Human:59271

1950 147 lb New Jersey AAU and Golden Glove Open Champion. Lost in the semi-finals of the Eastern Championship. Amateur record: 40-2 (30).

Shortly after his 5th professional fight on March 5, 1951, he was injured in an industrial accident. Adams was employed as a machine operator and crushed his right hand in the gears of a machine. His fingers were so badly mashed that he had to have four fingers amputated. His love for boxing was so strong he returned to the gym and helped train amateur boxers. After months at the gym he got the bug to try a return to the ring. Adams worked hard to overcome the pain in his right hand every time he landed it. He eventually overcame the mental aspects of the pain and began using his right hand with its old effectiveness after knocking out a sparmate with his right hand. He returned to the ring on October 14, 1952. From October 1952 until February 1955 he was considered a hot up-and-coming prospect with wins over Emerson Butcher, Jay Anderson, Vinnie DeCarlo, Willie Kid Johnson, Larry Villeneuve, Rocky Tomesello, Jimmy Martinez, and Angelo Brisci and draws with Emerson Butcher and Allie Gronik. Decision losses to Steve Marcello and Mario Moreno didn't dimisnish his reputation.

Unfortunately, when he tried to step up in class he met with poor results, losing his last ten fights (5 by stoppage). He lost to Eddie DeMars, Pat Lowry, Sammy Walker, Steve Marcello, Jimmy Martinez, Curtis Bruce, Barry Allison and future middleweight champion Paul Pender.