? Rush recalled of the times one of Castellani fights would be televised, usually on the popular Gillete Friday Night Fights.?

?Boxing gave me the opportunity to be somebody,? Castellani was quoted in a 1985 article in The Citizens? Voice.

Castellani traced his boxing roots to his uncle, Bill Costello, an amatuer fighter from Swoyersville, who first laced a pair of gloves on young Attilio at the age of five.

?Everything I have today I owe to boxing,? he said. ?I made good money climbing into the ring. I tried it as a young kid and liked it. And it wasn?t hard.?

His mother, Rose, died when he was 10 and his father, Attilio, did not want him fighting, so he fought under assumed names as a teenager. He joined the Marines at age 16 and took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima. He also continued boxing in the Marines and, upon conclusion of the war, he was chosen to represent his unit in a boxing tournament. Along the way, he earned the title of middleweight champion of the U.S. Navy?s Seventh Fleet and ?Champion of all China and Guam.?

He turned pro shortly after his discharge and he credited a bout in Scranton with turning him from a brawler into a boxer. During that bout with Billy Kilroy, Castellani recalled he broke his hand.

?Some six weeks after that I could only punch with one hand and that?s how I was transformed into a boxer instead of a puncher,? he said.

By 1954 he was the No. 1-ranked middleweight contender and earned a championship bout against Carl ?Bobo? Olsen. He lost on a split decision, knocking Olsen down in the third round at the former Cow Palace in San Francisco.

Perhaps his best known fight came against the great Sugar Ray Robinson in 1955, a fight in which he put Robinson on the canvass for a controversial eight count. Many boxing scholars believed Castellani actually won the fight by knockout only to officially lose by split decision.

Castellani often took jabs at two other middleweight greats of his era ? Jake LaMotta and Rocky Graziano ? hinting the pair ducked fighting him. ?Rocky and Jake didn?t want no part of me back then,? he was quoted in that 1985 article.

He retired with a 65-14-4 record which included 16 knockouts. Many of his fights continue to be featured on ESPN?s Classic Fight of the Century feature. He was inducted into both the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Boxing Halls of Fame and was also enshrined into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

After retirement he operated ?Rocky?s? bar in Atlantic City for many years served as a judge for the New Jersey Boxing Commission.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Mary Jugus; sons, Deane of Atlantic City, Michael (Chris) of Linwood, N.J., and David (Terri) of Linwood, N.J.; daughter Lisa (Oliver) Knowlto, Denver; 10 grandchildren.

= External link =
[http://www.njboxinghof.org/cgi-bin/henryseehof.pl?168 NJBoxingHOF Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Castellani, Rocky}}
[[Category:World War II Veterans]]
[[Category:Italian American Boxers]]
[[Category:Judges]]
[[Category:Referees]]
[[Category:2008 Deaths]]

Gene Fullmer

2012-01-21T21:25:52Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Fullmer.Gene2.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1991 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/fullmer.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>009707</boxer>
'''Manager''': [[Marv Jhttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!ensen]] 
'''[[:Category:Gene Fullmer Gallery|Gene Fullmer Gallery]]

With a rugged fighting style '''Gene Fullmer''' had an impressive career, he started his professional boxing career with 29 consecutive victories. He beat world champions [[Carmen Basilio]] and [[Sugar Ray Robinson]] twice, he beat world champions [[Benny (Kid) Paret]], [[Paul Pender]] and [[Terry Downes]]. He fought draws with world champions [[Dick Tiger]] and [[Joey Giardello]]. He also beat many top contenders which included [[Gil Turner]], [[Peter Muller]], [[Rocky Castellani]], [[Ernie Durando]], [[Ralph Jones]], [[Chico Vejar]], [[Spider Webb]] and [[Florentino Fernandez]].

Fullmer had two brothers who boxed: [[Don Fullmer]], who twice challenged for the World Middleweight Title; and [[Jay Fullmer]], who boxed as a Lightweight.

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Sugar Ray Robinson]]|
title=[[World Middleweight Champion]]|
after=[[Sugar Ray Robinson]]|
years=2 Jan 1957– 1 May 1957
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Sugar Ray Robinson]] Stripped|
title=[[NBA World Middleweight Champion]] Later [[WBA]] Title|
after=[[Dick Tiger]]|
years=28 Aug 1959– 23 Oct 1962
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fullmer, Gene}}
[[Category:World Middleweight Champions]]
[[Category:American World Champions]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]

Rocky Graziano

2012-01-21T21:25:38Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Graziano.Rocky2.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Rocky Graziano]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1991 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/graziano.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>009016</boxer>
'''Division''': Middleweight 
'''Trainer''': [[Whitey Bimhttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!stein]], [[Al Silvani]] 
'''Managers''': [[Irving Cohen]], [[Jack Hurle]] 
 
'''[[:Category:Rocky Graziano Gallery|Rocky Graziano Gallery]]

 
*Graziano is considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history with the capacity to take any of his opponents out with a single punch. "No one ever hit me harder than Rocky (Graziano)" [[Sugar Ray Robinson]] 1953.
*[[Bert Sugar]] wrote in his book "[[The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time]]": "Graziano was raised on the lower East Side where boths sides of the tracks were wrong." He overcame coming from a disadvantaged background, to rise to the top of the ring and entertainment world.
*He had a brief amateur career, reported as lasting less than a year, winning the New York AAU Metropolitan Welterweight Championship.
*1948-11-26: The [[National Boxing Association]] indefinitely suspended Graziano in all parts of the world under NBA supervision, announced President [[Abe Green]], following similar action by the [[California State Athletic Commission]]. This was due to Graziano's "running out" on a scheduled Dec. 1 bout with [[Fred Apostoli]]. (Graziano was said to have been depressed at the time, not being able to sort out his problems in his hometown.) The suspension covered all of the American states, Great Britain, the European Boxing Federation, Cuba, Mexico, and Canada. Almost two years earlier Graziano had been suspended by the [[NYSAC]] for failure to report an alleged bribe attempt. In Delaware boxing promoter [[Ralph Tribuani]] acquired Graziano a license where the allegations were perceived as ridiculous. ( It has been said that the financial amounts of the allegations of one hundred thousand dollars may have been the factor.) This led to the reinstatement of Graziano by both the NBA and NYSAC and Rocky?s return to prosperity.
*2003: [[The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time!|The Ring Magazine's]] 100 Greatest Punchers
*Autobiography: [[Somebody Up There Likes Me]] [made into the 1956 Oscar winning movie ''Somebody Up There Likes Me''].
*Became friends with the President of the United States [[Ronald Reagan]], see the book [[Somebody Down Here Likes Me, Too]].
*Son of [[Fighting Nick Bob]], who had a brief boxing career.
*Also appeared in television variety shows and small movie parts through the 1960s. IMDb [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0337200/ credits]
*In the 1960s and 1970s, he owned a restaurant in North Miami, Florida called ''Rocky Graziano's''.
*Acted in the [[Frank Sinatra]] movie, ''Lady in Cement''.
*In his later years Graziano was a renowned artist, his paintings were displayed in numerous individual shows at prominent New York art galleries.
*Became a speaker and spokesman for various businesses, including a casino.
*Died of stroke

== External Links ==
*ESPN Bio:[http://www.espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Graziano_Rocky.html]
*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4563 Find A Grave Memorial]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/26/sports/sports-of-the-times-leave-your-worry-on-the-doorstep.html SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Leave Your Worry on The Doorstep, 1990, New York Times]

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Tony Zale]]|
title=[[World Middleweight Champion]]|
after=[[Tony Zale]]|
years=1947 Jul 16 – 1948 Jun 10
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graziano, Rocky}}
[[Category:Italian American Boxers]]
[[Category:World Middleweight Champions]]
[[Category:American World Champions]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]
[[Category:Actors|Graziano, Rocky]]

Archie Moore

2012-01-21T21:25:22Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Moore.Archie.jpg|left|thumb|325px|]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1990 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/moore.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>008995</boxer>
'''[[:Category:Archie Moore Gallery|Ahttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!rchie Moore Gallery]]

'''Archie Moore''', who had more known knockouts than any other boxer in history, claimed that he was born December 13, 1916, but his mother said that he was born December 13, 1913. He was also said to have been born in Collinsville, Illinois.

Moore's early boxing career is still being researched, as of 2011. (One recent discovery: He fought a 3-round exhibition with Sammy Jackson on December 8, 1936 in St. Louis. This fight may have been previously listed incorrectly as occurring on December 3, 1936, but as a six-rounder instead of 3 rounds.)

He died December 9, 1998 of heart failure.

* 2006 [[California Boxing Hall of Fame]] Inductee
* Voted "Light Heavyweight Fighter of the Century" by the Associated Press in 1999.

== External Links ==
*Acting career credits: [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0600911/]
*Obituary (via CBZ): [http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/archie1209.htm]
*Grave Site: [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4247]

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Joey Maxim]]|
title=[[World Light Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Harold Johnson]]|
years=1952 Dec 17 – 1962 May 12 Abandons title, loses all recognition
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Archie}}
[[Category:California State Champions]]
[[Category:World Light Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:American World Champions]]
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]
[[Category:Boxers with more than 200 bouts]]
[[Category:Actors]]

Joe Louis

2012-01-21T21:25:06Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Louis.Joe.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Joe Louis]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1990 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/louis.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>009027</boxer>
'''Division''': Heavyweight http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
'''Trainers''': [[Jack Blackburn]], [[Mannie Seamon]] 
'''Managers''': [[Julian Black]], [[John Roxborough]] 
'''[[:Category:Joe Louis Gallery|Joe Louis Gallery]]'''

 

==Career Overview==
Twenty-five consecutive title defenses. A world record. Twelve consecutive years as a world champion. Another world record. Three consecutive first-round knockouts in title defenses. Ten victories over world champions. Only one loss in his first sixty-two fights. Any way one looks at it, '''Joe Louis''' is an all-time great in the sport of boxing and a deserving hall-of-famer. But the legacy and importance of Louis exists beyond the realm of statistics. In an era when blacks were shut out of most opportunities for social equality or upward mobility, Louis succeeded in gaining the richest prize in sports, opening doors and minds like no other athlete before him. His overwhelming abilities and skills inside the ropes got him to the championship, but his sportsmanship and soft-spoken dignity made him an idol to millions. In his private life, Louis was far from a role model, but in public he was a symbol of values larger than himself. Americans of all colors, sexes, and creeds saw in him the ideals of freedom, competition, and patriotism that made him the perfect symbol of national pride during the troubled years of the Great Depression and then World War II. He may have been the greatest heavyweight in history, but much more importantly, he was a hero to an entire generation.
[[file:Louis.Joe.Portrait.jpg|left|Joe Louis]]
===The Detroit Bomber===
The son of Alabama sharecroppers, Joseph Louis Barrow moved to Detroit, Michigan with his large family at the age of ten. To help his family financially, the boy found a job delivering ice in his neighborhood. He would later credit the hours of carrying heavy ice blocks from his wagon up several flights of stairs in tenement buildings for helping him develop his well muscled frame and fighting endurance. Meanwhile, he entered trade school to study cabinetmaking. He had no intentions of pursuing a boxing career until he boxed a few friendly rounds with a friend of his, [[Thurston McKinney]], who was a successful amateur boxer in the Detroit area. McKinney encouraged Louis to secretly spend the money his mother had given him for violin lessons on boxing lessons instead. Fighting under the name "Joe Louis," he lost his first amateur bout, but within a few years, he was regarded as one of the standout amateurs in the Midwest and won the [[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] vs. [[Joe Bauer]] at light heavyweight and the [[United States Amateur Light Heavyweight Champions|National AAU]] vs. [[Ario Soldati]] at light heavyweight in 1934. With an amateur record that included 53 wins in 56 bouts, he turned professional later that year. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Max Marek]] |
title= [[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] Light Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1934 |
after= [[Joe Bauer]]
}}
{{succession box | title=[[United States Amateur Light Heavyweight Champions|NationalAAU]] Light Heavyweight Champion | before= [[Max Marek]]| after= [[Joe Bauer]]| years=1934}}
{{end box}}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'''In 1934''' [[Julian Black]] and [[John Roxborough]], two African American racketeers from Detroit, became Louis's financial backers and managers. They immediately sought to groom him as the future World Heavyweight Champion and hooking him up with veteran trainer and former lightweight contender [[Jack Blackburn]], whom Louis would affectionately come to know as "Chappie." Additionally, Black and Roxborough placed certain restrictions upon Louis's behavior in and out of the ring. These rules were instituted in order to cast Louis as non-threatening to the white establishment and fans, who had been so severely offended by the only black man to win the World Heavyweight Championship previously, [[Jack Johnson]]. Black and Roxborough forbade Louis to appear in photographs with white women or alcohol. He was not allowed to gloat over beaten opponents, especially white opponents. As he progressed in the sport, he was not to flaunt his cars, suits, houses, and other evidence of his growing wealth. As his managers trained him in behavior, trainer Blackburn prepared Louis for the professional ranks. On July 4, 1934, Louis made his pro debut in Chicago, Illinois, knocking out experienced [[Jack Kracken]] in just a few seconds of the opening round. 
Before the close of the year, having won eleven consecutive bouts (nine by knockout), Louis was already in the ring with his first ranked contender. The opponent was California's [[Lee Ramage]], a veteran of more than thirty bouts who had already been in with some of the best in the world. Though bookmakers made Ramage the favorite, Louis made his first major impact on the national boxing scene with an eighth-round demolition of his opponent, whose handlers stopped the fight when Ramage hit the canvas for the fourth time in that round. After just six months of professional competition, ''[[The Ring Magazine|The Ring]]'' magazine rated Louis as a top-ten heavyweight contender. After seven more consecutive knockout wins (including a two-round rematch with Ramage), Louis was in the ring with [[Primo Carnera]], the former Heavyweight Champion of the World. Carnera stood over six-and-a-half feet tall and outweighed Louis by nearly sixty-five pounds. Because of the political turmoil created from Italy's recent invasion of Ethiopia, the fight took on a meaning that spread beyond the realm of sports. Ethnic tensions within New York City grew so dangerous in fact that many powerful people in the city pushed for the fight to be canceled. Despite--or possibly because of--the controversy, 62,000 paying customers showed up at [[Yankee Stadium]]. After the first round, Carnera's face dripped with blood, some of his lower teeth having been pierced through his upper lip. The remaining rounds only prolonged the inevitable, as Carnera proved easy target practice for the sensational "Brown Bomber." A right hand in the sixth round sent the ex-champion "down slowly, like a great chimney that had been dymanited," wrote journalist John Kiernan. Though Carnera showed heart in rising, he was sent tumbling down yet again just moments later. He bravely stood up yet again, just in time to be battered to the floor a third time. Amazingly, the Italian made it to his feet, but referee [[Arthur Donovan]] stopped the fight.

==="Black Hope"===
Having secured the most impressive victory yet in his career, Louis was now regarded as the standout young fighter in the division and was instantly adopted by African Americans as their most beloved athlete of the era. Next up on Louis's boxing schedule was [[King Levinsky]], another experienced ring veteran who had faced some of the division's best. Though regarded as a hard puncher himself, Levinsky appeared obviously frightened of this young marauder from Detroit. He had to be practically shoved out of his corner to fight and was annihilated in less than a round. This dominance of yet another quality opponent only served to strengthen Louis's status as the "great black hope" in the imaginations of many. He was a full-fledged celebrity now and, to further enhance his image, Black and Roxborough arranged his marriage with a teenaged secretary named Marva Trotter. Though Louis remained an insatiable ladies man behind the scenes, the union with Trotter was created to solidify his image of humility and integrity. 
The marriage was so manufactured, in fact, that it fit right in as part of the publicity for Joe's bout with former World Heavyweight Champion [[Max Baer]]. Louis was married just moments before his arrival at Yankee Stadium for the fight on September 24, 1935. The wild-swinging, hard-hitting, fast-living, and fun-loving Baer, having lost the championship in an upset to [[Jim Braddock]] only months earlier, was still regarded as a serious threat to any man in the ring. Many speculated that Louis's handlers were rushing him too quickly into a fight with a man of Baer's caliber. Yet it was not Louis who was intimidated. Later, when asked in an interview to define the feeling of fear in the ring, "Madcap Max" responded, "Standing across the ring from Joe Louis and knowing he wants to go home early." Some 88,150 people paid $1,000,832--the largest gate in nearly a decade and a considerable achievement in the midst of the Depression--to see the two power punchers clash. Though both men threw bombs as expected, Louis's punches were shorter, faster, and more accurate. Baer's punches were looping and amateurish and at no point did Louis show the effects of Baer's fabled power. Both men traded punches for three rounds, Louis clearly getting the better of the action. In the fourth round, looking exhausted and resigned to defeat after taking a hurricane of punishment from Louis, Baer dropped voluntarily to his knees. It was the first time he had gone down in forty-eight professional fights. He rose to fight on, but was quickly flattened to the floor by a left-right combination. Though Baer made it up to his knee, he could not rise in time and suffered his first knockout defeat. "I could have struggled up once more," he told reporters after the fight, "but when I get executed, people are going to have to pay more than twenty-five dollars a seat to watch it." 
[[file:Louis-Schmeling_1936.jpg|right|thumb|<center>Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling I</center>]]
Now deservedly regarded as the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship (after just over one year of professional activity), Louis was matched with Germany's [[Max Schmeling]], the winner to face champion Braddock with the title on the line. Just to stay active, he knocked out veteran contenders [[Paolino Uzcudun]] and [[Charley Retzlaff]] while the politics of the Schmeling matchup played out. Schmeling, another former World Heavyweight Champion, had put together some decent victories of late, but was overall regarded as past his prime and due for a beating at the hands of the sport's newest sensation. Schmeling was an adept student of boxing science, however. Prior to the match, he carefully studied films of Louis's fight with Max Baer, dissecting apparent flaws in the Detroit fighter's technique. Among the weaknesses he noticed was the fact that Louis lowered his left hand after throwing a left jab. In the ring, Schmeling exploited this subtle flaw to his own advantage, countering nearly every Louis jab with his best punch, the right cross. The fight proved to be a competitive, hard-hitting affair for the first three rounds, but, in the fourth, a counter right from the German dropped Louis for the first time in his career. Though Louis rose, he was badly dazed for the remainder of the fight and Schmeling subsequently delivered the finest performance of his career. For a further eight rounds he battered Louis, often standing toe-to-toe with the vaunted puncher and landing that same right hand to the jaw repeatedly. In the twelfth, he sent Joe tumbling to the floor once more, and this time Louis could not recover. Louis was counted out while still sitting on the canvas, shaking his head confusedly. 

===Road to the Title===
The unexpected loss proved devastating to Louis and his fans. The press dismissed his prior accomplishments as a hoax and his previously clear path to the championship now appeared to be closed. Louis was distraught and ashamed, but his handlers, not wanting depression to set in, wisely threw him right back into competition. Less than two months after the Schmeling fight, he was back in the ring with yet another former champ, [[Jack Sharkey]]. The man who had taken the championship from Schmeling back in 1932, Sharkey had also been in the ring with the likes of [[Harry Wills]] and [[Jack Dempsey]]. At this point, though, he was well beyond his prime and proved the perfect name opponent against whom Louis could rebuild his confidence. Sharkey showed heart in surviving three knockdowns before being floored for a fourth and final time in the third frame. 
Undefeated in his next six fights, winning five of those by knockout, Louis was back in contention for the World Heavyweight Championship still held by Jim Braddock. Max Schmeling, however, by virtue of his knockout win over Louis, remained the number one contender, and a Braddock-Schmeling showdown was scheduled for 1937. There were rumors that the fight's organizers were stalling, however, afraid of the negative publicity that would be generated over Schmeling (wrongly perceived by most Americans as a Nazi) getting a shot at the world's title. When it was confirmed that Braddock's managers were in talks with the Louis camp instead, the [[New York State Athletic Commission]] officially released an order for Braddock to fight Schmeling for the title. Any other fight, with Louis or otherwise, would not be recognized by New York as being for the championship. The [[Madison Square Garden]] Corporation, the largest promotional company in the sport at the time, even attempted to get a legal injunction against a Braddock-Louis fight (Louis was not on the Garden's promotional roster). Nonetheless, in February 1937, Braddock's people confirmed that he had signed to defend his championship against Louis. 
[[file:Joe_Louis_Belt.JPG|right|thumb|<center>Joe Louis's title belt from ''The Ring''</center>]]
The fight, held at Chicago's Comiskey Park on June 22, 1937, was Braddock's first in two years, since winning the title in a tremendous upset from Max Baer. With 25 losses on his record, he was considered a fluke champion, whose title was ready for the taking. In a rare case of the challenger being the favorite over the champion, Louis was made the 10-to-1 favorite. In the first round, it appeared that the champ would pull off yet another stirring upset. He fired a short right hand that put Louis on the seat of his pants and stunned the audience to its feet. Surprised but not hurt, Louis rose at the count of two and dealt a brutal beating to the champion. Braddock did well to last into the eighth round, when a right hand caught him directly on the chin. Braddock's knees sagged and then, with a delayed reaction, he crumbled to the floor, blood spilling out of his nose onto the floor. The famous "Cinderella Man" was counted out and the title transferred to Louis.

===The "Fight of the Century"===

From the start, Louis was expected to be a stellar champion, and he lived up to his promise. For his first defense, he took on [[Tommy Farr]]--the Welshman who held the British Championship. Despite his national title and his considerable boxing skills, Farr was thought to be a pushover opponent. Instead, Farr put up a spirited fight and lasted the full fifteen rounds, but lost by a unanimous decision. This was followed by knockouts of [[Nathan Mann]] and [[Harry Thomas]]. 
[[file:Louis_Schmeling_II.jpg|right|thumb|<center>Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling II</center>]]
On June 22, 1938, Louis received the opportunity to avenge his only loss against Max Schmeling, still rated the world's number one contender. The social and political furor surrounding this matchup was tremendous. Because of the increasingly aggressive military, political, and social agendas of the Nazi Party that now governed Schmeling's native Germany, many across the world were afraid of Schmeling winning the World Heavyweight Championship and handing it over to German dictator Adolf Hitler. Schmeling was not a Nazi, but was perceived to be and the public outside of Germany put a lot of pressure on the Louis to defend his title successfully and give the world a symbolic victory. American President Franklin Roosevelt personally visited Louis's training camp, while Hitler openly socialized with Schmeling. The international implications were obvious, and when the fight got started, Joe Louis's improvements over the past two years became were obvious. He came out blazing in the first round and the German tried to counterpunch as he had in the first bout, but to no avail. Louis was going to give him no time to wait and pick his punches. The American swarmed all over his challenger, smothering him with punches from all angles. Driven into the ropes and battered with a fusillade of short, crisp blows, Schmeling turned his back to his opponent and let out a scream that, years later, many of the 75,000 spectators could still recall vividly. Schmeling's knees buckled under the punishment and referee [[Arthur Donovan]] pushed Louis away, beginning a count. Schmeling reluctantly stepped away from the ropes and Donovan allowed him to continue. A few punches later, the German was lying on the canvas. From then on, he was helpless. He rose but fell moments later and Donovan stopped the fight. It would be the crowning performance of Louis's career and the defining moment in boxing for a generation.

===The "Bum of the Month" Club===
Basking in the glory and riches that were his after the defeat of Schmeling, Louis stayed out of the ring for five months before defending his championship next against [[John Henry Lewis]], the reigning Light Heavyweight Champion of the World. One of Louis's good friends, Lewis had long kept secret that fact that he was going blind. Knowing that his vision problems spelled an early end to his career, Lewis approached Louis about a lucrative title shot, which the champion was happy to grant. Knowing of his friend's ailment, Louis devised a strategy that he knew would do Lewis the least amount of long-term damage: take him out quickly so as not to prolong the punishment. In the first World Heavyweight Championship bout between two black fighters in more than twenty years, the champion destroyed his challenger in less than a round. It was Lewis's last fight. And it was Louis's second consecutive first-round knockout of a future hall-of-famer. Less than three months later he flattened the overmatched [[Jack Roper]] in the same round. 
[[file:Louis.Joe.Galento.Tony.jpg|thumb|right|<center>Joe Louis & Tony Galento</center>]]
Over the next several months, Louis cleaned out the division of all credible opposition. In a thrilling slugfest with tough-talking, hard-hitting, beer-swilling "Two Ton" [[Tony Galento]], Louis survived an early knockdown to stop the ex-bouncer from New Jersey in the fourth round. Then, in a rematch with New York's [[Bob Pastor]], who had previously lasted the distance against Louis, the champion scored an eleventh round knockout. With the results of these four fights, Louis was selected as the [[Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year]] for 1939. Then in 1940 came his controversial showdown with Argentina's [[Arturo Godoy]], a mauling fighter who lasted the full fifteen rounds but lost a split decision. After doing away with aptly named [[Johnny Paychek]] in two rounds, Louis gave Godoy a rematch and scored two knockdowns in the eighth before the referee stopped the fight. When their man had finally brushed aside every worthwhile challenger available, Louis's handlers began matching him with what became known in the press as the "Bum of the Month" club, journeymen and fringe contenders who were no match for the champion. Between December, 1940 and April, 1941, the champion dispatched five men ([[Al McCoy (of Maine)|Al McCoy]], [[Red Burman]], [[Gus Dorazio]], [[Abe Simon]], and [[Tony Musto]]) with relative ease. 
A more credible opponent, [[Buddy Baer]], Max's younger brother, posed a bigger threat than the previous five combined. At 250 pounds, Buddy Baer was both taller and heavier than his more famous brother. He had beaten such notable foes as Tony Galento, [[Nathan Mann]], and [[Abe Simon]], and was ranked among the top contenders. In an exciting fight, Baer put the champion through the ropes in the opening round of their May 23, 1941 bout. Louis retaliated furiously, however, and had obviously taken back the lead when the referee disqualified the challenger at the start of the seventh round because Baer's trainer refused to leave the ring. Baer's men claimed that the champion had fouled their fighter by throwing a punch (that had knocked the Californian out cold) after the bell ending the sixth round. When referee Arthur Donovan refused to listen to their protests, they remained in the ring and Donovan disqualified the bunch of them. Baer, still sitting dazedly on his stool, was in no condition to continue anyway.

===The Billy Conn Fight===
If the first round of Louis's bout with Buddy Baer proved to be a close call for the champion, his next fight would be even more dangerous. On June 18, 1941, he squared off with the former light heavyweight champion of the world, [[Billy Conn]], at the Polo Grounds in New York. Known as the "Pittsburgh Kid," Conn was a popular fighter and one of the pound-for-pound best of the era. Slick and elusive, yet with a cocky attitude and a solid punch to boot, he had cleaned out both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in the same period that Louis had done the same with the heavyweights. In 1940 he jumped up into the heavyweight division and, while besting some of the best men in the ranks, established himself as the only remaining valid contender for the champion's crown. Their highly anticipated match up is still regarded by many today as the greatest heavyweight championship battle of all time. Certainly, despite Conn's highly respected skills, the drama of the match was not expected. The official results of the weigh in revealed a twenty-five pound weight advantage for the champion (199 for Louis and 174 for Conn). However, promoter [[Mike Jacobs]] had tweaked those numbers just to make the bout seem like less of a mismatch; the actual weights were 200 for Louis and 169 for Conn, a thirty-one pound advantage for the former. 
Leave it to the clever Pittsburgh Kid to turn his disadvantage into an advantage however. Conn's lighter weight allowed him to constantly dance around the ring, not allowing Louis to plant his feet to land his famous bombs. In the opening few rounds, Conn neglected offense, content to circle his opponent and stay out of range. By round three, however, the challenger's advantage in hand speed became obvious. Louis was being repeatedly pelted with jabs and straight rights, followed by fusillades of solid hooks from both hands. By the time the champion offered anything in return, Conn had skipped around behind him. There was little else Louis could do but plod after his tricky opponent and take punches. "You've got a fight on your hands," the ever plucky challenger boasted to the champion at one point during the fight, to which Louis replied, "I know it." By the opening of the eleventh round, despite having opened up two cuts on Conn's face, Louis seemed to have lost all of his energy. He simply plodded after his foe with the sagging body language of exhaustion. Yet he kept his famous "poker face" and never showed signs of panic or discouragement. During the closing seconds of the twelfth, a series of left hooks and right crosses from Conn stunned the "Brown Bomber," whose knees sagged. The staggered champ stumbled backward into the ropes. When the challenger charged in to finish him off, however, Louis's remaining instincts allowed him to hold, allowing him to make it to the bell. 
[[file:Louis-Conn_1941.jpg|right|thumb|<center>Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn I</center>]]
As the fighters returned to their corners after the end of the twelfth, Conn was leading on two out of three judges scorecards. The third had the fight a draw. Though he did not know the scores, the challenger was also confident that he was winning, but resisted the idea of carefully boxing his way through the final rounds. "This is easy," he told his trainer, [[Johnny Ray]]. "I can take this son of a bitch out this round." Ray adamantly advised his charge against the idea, but Conn charged out for the fourteenth intent to war with the most feared puncher on the planet. He settled down on his feet and stood toe-to-toe with the champ, and both fighters exchanged hard punches. Still Conn's hand speed kept him in front, but Louis was clearly landing now and the crowd erupted in excitement. As the round reached its final minute, Louis landed a hard right hand that seemed to double Conn over. Seeing his chance, the always dangerous champion let loose with a volley of combinations, the final one tipping the frozen challenger over onto his right side. By the time a dazed Conn staggered to his feet, the referee had counted to ten. Billy Conn's impetuousness, combined with the awesome punching power of Joe Louis, had given the boxing world one of its most thrilling moments in history. It was certainly Louis's most inspiring victory since his one round annihilation of Schmeling, the most intense heavyweight title fight of the decade, and immediately sparked interest in a rematch.

==="We're On God's Side"===
While negotiations were being made for a second bout with Conn, Louis next defended his title against the overmatched [[Lou Nova]] from California. Before a crowd of more than 56,000 fans, he fought a lackluster bout that was nonetheless described by boxing historian [[Nat Fleischer]] as a "massacre" because the champion completely dominated and the referee was forced to stop the fight in the final second of round six. The bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan that December changed the course of world history, prompting America's involvement into the second World War, a fight which Americans had already identified Louis with because of his two bouts with Germany's Max Schmeling. Thus the U.S. Army sought out Louis as a representative for the "patriotic cause." Louis enlisted on January 8, 1942. A day later he was in the ring for a rematch with Buddy Baer, scoring a sensational first-round knockout that laid to rest all controversy surrounding their prior matchup. On March 10, he appeared at Madison Square Garden as a speaker at a large dinner given by the Navy Relief Society. "I have only done what any red-blooded American would do," he told his fellow guests. "We gonna do our part, and we will win, because we are on God's side," would become one of the great inspirational quotes for the "American cause." A little over two weeks later he returned to the Garden to knock out overmatched Abe Simon in the sixth round. The majority of Louis's winnings for both the Baer rematch and the Simon bout were donated to the Army Relief Fund. After twenty-one consecutive title defenses, already a record, Louis abandoned boxing to enter the service. The boxing community then put his title on "freeze" until his return (Other divisional champions also had their titles frozen "for the duration"). 
Though he was one of the most popular symbols of American virtues and a great source of pride for his countrymen, Joe Louis never saw action during his time in the military. He did mostly public relations and training work in between dozens of unpaid exhibition bouts during his years in the service, but managed to attain the rank of sergeant before his honorable discharge in October of 1945. It was also during his Army tenure that his finances fell into complete disarray. Already somewhat in debt at the time of his enlistment thanks to his irresponsible spending and borrowing, Louis did not fight professionally for several years and thus continued to borrow heavily from his promoters and managers. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service taxed Louis for his income from the 1941 bouts, most of which he donated to the U.S. government. By the end of World War II, Louis would owe the IRS more than $100,000.

===The Comeback===
[[file:Louis-Conn_II.jpeg|right|thumb|<center>Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn II</center>]]
Louis's first comeback fight, a rematch with Billy Conn on June 19, 1946 at Yankee Stadium in New York, promised to help. The second fight had been in the making since the conclusion of the first, but, because of the war, was postponed indefinitely. As a result, public demand for the bout continued to grow. The end of the war, resulting in the return of servicemen stateside, the increased popularity of both Louis and Conn, and a growing economy, produced nearly two million dollars in gate receipts--the largest figure in almost two decades. Louis's share of the purse was $625,916, the largest any fighter had made in a single night before. Nearly all of it went to paying off his enormous debts. But now he owed taxes on this purse. The fight itself was a dud. Conn was past his prime and Louis was rusty. The challenger simply ran the entire night, neglecting to exchange punches until the champion caught up with him and knocked him out in the eighth round, proving his now famous prediction before the fight: "He can run, but he can't hide." 
The money problems led Louis back into the ring three months later to face number one contender [[Tami Mauriello]]. Despite his high ranking, Mauriello had achieved his status mostly against mid-level competition. He was felt to be an easy mark for the champ, and few outside of Mauriello's native New York were interested in the matchup. Thus promoter Mike Jacobs put the fight at Yankee Stadium and reduced the ticket prices, prompting a turn out of nearly 40,000 fans to watch the "Bronx Barkeep" take on the "Brown Bomber." The opening (and only) round of the fight was one of the most exciting of Louis's long career. The challenger caught an unsuspecting Louis with a solid right hand in the early going, sending the champ careening into the ropes. The crowd reflexively shuddered to its feet. As Mauriello charged in with dreams of glory pushing him on, Louis bought time to regain his senses by clinching. After the referee broke them, the pair exchanged a wicked series of blows, Louis seeming to get the better of the action. Less than a minute after had been nearly out on his feet against the ropes, he sent home a left hook that dropped the New Yorker to the mat. Though he made it to his feet, the challenger was finished. Another left hook nearly knocked him out of the ring and the fight was finished. In his autobiography, Louis would refer to this as the last great performance of his career.

===The Walcott Fights===
Regardless of the quick knockout of Mauriello, it was clear that Louis had entered the twilight of his illustrious boxing career by 1946. Nevertheless he remained a champion and the most popular boxer in the world. However, upon hearing news that Louis's next challenger was to be former sparring partner [[Jersey Joe Walcott]], a former middleweight with eleven losses and twelve draws on his record, the New York State Athletic Commission initially refused to sanction the bout, although it eventually relented and allowed the pair to fight for the championship. Ignoring warnings from his doctors about the obvious signs of long-term nervous damage to his body and concerned about losing weight rather than getting training properly to fight Walcott, Louis entered the ring unprepared for the determined challenger before him. Walcott, on the other hand, fought nothing like the twenty-to-one underdog he was supposed to be. Known for his tricky footwork and veteran's skills, the challenger danced circles around the champion and used his left jab to keep Louis at bay. Occasionally he let loose with a stinging right hand, the first of which sent Louis down in the opening round. Although Louis scrambled to his feet and continued to stalk Walcott, he seemed slow, clumsy, and disheartened. In the fourth, Walcott scored another knockdown. Louis rose to fight on, but did little else but defend himself, shuffle forward, and lazily counterpunch. Confident of a victory, Walcott spent the final three rounds practically running away from Louis, not wanting to endanger what he perceived to be a comfortable points lead. When the final verdict was announced, however, with Louis as the split decision victor and still heavyweight champion, both Walcott's corner and the crowd erupted in outrage. The decisions of the two judges who scored the bout for Louis are still puzzled over by many today. 
[[file:Louis.Joe.1948.jpg|left|thumb|<center>Joe Louis in 1948</center>]]
Privately, it had been Louis's intention to retire after the Walcott bout, but the disputed decision rankled his ego and left him wanting to settle the score. Always one to give a worthy challenger a rematch, especially one necessary to redeem his public image, Louis granted Walcott a rematch on June 25, 1948. "There ain't gonna be no argument when we meets again," he told one reporter. Despite the boast, Louis came in heavier than any time previous in his career, weighing 213 pounds, and looked every bit of it. Again he appeared slow and clumsy, even hitting the deck in the third round, thanks to a combination from the evasive challenger. Rising to his feet before the referee could even begin his count, Louis fought on. Aside from that brief moment of excitement, the fight proved a bore for the fans through most of the going, as Walcott did little but dance out of harm's way while Louis failed to put any harm on his fleet-footed challenger. In the tenth, Referee [[Frank Fullam]] commanded the fighters to "get the lead out of your ass" and finally the pair started battling, Louis seeming to having the edge on the action. When another lull in action occurred in the eleventh round, the referee again told the fighters to start throwing punches. Louis hurt Walcott with a right, and soon afterwards, dropped him with a devastating five-punch combination. Referee Fullam counted him out.

===Retirement===

On March 1, 1949, the longtime champion announced his retirement from boxing, stating he intended to spend the rest of his days relaxing and playing golf. He had held the title for nearly a dozen years (still a world-record reign to this day) and had made more title defenses (twenty-five) than any other champion in any weight class in boxing history. His professional record was sixty-one wins (fifty-three by knockout) with one loss. His status as an all-time great was secure, but unfortunately the status of his personal life and finances could not boast the same security. In the middle of a well-publicized divorce, hit with multiple law suits stemming from his womanizing ways, overcome with millions of dollars in debt to both the government and lenders, and witnessing the failures of several business ventures, Louis quickly realized the necessity of a comeback. 
Shortly before announcing his retirement, Louis had gotten involved in the formation of the [[International Boxing Club]]--a promotional company that quickly came under the control of organized crime figures. The IBC, with Louis as a partner, bought up the contracts of the top heavyweight contenders and organized a box-off to determine a new champion. At the end of the tournament, [[Ezzard Charles]] became Louis's successor as champion (officially recognized by the [[National Boxing Association]]), having beaten Jersey Joe Walcott by decision. Charles was a skillful, experienced, and dangerous fighter, but not one with the eye-catching qualities that made Louis such an icon for his generation. The IBC and the public were hungry for a Charles-Louis title fight; Charles was hungry to gain his due respect from the public, and Louis was hungry for cash. The fight was announced in August of 1950.

===Ezzard Charles & Rocky Marciano===
The IBC scheduled the bout for September 27, giving the fighters just six weeks to prepare. Louis had boxed in several four-round exhibitions since announcing his retirement, but had not fought professionally in more than two years. He neglected taking a tune-up and jumped right into the title fight with Charles. Nevertheless, he was installed as a two-to-one favorite. The fight itself was aired live on the CBS television station, resulting in a poor live turnout at Yankee Stadium and a dismal $205,370 payday for Louis. The fight itself proved equally humiliating for the ex-champion. Charles used his advantages in youth and speed to keep the challenger off-kilter. Louis remained determined in the early going and did manage to land some telling blows, but it was clear that Charles was pulling ahead in the bout. Though he won the tenth by hurting the champ with a left hook, Charles survived and returned the favor by staggering Louis with a right hand in the fourteenth round. As the bell rung to open the final round, the bruised old "Brown Bomber" had to be lifted off his stool by his seconds and shoved into center ring. He was helpless throughout the final round, a sitting duck for Charles's constant flow of combinations. The easy decision went unanimously to Charles, dealing the first loss to Joe Louis in fourteen years.
[[file:Joe_Louis_1973.jpg|thumb|right|<center>Joe Louis in 1973</center>]]
Against the wishes of those close to him and against the advice of doctors, Louis fought on. He managed to hold onto his status as a major draw and a ranked contender by stringing together eight consecutive victories in less than a year's time, including a sixth-round knockout of contender [[Lee Savold]] and a ten-round decision over future hall-of-famer [[Jimmy Bivins]]. On October 26, 1951, he took on the undefeated up-and-comer from Brockton, Massachusetts [[Rocky Marciano]]. Although Marciano's punching power and toughness was not in question, Louis was the slight betting favorite. The fight proved a competitive slugfest, as two of history's greatest punchers gave the crowd several thrills during the night. Still Louis's stamina waned as the fight went on and Marciano's youth and determination ground him down. A crisp left hook to the jaw sent Louis down in the eighth. The wise old fighter stayed down on one knee until the count of nine and then bravely rose to take more punishment. Maricano poured in with haymakers from all directions, missing plenty but landing two more left hooks that crippled his prey against the ropes. Dazed and exhausted, Louis caught a hard right hand--Marciano's signature punch--clean on the jaw, and fell over backward through the ropes, his body lying senseless on the ring apron. "I saw the right hand coming," he told reporters afterward, "but I couldn't do anything about it." Louis never fought again.

In his post-ring life, Louis continued to be a visible public figure, especially in boxing circles, for the next couple of decades. He held official positions as a boxing promoter (at the Moulin Rouge in Hollywood in 1962 and 1963), commentator, cornerman, referee, and advisor, but at no point made near enough money to pay off the massive debts he had accrued during his days as a boxer and soldier. He lived mainly off of the charity of family in friends.

During the 1960s, Louis fell prey to several health issues, including [[dementia pugilistica]], high blood pressure, and various addictions to narcotics. His health suffered greatly and he was hospitalized for various drug-related issues--both physical and mental. After overcoming his addictions, he worked as a greeter at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ill-health continued to plague him, however, and he died on April 21, 1981 of a cardiac arrest.

In 1990, Louis was among the inaugural class inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]].

===Sources===

Bak, Richard: ''[[Joe Louis: The Great Black Hope]]'' (1996) 
Flesicher, Nat: ''[[The Heavyweight Championship]]'' (1961) 
Johnston, Alexander: ''[[Ten and Out]]'' (1943) 
Sullivan, Richard: ''[[Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times]]'' (2002) 

==Exhibitions==

Prior to his June 1935 fight with Primo Carnera, Louis engaged in a series of 6-
round exhibitions, the results of which were: 

* 1935-04-22 Louis (198) KO 1 [[Biff Bennett]] (200), Memorial Hall, Dayton, Ohio, United States
* 1935-04-25 Louis (200) KO 6 [[Roscoe Toles]] ( 193), IMA Auditorium, Flint, Michigan, United States
* 1935-05-03 Louis (199?) KO 2 [[Willie Davies]] (193), Majestic Theatre, Peoria, Illinois, United States
* 1935-05-07 Louis (202) KO 3 [[Gene Stanton]] (215), Armory, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

==Factoids==

*Louis is the longest reigning World Heavyweight Champion in the history of boxing.
*In 2005, the [[IBRO]] named Joe Louis as the greatest heavyweight champion of all-time.
*In 2003, [[Ring Magazine]] named Louis the [[The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time!|Greatest Puncher of All-Time]].

*Named [[Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year|''The Ring'' Fighter of the Year]] for 1936, 1938, 1939 and 1941.

*1934 won the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] Tournament of Champions at light heavyweight.
*1934 [[United States Amateur Light Heavyweight Champions| National AAU Light Heavyweight Champion]].
*Never had a draw decision during his pro career of 68 bouts.
*Louis became the first active World Heavyweight Champion to serve in the U.S. Military.
*American President Ronald Reagan waived the technical requirements for burial at Arlington to allow Joe Louis to be interred. [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/joelouis.htm]
*Held notable esteem for Jimmie Lunceford [http://www.swingmusic.net/Big_Band_Music_Biography_Jimmie_Lunceford.html]
*Contributed to the career of [[Champion Jack Dupree]].
*Louis was in the audience (seated next to [[Sonny Liston]]), and introduced, during The Beatles' second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," from Miami Beach, Florida, Feb. 16, 1964.
*Louis acted in the movies: ''Spirit of Youth'' and ''It Takes A Thief''.
*In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a [[:Image:LouisStamp.jpg|Joe Louis stamp]]--the first American stamp to honor a boxer.
*Louis was a client of the Charles Atlas training program.

== External Links ==

*Main Wikipedia Bio: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Louis]
* "... And a Credit to His Race: The Hard Life and Times of Joseph Louis Barrow, Gerald Astor (1974, ISBN 0841503478): [http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1818641]
* ''The Coming of Joe Louis'': [http://www.ibroresearch.com/Articles/THE%20COMING%20OF%20JOE%20LOUIS.htm]
*Video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnTDtqiYzww]

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{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Jim Braddock]]|
title=[[World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NBA World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Ezzard Charles]]|
years=1937 Jun 22 – 1949 Mar 1 '''Retired'''}}
{{end box}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Louis, Joe}}
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
[[Category:Native American Boxers]]
[[Category:Chicago Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:United States Amateur Champions]]
[[Category:World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:American World Champions]]
[[Category:World War II Veterans]]
[[Category:Promoters]]
[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]

Tiger Ted Lowry

2012-01-21T21:24:32Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[File:Ted Lowry.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
<boxer>012207</boxer>
'''Ted Lowry''''s boxing careehttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!r began in 1940, when he was 18-years-old, and ended in 1955. (He reportedly knocked out three opponents in one night.) Lowry was trained by a protege of [[Jack Johnson]], the late [[Panama Roy Brooks]], and fought a three round exhibition with [[Joe Louis]] while in the service ihttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!n 1944: [http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/boxing/view/20100620ted_lowry_legacy_stands_up_rocky_marciano_wars_defined_new_bedford_boxer/]. He was the only fighter to twice last the ten-round distance with undefeated heavyweight champion [[Rocky Marciano]]. Local newspapers had Lowry winning the fight 6 rounds to four rounds. Lowry later stated he felt he lost because Marciano's manager, Al Weill, was well-connected. He lost to Marciano in the rematch. The two later became friends.

During World War II, which interrupted his boxing career, Lowry was a member of the all-Black 555th Parachute Battalion. He later worked as a Connecticut prison guard, a concrete contractor, and later as a school bus monitor until his death. The week he died, he received a tribute on the June 18 broadcast of ESPN-TV's ''Friday Night Fights'' program. He had resided in Norwalk, Connecticut, with his second wife, Alice, to whom he has been married for over 40 years.

*2008 Inductee into the [[Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame]]

== External Link ==

Sweet Science article: [http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3211/tiger-ted-lowry-tale/]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowry, Ted}}
[[Category:World War II Veterans]]
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
[[Category:2010 Deaths]]

Tiger Ted Lowry

2012-01-21T21:21:44Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[File:Ted Lowry.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
<boxer>012207</boxer>
'''Ted Lowry''''s boxing career began in 1940, when he was 18-years-old, and ended in 1955. (He reportedly knocked out three opponents in one night.) Lowry was trained by a protege of [[Jack Johnson]], the late [[Panama Roy Brooks]], and fought a three round exhibition with [[Joe Louis]] while in the service ihttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!n 1944: [http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/boxing/view/20100620ted_lowry_legacy_stands_up_rocky_marciano_wars_defined_new_bedford_boxer/]. He was the only fighter to twice last the ten-round distance with undefeated heavyweight champion [[Rocky Marciano]]. Local newspapers had Lowry winning the fight 6 rounds to four rounds. Lowry later stated he felt he lost because Marciano's manager, Al Weill, was well-connected. He lost to Marciano in the rematch. The two later became friends.

During World War II, which interrupted his boxing career, Lowry was a member of the all-Black 555th Parachute Battalion. He later worked as a Connecticut prison guard, a concrete contractor, and later as a school bus monitor until his death. The week he died, he received a tribute on the June 18 broadcast of ESPN-TV's ''Friday Night Fights'' program. He had resided in Norwalk, Connecticut, with his second wife, Alice, to whom he has been married for over 40 years.

*2008 Inductee into the [[Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame]]

== External Link ==

Sweet Science article: [http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3211/tiger-ted-lowry-tale/]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowry, Ted}}
[[Category:World War II Veterans]]
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
[[Category:2010 Deaths]]

Vitali Klitschko

2012-01-21T21:20:49Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Vitali.jpg|left|thumb|Vitali Klitschko]]
<boxer>007033</boxer>
'''Trainer:''' [[Fritz Sdunek]] 
'''Manager:''' Self 
'''Cut Man:''' Joe Souza
 
'''Vitali Klitschko''' (Ukrhttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!ainian: ''Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Klychko'') is a former [[WBO]], [[WBC]], ''[[Ring Magazine|The Ring]]'' and the current WBC Heavyweight Champion.
 
'''[[:Category:Vitali Klitschko Gallery|Vitali Klitschko Gallery]]''' 

==Retirement==
Klitschko announced his retirement on November 9, 2005, after undergoing knee surgery, which had postponed his November 12, 2005 fight with Hasim Rahman for the WBC and ''The Ring'' Heavyweight Titles.

The fight had been postponed four times in 2005. The fight was originally scheduled for April 30, but was postponed when Klitschko pulled a muscle in his upper thigh while jogging. The fight was rescheduled for June 18, but pushed back again because the thigh muscle wasn't fully healed. The next date, July 23, had to be changed after Klitschko had minor back surgery. The final postponement occurred after Klitschko injured his knee while sparring. Promoter [[Bob Arum]] said the fight could be rescheduled for March 2006, but Klitschko, frustrated by his injuries, decided to retire.

At the WBC gala on December 20, 2005, Klitschko was appointed "Champion Emeritus" by the WBC, a status which allowed him to become the WBC mandatory challenger when he later announced his intention to return to the ring in 2007. He beat defending champion [[Samuel Peter]] for the WBC belt on October 11, 2008.

== Political Aspirations ==
Klitschko ran for mayor of Kiev and parliament in the Ukrainian elections on March 26, 2006. He campaigned on an anti-corruption platform.

Klitschko is a supporter of current Ukranian president Viktor Yushchenko and his party, ''Our Ukraine''. Klitschko was seen at Yushchenko's side during the 2004 Orange Revolution, which ultimately resulted in Yushchenko's election as president.

Klitschko received 26% of the vote in the mayoral election. He was ahead of incumbent mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko, but trailed businessman Leonid Chernovetskiy. Klitschko's aspirations for parliament were also unsuccessful, as his party received less than 3% of the vote, which was necessary to earn representation in parliament. However, Klitschko was elected as a people's deputy to Kiev City Council.

Klitschko has announced that he will again run for mayor of Kiev.

==Amateur Highlights==
*1995 Super Heavyweight Silver Medalist at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany. Results:
** Defeated [[Gitas Juskevicius]] (Lithuania) RSC-2
** Defeated [[Attila Levin]] (Sweden) RET-2
** Defeated [[Rene Monse]] (Germany) PTS (6-5)
** Lost to [[Alexei Lezin]] (Russia) PTS (3-12)
*1995 Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist at the Military World Championships in Ariccia, Italy. Results:
** Defeated [[Kenneth Horsley]] (USA) RET-1
** Defeated [[Svilen Rusinov]] (Bulgaria) RSC-1
** Defeated [[Drago Mijic]] (Croatia) WO
** Defeated [[Alexei Lezin]] (Russia) PTS (10-6)

'''Approx. Amateur Record:''' 210 Fights, 195 Wins (80 inside the distance)

== Miscellaneous Info ==
*Brother of fellow boxer [[Wladimir Klitschko]]
*Son of an Air Force Colonel
*Before his boxing career, Klitschko was a kickboxing world champion
*Earned a Ph.D. in Sports Science

== Sources ==
*[http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2216803 Arum: New dates in March ideal]
*[http://www.saddoboxing.com/2433-vitali-klitschko-retires-boxing-surgery.html Vitali Klitschko Retires From Boxing Following Surgery]
*[http://blog.kievukraine.info/2006/03/klitschko-concedes-defeat-in-kiev.html Klitschko Concedes Defeat In Kiev Mayoral Race]
*[http://www.boxingdaily.co.uk/former-champion-klitschko-to-make-comeback/ Former champion Klitschko to make comeback]
*[http://en.rian.ru/world/20070519/65744787.html Vitali Klitschko announces second run for Kiev mayor]

== External Links ==
[http://www.klitschko.com/ Klitschko Brothers Official Website]

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Herbie Hide]]|
title=[[WBO Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Chris Byrd]]|
years=1999 Jun 26 – 2000 Apr 1
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Lennox Lewis]] Retired|
title=[[WBC Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Hasim Rahman]]|
years=2004 Apr 24 – 2005 Nov 9 '''Retired'''
}}
{{Incumbent succession box|
before=[[Samuel Peter]]|
title=[[WBC Heavyweight Champion]]|
start=2008 Oct 11|
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Klitschko, Vitali}}
[[Category:World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:Ukrainian World Champions]]

Wladimir Klitschko

2012-01-21T21:20:34Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Klitschkobeltsupdated.png|300px|left|Klitschko with his WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO & Ring Magazine belts]]
<boxer>007035</boxer>
'''Trainers:''' [[Fritz Sdunek]] and [[Emanuel Steward]]
==World Title Factoids & Statistics==
'''Wladimir Klitschko''' is a 4 Thttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!ime Heavyweight Champion, two-time [[WBO]] Champion and the current [[WBA]] (Super), [[IBF]], WBO, [[IBO]] & Ring Magazine Heavyweight Champion. He is the younger brother of former [[WBO]] and current [[WBC]] Heavyweight Champion [[Vitali Klitschko]].
*As of now, Wladimir is historically the longest reigning Heavyweight Champion for the IBF, WBO & IBO Heavyweight Titles of both in measurements of defenses and time & the 7th longest reigning heavyweight champion of all time.
*After Wladimir's win over [[David Haye]] in July 2, 2011, all the major Heavyweight Belts were simultaneously owned by the Klitschko family.

==Amateur Highlights==
*1993 Heavyweight Gold Medalist at the Junior European Championships in Saloniki, Greece. Results:
**Defeated [[I. Fakazde]] (Georgia) RSC-1
**Defeated [[Valentin Savescu]] (Romania) RSC-2
**Defeated [[Serguei Lopatinski]] (Russia) PTS (5-2)
*1994 Heavyweight Silver Medalist at the Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Results:
**Defeated [[Konstantin Onofrei]] (Romania) PTS (14-5)
**Defeated [[Rustan Tuzsenchanov]] (Kazakhstan) PTS (11-9)
**Defeated [[Andrei Kambarov]] (Russia) PTS (8-4)
**Lost to [[Michel Lopez]] (Cuba) PTS (2-7)
[[file:WKlitschko1996.jpg|right|thumb|Wladimir Klitschko at the 1996 Olympics]]
*1995 World Championships in Berlin, Germany. Results:
**Defeated [[Igor Kschinin]] (Russia) RSCI-2
**Defeated [[Jan Bezvoda]] (Czech Republic) PTS (2-0)
**Lost to [[Luan Krasniqi]] (Germany) PTS (2-6)
*1995 Heavyweight Gold Medalist at the Military World Championships in Ariccia, Italy. Results:
**Defeated [[Song-Geoi Jang]] (North Korea) PTS (14-2)
**Defeated [[Igor Kshinin]] (Russia) RSC-2
**Defeated [[Sinan Samil Sam]] (Turkey) PTS (12-2)
**Defeated [[Luan Krasniqi]] (Germany) PTS (13-12)
*1996 Super Heavyweight Silver Medalist at the European Championships in Vejle, Denmark. Results:
**Defeated [[Sean Murphy]] (Ireland) DQ-2
**Defeated [[Adaliat Mamedov]] (Azerbijian) RSC-3
**Defeated [[Attila Levin]] (Sweden) PTS (7-0)
**Lost to [[Alexei Lezin]] (Russia) PTS (1-6)
*1996 Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist for the Ukraine at the 1996 [[Olympics]] in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Results:
**Defeated [[Lawrence Clay-Bey]] (United States) PTS (10-8)
**Defeated [[Attila Levin]] (Sweden) RSC-1
**Defeated [[Alexei Lezin]] (Russia) PTS (4-1)
**Defeated [[Paea Wolfgramm]] (Tonga) PTS (7-3)

'''Complete Amateur Record:''' 134 wins (65 inside the distance) and 6 losses
== External Link ==

[http://www.klitschko.com/ Klitschko Brothers Official Website] 
'''[[:Category:Wladimir Klitschko Gallery|Wladimir Klitschko Gallery]]'''

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Chris Byrd]]|
title=[[WBO Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Corrie Sanders]]|
years=2000 Oct 14 – 2003 Mar 8
}}
{{Incumbent succession box|
before=[[Chris Byrd]]|
title=[[IBF Heavyweight Champion]]|
start=2006 Apr 22|
}}
{{Incumbent succession box|
before=[[Lennox Lewis]] Retired|
title=[[IBO Heavyweight Champion]]|
start=2006 Apr 22|
}}
{{Incumbent succession box|
before=[[Sultan Ibragimov]]|
title=[[WBO Heavyweight Champion]]|
start=2008 Feb 23|
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[David Haye]] Lost bid for Super Championship|
title=[[WBA Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=—|
years=2011 Jul 2 – present '''Super Champion'''
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Klitschko, Wladimir}}
[[Category:1996 Olympians]]
[[Category:Ukrainian Olympians]]
[[Category:Olympic Gold Medalists]]
[[Category:World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:Ukrainian World Champions]]
[[Category:NABF Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:NABO Heavyweight Champions]]

Laila Ali

2012-01-21T21:20:19Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Ali.Laila.jpg|left|250px|Laila Ali]]
<boxer>014260</boxer>
 
*Daughter of former World Heavyweight Champion [[Muhammad Ali]] and niece of fellow boxer [[Rahman Ali]].http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
*Interview: [http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/w0502-kd.html]

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Valerie Mahfood]]|
title=[[WIBA Super Middleweight Champion]]|
after=[[Natascha Ragosina]]|
years=8 November 2002– 1 August 2007 Stripped
}}
{{succession box|
before= Inaugural Champion|
title=[[WBC Female Super Middleweight Champion]]|
after=[[Natascha Ragosina]]|
years=11 June 2005– 15 December 2007 Stripped
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Laila}}
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
[[Category:Muslim Boxers]]
[[Category:Children of Famous Boxers]]
[[Category:Ali Family]]
[[Category:Actors]]

Nino Valdes

2012-01-21T21:19:14Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Valdes.Nino.jpg|left]]
<boxer>010360</boxer>
'''Divisiohttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!n:''' Heavyweight 
'''Managers:''' [[Luis Gutierrez]], [[Bobby Gleason]] 
[[:Image:Valdes57.jpeg|Photo #2]]

==Comment(s):==
* Named [[The Ring Magazine|''The Ring'']] magazine [[Ring Magazine Defunct Awards|Progress of the Year]] fighter for 1953.

Carlos Monzon

2012-01-21T21:18:52Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Monzon.Carlos.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1990 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/monzon.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>009036</boxer>
'''Manager:''' [[Tito Lectourehttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!]] 
'''Trainer:''' [[Amilcar Brusa]] 
'''[[:Category:Carlos Monzon Gallery|Carlos Monzon Gallery]]

 

== Biography ==
[[file:Monzon-BeatrizGarcia-1970.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Monzon & Beatriz Garcia]]
'''Carlos Monzon''' was born in poverty in the slums of Argentina. His poor background and difficult childhood instilled a deep anger and hatred in him. He learned early that he loved to fight. He was discovered hanging around the famed Luna Park by trainer [[Amilcar Brusa]]. His first wife was Beatriz Garcia.

Monzon was tall, lanky, and had a strange habit of pushing his punches. He seemed lumbersome in the ring, yet his punches were devastating, his conditioning perfect, and his chin was made of iron. Yet, his somewhat aloof personality, coupled with an almost listless ring style, caused Monzon to toil in the rings of Argentine against mostly 2nd rate fighters. After losing three fights in his first year as a pro, Monzon won over 50 straight fights to earn a number 10 world ranking in 1970.

[[file:Monzon-SusanaGimenez-1970.jpg|left|thumb|100px|Monzon & Susana Gimenez]]
When Monzon shocked the boxing world by winning the World Middleweight Title by knocking out [[Nino Benvenuti]], people rubbed their heads and said, "Carlos Who?!" Fame and fortune were now his. His ego and temper grew. Even though he was married, he had countless romances on the side. Actress Suzanna Gimenez was seen with him. Monzon acted in eight Italian and French films, including starring in the movie, EL MACHO. He jet-setted with movie star Alain Delon. He kept winning and winning. He survived a gun shot to the shoulder from his wife; an accident they said.

He was accused of breaking a reporter's jaw. He was friendly only with the elite of the elite. He had a soft spot for [[Bennie Briscoe]] and always greeted his arch-rival with a big smile and firm handshake. He retired undefeated over the last thirteen years of his career. In retirement boredom set in and so did his demons. Caught up in the party lifestyle, it came crashing down when he was convicted of killing his common-law-wife.

Monzon died in a car accident while on a prison furlough.

Monzon is buried at Cementerio Municipal de Sante, in Santa Fe, Argentina. A life-size figure of Monzon, wearing his championship belt, with his hands raised in victory, stands atop his grave.

Named [[Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year]] for 1972.

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Nino Benvenuti]]|
title=[[WBA Middleweight Champion]]|
after=[[Rodrigo Valdez]]|
years=1970 Nov 7 – 1977 Aug 29 '''Retired'''
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Nino Benvenuti]]|
title=[[WBC Middleweight Champion]]|
after=[[Rodrigo Valdez]]|
years=1970 Nov 7 – 1974 Feb 9 '''Stripped'''
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Rodrigo Valdez]]|
title=[[WBC Middleweight Champion]]|
after=[[Rodrigo Valdez]]|
years=1976 Jun 26 – 1977 Aug 29 '''Retired'''
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monzon, Carlos}}
[[Category:World Middleweight Champions]]
[[Category:Argentine World Champions]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]
[[Category:South American Champions]]

Tommy (Hurricane) Jackson

2012-01-21T21:18:35Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Tommy_hurricane_jackson.JPG|thumb|300px|left]]<boxer>10367</boxer>
Fought [[Floyd Patterson]] for the World Heavyweight championship in July of 1957.
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

Waldemar Adao

2012-01-21T21:18:09Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

<boxer>190045</boxer>
As an amateur, he won the South American heavyweight championship in Montevideo Uruguay, in 1953. In 1956 he became Brazilian heavyweight champ. He defended his title against previous title holder Vicente Dos Santos and Roberto Del Blanco. Adao retired due to problems with his vision.
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
Boxing Record compiled by Martin Cameron (Argentina).

Coley Wallace

2012-01-21T21:17:49Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[File:Coley wallace . 632.jpg|300px|thumb|left]]
<boxer>010361</boxer>
*Another Autographed [[:Image:Wallace.Coley.jpg|Photo #2]]
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
 
In 1948 '''Coley Wallace''' won the [[New York Golden Gloves|Open New York Daily News Golden Gloves]] vs. [[Gilmore Newkirk]], then he won a disputed unpopular amateur [[Split decision|split decision]] vs. [[Rocky Marciano]] in the semi-final of the [[New York Golden Gloves|New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] and then he won the final of that tournament by a decision vs. [[Bob Baker]], * by keeping a stiff left in Baker’s face throughout the bout. He also won the [[Intercity Golden Gloves]]' championship vs. [[Clarence Henry]] and the [[United States Amateur Heavyweight Champions|National AAU]] vs. [[Bill Bangert]], in the heavyweight divisions, although he did not make the Olympics, being bested by [[Norvel Lee]] in the semi-final. In 1949, Wallace won the Open New York Daily News Golden Gloves Championship vs. [[Vincent (Jimmy) Gambino|Jimmy Gambino
]], made the semi-final of the New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, with the decision being awarded to [[Bob Baker]], in the heavyweight divisions and he then won the consolation bout vs. [[Jim Hillard]].

Wallace starred in the 1953 biopic movie [[The Joe Louis Story|"The Joe Louis Story"]] as the former heavyweight champion.

{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Joe Lindsay]] |
title= [[New York Golden Gloves|New York Daily News Golden Gloves]] Open Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1948-1949 |
after= [[Gilmore Newkirk]]}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Joe Lindsay]] |
title= [[New York Golden Gloves|New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1948 |
after= [[Bob Baker]]}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Richard Hagan]] |
title= [[Intercity Golden Gloves|Intercity Golden Gloves]] Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1948 |
after= [[Bob Baker]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[United States Amateur Heavyweight Champions|NationalAAU]] Heavyweight Champion | before= [[Willie Clemmens]]| after= [[Rex Layne]]| years=1948}}
{{end box}}

Source * The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 5, 1948

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallace, Coley}}
[[Category:New York Daily News Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:New York Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:Intercity Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:United States Amateur Champions]]
[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:2005 Deaths]]

Muhammad Ali

2012-01-21T21:17:28Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Ali.muhammad.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1990 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/ali.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>000180</boxer>
'''Trainer:''' [[Angelo Dundee]] 
'''Manager:''' [[Herbert Muhammadhttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!]] 
'''[[:Category:Muhammad Ali Gallery|Muhammad Ali Gallery]]'''
 
 
== Amateur Achievements ==
[[file:Ali_Olympics.jpg|right|thumb|<center>The 1960 Rome Olympics</center>]]

*Six-time Kentucky State Golden Gloves Champion
*1959 Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions Light Heavyweight Champion vs. [[Jeff Davis]]
*1959 Intercity Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight Champion vs. [[Tony Madigan]]
*1960 Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions Heavyweight Champion vs. [[Jimmy Jones (of Chicago, IL)|Jimmy Jones]]
*1960 Intercity Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion vs. [[Gary Jawish]]
*1959 National AAU Light Heavyweight Champion vs. [[Johnny Powell]]
*1960 National AAU Light Heavyweight Champion vs. [[Jeff Davis]]
*1960 [[Olympics|Olympic]] Light Heavyweight Gold Medalist in Rome, Italy. Olympic results:
**[[Yvon Becaus]] (Belgium) TKO 2
**[[Gennadi Schatkov]] (USSR) W3
**[[Tony Madigan]] (Australia) W3
**[[Zbigniew Pietrzykowski]] (Poland) W3

{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Jim Boyd]] |
title= [[Olympic Games Medalists| Olympic Gold Medalist]] Light Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1960 |
after= [[Cosimo Pinto]]
}}
{{succession box | title=[[United States Amateur Light Heavyweight Champions|National AAU]] Light Heavyweight Champion | before=[[Sylvester Banks]]| after= [[Bob Christopherson]]| years=1959-1960}}

{{succession box |
before= [[Kent Green]] |
title= [[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] Light Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1959 |
after= [[Jeff Davis]]
}}
{{succession box |
before= [[James Hargett]] |
title= [[Intercity Golden Gloves|Intercity Golden Gloves]] Light Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1959 |
after= [[Jeff Davis]]
}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Jimmy Jones (of Chicago, IL)|Jimmy Jones]] |
title= [[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1960 |
after= [[Al Jenkins]]
}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Sylvester Banks]] |
title= [[Intercity Golden Gloves|Intercity Golden Gloves]] Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1960 |
after= [[Ray Patterson]]
}}
{{end box}}

== Amateur record ==

There is a controversy about his amateur record. Because according to some fonts Ali's got an amateur record of 100-5, according to IMBD he has an amateur record of 127-5. Another fonts talks about more than 130 victories.

== Professional Achievements ==
*Three-time World Heavyweight Champion
*Won thirty-three World Heavyweight Championship fights (30 defenses)

==Acting Career==
*Appeared in a number of movies and television shows. IMDb credits: [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000738/]

== Awards and Recognition ==
*Named [[Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year|''The Ring'' Fighter of the Year]] for 1963, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1978
*Named [[Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year]] for 1965, 1974 and 1975
*Proclaimed "Fighter of the Decade" (1970s) by [[The Ring Magazine|''The Ring'']]
*Won the Boxing Writers' Association of America [[James J. Walker Memorial Award]] for 1984
*Named the greatest heavyweight of all-time by [[Ring Magazine|''The Ring'']] in 1998
*Named the greatest heavyweight of the 20th century by the Associated Press
*Named "Athlete of the Century" by GQ magazine
*Named "Sportsman of the 20th Century" by [[Sports Illustrated]]
*Named "Sports Personality of the Century" by the BBC
*Inducted into the [[Florida Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 2010.

== Factoids ==
*Muhammad Ali is the brother of fellow boxer [[Rahman Ali]], the father of female world champion [[Laila Ali]], and the uncle of [[Ibn Ali]].
*Ali's first fight with [[Joe Frazier]] indirectly led to four deaths. During the bout itself in New York, two spectators died of heart attacks. In Malaysia, Abdul Ghani Bachik was reported to have leaped up from his chair while watching the fight on paid television and shouted, "My God, Cassius Clay has fallen!" He then suffered a fatal heart attack. In Milan, Italy, Erio Borghisiani was found dead in front of his television just hours after viewing the fight on paid television.

== Legacy ==
A 1974 ''World Boxing'' reader poll ranked Ali as the 5th greatest heavyweight in history, historian Nat Loubet ranked him as the 9th greatest heavyweight of all-time in 1975, and John Durant, author of ''The Heavyweight Champions'', ranked him as the 4th greatest heavyweight of all-time in 1976. BBC Sports, former WBA president Bill Brennan, ''The Ring'' editor-in-chief Nigel Collins, former ''Boxing Illustrated'' editor-in-chief Herbert G. Goldman, ''Showtime'' commentator Steve Farhood, and historian Arthur Harris all consider Ali to be the greatest heavyweight of all-time.

==Reference sources==
*[http://www.ali.com/ Official website]
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1659947 Ali, the fighting prophet]'' / Gilbert Odd with a foreword by Henry Cooper (1975, ISBN 0720708451)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2057974 Black is best: the riddle of Cassius Clay]'' / Jack Olsen (1967)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2489745 Cassius Clay: a biography]'' / Jack Olsen (1967)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3019601 Cassius Clay ante el racismo]'' / Jose Laurino (1969)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2494526 Le champion]'' / Robert Gurik (c1977, ISBN 0776100653)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2194423 Facing Ali : the opposition weighs in]'' / Stephen Brunt (2002, ISBN 0676973507)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn331046 The fight]'' / Norman Mailer (1975 - 1st edition, ISBN 0316544167)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2978330 The fight]'' / Norman Mailer (1976, ISBN 0246109505)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn244559 The greatest: my own story]'' / Muhammad Ali with Richard Durham (c1975 - 1st edition, ISBN 0394462688)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1119292 The greatest: my own story]'' / Muhammad Ali with Richard Durham (1976, ISBN 0246109440)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2865330 I'm the greatest: the wit and humour of Muhammad Ali]'' / cartoons by Roy Ullyett and Jon (1975, ISBN 0856321427 and 0856321494 (pbk))
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn94569 King of the world: Muhammad Ali and the rise of an American hero]'' / David Remnick (c1998, ISBN 0375500650)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1218886 Men of destiny: the story of Muhammad Ali, formerly Cassius Clay]'' / John Cottrell (1967)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1333950 Muhammad Ali: his fights in the ring]'' / Robert Walker (1979, ISBN 017005571X)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2786653 Muhammad Ali retrospective]'' / Henry James Korn (1976, ISBN 0909331146)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn314318 Muhammad Ali's greatest fight: Cassius Clay vs. the United States of America]'' / Howard Bingham and Max Wallace (c2000, ISBN 0871319004)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1974435 Redemption song: Muhammad Ali and the spirit of the sixties]'' / Mike Marqusee (1999, ISBN 185984717X)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1015301 Sting like a bee: the Muhammad Ali story]'' (1971, ISBN 0200718401)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1103339 Sting like a bee: the Muhammad Ali story]'' / Jose Torres and Bert Randolph Sugar (2002, ISBN 0074712004)
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn310852 Black superman]'' / words and music by Johnny Wakelin (c1974) - ''"A tribute to the black superman Muhammad Ali"''
*''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3120384 In Zaire]'' / words and music by Johnny Wakelin (c1976)

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Sonny Liston]]|
title=[[WBA Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Ernie Terrell]]|
years=1964 Feb 25 – 1964 Sep 14 '''Stripped'''
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Sonny Liston]]|
title=[[WBC Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Joe Frazier]]|
years=1964 Feb 25 – 1970 Feb 3 '''Retired'''
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Sonny Liston]]|
title=[[NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Joe Frazier]]|
years=1964 Feb 25 – 1967 May 9 '''Stripped'''
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Ernie Terrell]]|
title=[[WBA Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Jimmy Ellis]]|
years=1967 Feb 6 – 1967 May 9 '''Stripped'''
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[George Foreman]]|
title=[[WBA Heavyweight Champion]] [[WBC Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Leon Spinks]]|
years=1974 Oct 30 – 1978 Feb 15
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Leon Spinks]]|
title=[[WBA Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[John Tate]]|
years=1978 Sep 15 – 1979 Sep 6 '''Retired'''
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Muhammad}}
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
[[Category:Muslim Boxers]]
[[Category:Intercity Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:Chicago Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:United States Amateur Champions]]
[[Category:1960 Olympians]]
[[Category:American Olympians]]
[[Category:Olympic Gold Medalists]]
[[Category:World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:American World Champions]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]
[[Category:NABF Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:Ali Family]]
[[Category:Actors]]

Ali

2012-01-21T21:17:16Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Ali movie poster.jpg|left|thumb|"Ali" Movie Poster]]
[[file:Will-smith-ali.jpg|right|thumb|Will Smith (left) and Michael Bentt as Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston]]
*2001 Michael Mann film starring Will Smith as [[Muhammad Ali]]
*IMDb [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248667/ link]
*Box Office Data [http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2001/ALI.php link]
*See also, [[The Making of "Ali"]]
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
[[Category:Cinema|Ali]]

Bob Satterfield

2012-01-21T21:17:04Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Bob_Satterfield.jpg|450px|left|thumb]]
<boxer>010362</boxer>
'''Division''': Heavyweight 
'''Managers''': [[Ike Bernstein]]
 
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
*Satterfield was the Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves 147-pound champion in 1941, an injury prevented him from entering [[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago's Tournament of Champions]].
*He served in the United States Army from 1942-45.
*It has been reported that he was friends with musician Miles Davis and introduced [[Muhammad Ali]] to his first wife.
*Ted Sares article[http://www.fightnightnews.com/satterfield.html]
*Bob Satterfield vs Bob Baker video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG8kmOgjSPY]
*2003: ''The Ring'' Magazine's [[The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time!|100 Greatest Punchers]]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{{start box}}
{{succession box|
title=[[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves]] Welterweight Champion|
before= -----|
after=[[Tommy James]]|
years=1941}}
{{end box}}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Category:World War II Veterans|Satterfield, Bob]]
[[Category:Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves Champions|Satterfield, Bob]]

Al Weill

2012-01-21T21:16:48Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

== Manager ==
[[file:Weill.Al.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Al Weill]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 2003 Non-Participant Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/nonparticipant/weill.html click]]]

* Al Weill was a boxing manager best known for managing heavyweight champion [[Rocky Marciano]].
* He also managed world champions [[Lou Ambers]], [[Marty Servo]] and [[Joey Archibald]].
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weill, Al}}
[[Category:Managers]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]

Ring Record Book

2012-01-21T21:16:30Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:RingRecordBook.1941.jpg|right|350px|1941 Edition]]
*First published in 1942 by [[Nat Fleischer]], Editor of the [[The Ring Magazine]], and originally titled [[The Ring All-Time Record Book]] (or the "All-Time ''Ring'' Record Book), these books purportedly http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!recorded the most-recent bouts (as of the year-before) of the most well-known boxers of the day.
*Published annually, with the exception of 1986. It was discontinued after the combined 1986-87 edition.
*It has been suggested that, although these books "borrowed" heavily from the [[Everlast Boxing Record]] and [[T. S. Andrews World’s Sporting Annual Record Books]], they are replete with errors.
*Trivia: For the 1949 edition, Fleischer refused to use the term "technical knockout." Thus, there were no TKOs recorded in that book. In the foreward, he explained: "In these records, when a fighter has been stopped, whether by tossing in the sponge, through action of the referee, because of injuries, or for any other cause other than fouling, the editor placed K. O. to the credit of the victor. Under the rules of boxing, when a boxer is halted he loses by a knockout. There is no such thing as a 'technical' knockout."
*See also, [[Ring Magazine Scandal]]
 
[[file:RRB1966.jpg|145px|Ring Record Book 1966]]
[[file:RRB1968.jpg|150px|Ring Record Book 1968]]
[[file:RRB1969.jpg|145px|Ring Record Book 1969]]
[[file:RRB1970.jpg|145px|Ring Record Book 1970]]
[[file:RRB1972.jpg|145px|Ring Record Book 1972]]
[[file:RRB1973.jpg|140px|Ring Record Book 1973]]
[[file:RRB1979.jpg|150px|Ring Record Book 1979]]
[[file:RRB1981.jpg|150px|Ring Record Book 1981]]
[[file:Ring Final Edition 86-87.jpg|150px|Ring Record Book 1986-87]]

[[Category:Publications|Ring Record Book]]
[[Category:Research Resources|Ring Record Book]]

Charley Goldman

2012-01-21T21:16:18Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[file:Marciano.Goldman.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Rocky Marciano & Charley Goldman]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1992 Non-Participant Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/nonparticipant/goldman.html click]]]
<boxer>052597</boxer>
 

'''Charles Goldman''' was a boxer who grew up fighting in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, New York. According to http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!the 1965 [[Ring Record Book]], his record was 137 total bouts, although it is beleived he had many more and research continues.

Goldman is best known as a trainer who helped develop World Champions [[Lou Ambers]], [[Marty Servo]] and [[Joey Archibald]]. Perhaps his most notable training feat was helping to make [[Rocky Marciano]] into a championship fighter.

== Miscellaneous ==

*1910 Champions tobacco card [[:Image:GoldmanChas.jpg|image]]
*Elected to the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] as a trainer in 1992.
*Member of the [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]].

----

Fighters he trained include:
* [[Al McCoy]]
* [[Johnny Risko]]
* [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] (from beginning of Career): 1930-34
* [[Arturo Godoy]]
* [[Cesar Brion]]
* [[Bob Cleroux]]
* [[Rocky Marciano]]
* [[Tony Alongi]]
* [[Oscar Bonavena]] (until his death)
* [[Walter Cartier]]
* [[Rory Calhoun]]
* [[Fritzie Zivic]]
* [[Marty Servo]]
* [[Kid Gavilan]]
* [[Lou Ambers ]]
* [[Joey Archibald]]
* Carlos Ortiz
* Richard Kid Howard

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldman, Charley}}
[[Category:Jewish Boxers]]
[[Category:Trainers]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]

Rocky Marciano

2012-01-21T21:15:58Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[File:RM.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1990 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/marciano.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>009032</boxer>
'''Manager''': [[Al Weill]] 
'''Trainers''': [[Charley Goldman]] & [[Al Columbo]] 
'''Cornerman''' [[Whitey Bimstein]]
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
* The only [[World Heavyweight Champion]] to finish his career undefeated.
* [[Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year|The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year]] for 1952, 1954 & 1955.
*Highlight video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sncQC8_5uEM]
*Movie and on television credits from 1953-1963: [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0545698/]

*Official Rocky Marciano Web site: [http://www.rockymarciano.net/]

== Boxing Factoid ==
*Rocky Marciano was a client of the Charles Atlas training program.

'''[[:Category:Rocky Marciano Gallery|Rocky Marciano Gallery]]

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Jersey Joe Walcott]]|
title=[[World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NBA World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Floyd Patterson]]|
years=1952 Sep 23 – 1956 Apr 27 '''Retired'''
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marciano, Rocky}}
[[Category:World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:American World Champions]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:World War II Veterans]]
[[Category:Referees]]
[[Category:Actors]]

[[Category:Italian American Boxers]]

Toxie Hall

2012-01-21T21:15:41Z

Willgetu: how come baker huricane 2.3 fight u put twice the the i fixed that u reverted goes to show how primitive u fags r die slowly in pain!

[[File:Toxi.JPG|195px|thumb|left|Toxie Hall (left)]]
<boxer>10368</boxer>
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!fags
*Known to be a good friend and sparring mate of [[Rocky Marciano]], member of [[Al Weill|Al Weill's]] boxing stable and his bodyguard.
*1951 he won the Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves' championship at heavyweight and represented Chicago at the Intercity Golden Gloves.
*He was awarded the [[Joe Louis Trophy]].
*Won a close ten round bout with [[Ezzard Charles]].
*Became a Chicago police officer after his retirement from the ring.
*Video: Possibly Hall and Marciano sparring.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fsGIq0t6YY]

{{start box}}
{{succession box|
title=[[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves]] Heavyweight Champion|
before=[[Van Leonard]]|
after=Harold Sullivan|
years=1951}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Toxie}}
[[Category:Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:2007 Deaths]]

Toxie Hall

2012-01-21T21:15:04Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[File:Toxi.JPG|195px|thumb|left|Toxie Hall (left)]]
<boxer>10368</boxer>
http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!
*Known to be a good friend and sparring mate of [[Rocky Marciano]], member of [[Al Weill|Al Weill's]] boxing stable and his bodyguard.
*1951 he won the Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves' championship at heavyweight and represented Chicago at the Intercity Golden Gloves.
*He was awarded the [[Joe Louis Trophy]].
*Won a close ten round bout with [[Ezzard Charles]].
*Became a Chicago police officer after his retirement from the ring.
*Video: Possibly Hall and Marciano sparring.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fsGIq0t6YY]

{{start box}}
{{succession box|
title=[[Chicago Golden Gloves|Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves]] Heavyweight Champion|
before=[[Van Leonard]]|
after=Harold Sullivan|
years=1951}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Toxie}}
[[Category:Chicago Tribune Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:2007 Deaths]]

Floyd Patterson

2012-01-21T21:14:46Z

Willgetu: http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!

[[File:Floyd Patterson.jpg||left|300px]]
[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg|thumb|right|Class of 1991 Modern Category Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/patterson.html click]]]
[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg|righttp://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Bob_Baker_Vs_Rocky_Marciano_2.3.56 http://mywikibiz.com/User:Boxstuf/Why_Never_To_Trust,_Donate_Money_to_Boxrec_aka_Boxpedoia 100% TRUE GOODIES!!!LOLS!!!ht|thumb|200px|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
<boxer>009038</boxer>
'''Manager:''' [[Cus D'Amato]] 
'''Trainers:''' [[Cus D'Amato]], [[Joey Fariello]], [[Dan Florio]], [[Al Silvani]] 
 
== Amateur Career ==
*Amateur Record: 40-4, 37 KOs
*Started working out at the [[Gramercy Gym]] on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, owned and run by Cus D'Amato. In 1950, he started boxing as an amateur.
*In 1951, Patterson won the Open New York Daily News Golden Gloves and the New York Golden Gloves Tournament Of Champions, both in the middleweight division.
*In 1952, Patterson won the Open New York Golden Gloves, the New York Golden Gloves Tournament Of Champions and the Intercity Golden Gloves Championship, all in the light heavyweight division.
*Also in 1952 he won the National AAU and the Olympic Gold Medal, both in the middleweight division.
*Olympic Results:
**1st round bye
**Defeated [[Omar Tebbaka]] (France) 3-0
**Defeated [[Leen Jansen]] (Canada) TKO 1
**Defeated [[Boris Georgiev Nikolov]] (Bulgaria) DQ 3
**Defeated [[Vasili Tita]] (Romania) KO 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Herbert Hayes]]|
title= [[New York Golden Gloves|New York Daily News Golden Gloves]] Open Middleweight Champion |
years= 1951 |
after= [[Richard Hill]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[New York Golden Gloves|New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] Middleweight Champion | before= [[Freddie Manns]] | after= [[Carl Blair]]| years=1951}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Ned Hicks]]|
title= [[New York Golden Gloves|New York Daily News Golden Gloves]] Open Light Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1952 |
after= [[Eddie Smith]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[New York Golden Gloves|New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions]] Light Heavyweight Champion | before= [[Eldredge Thompson]] | after= [[Harold Carter]]| years=1952}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Bobby Jackson (of Cleveland, OH)|Bobby Jackson]]|
title= [[Intercity Golden Gloves|Intercity Golden Gloves]] Light Heavyweight Champion |
years= 1952 |
after= [[Harold Carter]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[United States Amateur Middleweight Champions|National AAU Middleweight Champion]] | before= [[Thomas Nelson]]| after= [[Bryant Thompson]]| years=1952}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Laszlo Papp]] |
title= [[Olympic Games Medalists| Olympic Gold Medalist]] Middleweight Champion |
years= 1952 |
after= [[Gennady Schatkov]] }}
{{end box}}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

== Professional Career ==
*Professional Record: 55-8-1, 40 KOs
*Won the vacant world heavyweight title with a 5th-round KO of [[Archie Moore]]. At the age of 21, Patterson was the youngest ever world heavyweight champion. His record was surpassed by [[Mike Tyson]], who won the [[WBC]] heavyweight title at age 20 in 1986.
*Was the first person to regain the world heavyweight title. He lost it twice, defended it successfully seven times, and failed to regain it three times.
==Post Boxing Career==
*Trained his adopted son, [[Tracy Harris Patterson]], who won world titles in two weight divisions.
*From 1977 to 1984, Patterson was a member of the [[New York State Athletic Commission]]. From 1995 to 1998, he was the chairman of the commission.
*On April 1, 1998, Patterson resigned as commission chairman after a published report said a three-hour videotape of a deposition he gave in a lawsuit revealed he couldn't remember aspects of his job or important events in his boxing career. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

== Awards & Recognition ==
*Named [[Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year|''The Ring'' Fighter of the Year]] in 1956 and 1960.
*Inducted into the United States Olympic Committee Hall of Fame in 1987.
*Inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 1991.

== Factoids ==
*Born January 4, 1935, in a cabin in Waco, North Carolina. He was the third eldest of 11 children.
*His younger brother, [[Ray Patterson]], also became a professional heavyweight boxer.
*Died on May 11, 2006 in his New Paltz, New York home. He suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and prostate cancer.

== External Links ==
*Internet Movie Database [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0666206/ Filmography]

{{start box}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Rocky Marciano]] Retired|
title=[[World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NBA World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Ingemar Johansson]]|
years=1956 Nov 30 – 1959 Jun 26
}}
{{Succession box|
before=[[Ingemar Johansson]]|
title=[[World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NBA World Heavyweight Champion]] [[NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion]]|
after=[[Sonny Liston]]|
years=1960 Jun 20 – 1962 Sep 25
}}
{{end box}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patterson, Floyd}}
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
[[Category:Intercity Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:New York Daily News Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:New York Golden Gloves Champions]]
[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:United States Amateur Champions]]
[[Category:1952 Olympians]]
[[Category:American Olympians]]
[[Category:Olympic Gold Medalists]]
[[Category:World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:American World Champions]]
[[Category:IBHOF Members]]
[[Category:World Boxing Hall of Fame Members]]
[[Category:2006 Deaths]]
[[Category:Floyd Patterson Gallery]]

John Holman

2012-01-21T21:14:30Z

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<boxer>010365</boxer>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holman, John}}
[[Category:African American Boxers]]
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