World Lightheavyweight Champion from January 20, 1950, to December 17, 1952. Won title from Freddie Mills and surrendered it to Archie Moore. Fought 115 professional bouts between 1941 and 1959. He also held the American lightheavyweight title in 1949. Won Cleveland-Chicago-New York Golden Gloves Championship and National AAU title as amateur in 1940.
One of best bantamweight fighters of the 1920s, although never given the opportunity to fight for the title. His 12-round, no-decision fight with Bantamweight Champion Eddie “Cannibal” Martin at Cleveland Public Hall in 1925 has been hailed as one of the greatest fights ever staged in Cleveland. Late in his career he scored a notable […]
Fought the best heavyweights of his era in a professional career that included 140 matches in a span from 1924 to 1940. Defeated such greats as Mickey Walker, Jack Sharkey, Max Schmeling and George Godfrey. Fought champions Gene Tunney and Max Baer. Had 39 knockouts in 59 amateur bouts between 1921 and 1923.
World Bantamweight champion from March 4, 1940, to September 24, 1940, winning title from Lou Salica, then losing it to him in a return match. Had 42 professional bouts between 1936 and 1943 after a successful amateur career.
World Featherweight Champion from February 22, 1912, until June 2, 1923. Won title from Abe Attell. Finally lost crown to Eugene Criqui. Inducted into Boxing Hall of Fame in 1960.
Member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1948 and 1956, alternate in 1952. Gold medalist in long horse at 1955 Pan-American games, also winning two silver and three bronze medals in those games. National AAU champion in parallel bars, 1948, 1949 and 1951 and in side horse, 1956. Two-time NCAA all-around and parallel bars champion […]
Member of U.S. Olympic Team in 1960 and U.S. Pan-American Team in 1959. Shared team gold medal and won two individual silver medals at Pan-Am Games. Member of U.S. All-American AAU Team in 1959 and 1960 and U.S. World Games Team in 1962. Won National AAU junior all-around championship in 1959 and won AAU award […]
Member of U.S. Olympic Team in 1964 and finalist in 1968 U.S. Olympic Trials. Member of U.S. Pan-American Games team in 1963 and 1967. Also represented United States in 1962 World Gymnastics Championship in Prague and in 1965 Wembley Games in London.
First athlete from Cleveland to compete in Olympics (1904), winning gold medal for Indian club swinging and tying for first place in horizontal bars. Won 14 National AAU championships and three National Turner titles. In 1948, at age 62, he was voted the outstanding amateur athlete in Northeastern Ohio and finished third in the balloting […]
National Collegiate (NCAA) epee champion in 1970 after finishing third in that weapon in 1969 NCAA competition. Represented Case Western Reserve University. First Greater Cleveland collegian to earn an NCAA fencing championship. Twice earned first team All-American honors in that sport. Represented USA in 1970 World University Games.