George Chemeres
Boxer, Trainer, Manager, and Promoter
Name: George Chemeres
Hometown: Aberdeen, Washington, USA
Died: 2002-11-15 (Age:87)
Pro Boxer: Record
Died in Seattle, Washington
A native of Aberdeen, Chemeres started boxing as a teenager, inspired to become a boxer by his idol, Aberdeen's own Leo Lomski, who was at one time the #1 contender in the Light Heavyweight division. Chemeres is better known though as a trainer, manager and promoter from the 1940s to the 1990s.
During the early 1950s, Chemeres initially rose to prominence as a partner with noted Seattle manager Jack Hurley training Hurley's boxers. The two would subsequently split, and Chemeres would gain national fame in 1957 when his first big-name fighter, Pete Rademacher, knocked down heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson at Sick's Stadium before Patterson took control of the match. Chemeres went on to guide fighters such as Eddie Cotton and Auburn native Greg Haugen. Chemeres once ran the legendary Cherry Street Boxing Gym in downtown Seattle, and as recently as 1999 had John Palaki headlining cards at the Lucky Eagle Casino near Rochester, WA. Seattle Times, Sat., Nov. 16, 2002, p. D2.
Miscellaneous Facts
- He dropped out of school in 10th grade to pursue a career in boxing.
- Told Seattle boxing historian John Ochs that he was with Joe Waterman when Waterman suffered his fatal heart attack in Tacoma in 1949.
- Inducted into the Northwest Boxing Hall of Fame at the Coeur d'Alene Casino in Idaho.
- Nicknamed "The Professor" in 1958 by The Ring Magazine's founder Nat Fleischer.
- He studied under most of the great managers: James J. Johnston, Jack Kearns, "Dumb" Dan Morgan, Joe Gould, Nate Druxman, Billy McCarney, Joe Jacobs and Jack Hurley.
- Aged 87 when he died Nov. 15, 2002, at Bayview Manor in Seattle.