Fred Apostoli vs. Eric Seelig
Fred Apostoli 159 lbs beat Erich Seelig 163 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1939-05-01
- Location: Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Referee: Tony LaBranch
- Judge: Jim Parker
- Judge: Dibby Williams
"Fred Apostoli, 159 1/4, of San Francisco, world's middleweight champion in New York and California today held a disputed 10-round decision over Eric Seelig, 163, of New York and a possible broken left hand. Some 2,500 fans saw the two clash here last night in a non-title bout that sports writers voted one of the closest in the city's fight history. Apostoli's hand was swollen badly after the fight. Larry White, his manager, said he feared a bone had been broken during the fierce slugging. X-ray's were to be taken today. Seelig, former light heavyweight champion of Europe, held his own in the early rounds and put on a terrific rally in the 6th, 7th and 8th rounds. In the latter stanza he drove Apostoli to the ropes with hard rights. Midway in the 9th, Apostoli swung the tide of battle and had Seelig hanging on when the bell rang. Blood from a cut over his left eye smothered Seelig through most of the late rounds. They were about even in rounds won, but the champion landed the sharper blows." -Associated Press
- X-rays taken the following day gleaned that Apostoli did not suffer a broken bone in the left hand, but suffered only bruising.
- Judges Jim Parker and Dibby Williams scored the fight for Apostoli, but referee Tony LaBranch scored for Seelig.