Bob Baker vs. Joe Baksi
Bob Baker 206 lbs beat Joe Baksi 236 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1954-05-24
- Location: Eastern Parkway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Referee: Abe Simon 7-2
- Judge: Leo Birnbaum 7-3
- Judge: Bill Recht 7-2
"Joe Baksi saw his attempt to climb back into boxing's big time wrecked last night by a unanimous decision loss to Bob Baker, and then learned that his manager had died of a heart ailment during the bout at Eastern Parkway Arena. Baksi, aware only that his pilot had been taken 'sick', fought doggedly in the closing rounds in a bid for victory that would put him back on the road of No. 1 heavyweight contender which he once held. Baksi, in his first important bout in more than two years, marched forward and used his weight to bull Baker about the ring. Baker beat him with left jabs and hard right counter-punches to the head. In the closing rounds, Baksi was so tired that he leaned persistently on his smaller opponent." -United Press
- Leo Feuereisen, 56 year old New Yorker and manager of Joe Baksi, collapsed at ringside during the 6th round of the bout and was taken to the dressing room where he was pronounced dead.
- Unofficial AP scorecard - 6-4 Baker
- Unofficial UP scorecard - 5-4-1 Baksi
Post fight comment
- "I don't know. I don't know. I guess I've got to go on for Leo." -Joe Baksi, when asked if he would continue boxing.
- "Baksi should keep on fighting. He wasn't sharp last night but he's a hard puncher, particularly to the body. And he's tough." -Bob Baker