Don Neratko

Name: Don Neratko
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Birthplace: Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Pro Boxer: Record

Born in Erie, PA of Polish parents, Don Neratko left Academy High School at age 17 to join the U. S. Army at Fort Slocum. Two months later he sailed to Hawaii, where he remained for three years.

It was in Hawaii were he started boxing as an amateur lightweight, winning all 14 bouts, fighting his way into the middleweight division. After his return home, he took part in 22 more amateur contests, winning 20 of them.

He turned pro under "Papa" Bob Levy and was trained by Harry Levy.

Neratko re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps at the outbreak of World War II.

(March 1942, The Ring magazine.)