“Fighting Billy Sunday” was the popular tag given to him because he looked more like a minister than a fighter. However, his many opponents quickly learned the difference as he worked his way through the Heavyweight field which at that time was headed by the great world champion, Jack Johnson. Spectacular and successful fights were recorded against the likes of Mike McLaughton, Jack Clancy, Hank Harter and George Rogers.
Became Cleveland’s AAU and Golden Gloves 126 lb. Champion in 1930, as well as capturing the National AAU Junior Championship. He repeated as City Champion the following year adding the Chicago Golden Gloves title. A memorable international match at Soldier Field saw him defeat the French champion.
Cleveland’s AAU and Golden Gloves flyweight champion in 1936, he won both titles again in 1940 as a bantamweight. As a featherweight he won the Cleveland Open Championships in 1941 and 1942 and added the National Golden Gloves featherweight title in the latter year. A stellar competitive career was followed by selection into the Golden Gloves Hall of Fame as he continued to provide leadership for the sport at many levels including working with the U.S. Olympic Team.
At age 17, Tommy Salem had an athletic scholarship to Michigan State and a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Art in his pocket and was well along the path in his studies to become a concert violinist. The choice was obvious to the youngster from Bolivar Rd. in downtown Cleveland. With an amazing 126 bouts already under his belt as an amateur in the flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight divisions, he elected to become a professional boxer. By the time he turned 18 he was fighting some of the world’s best featherweights and had been featured as the world’s “Featherweight of the Month” by the National Boxing Association. Boxing in elimination bouts to become the next contender to face Sandy Saddler for the featherweight title, he ended Auburn Copeland’s undefeated string of 26 wins, to set up a match with Charley Riley, ranked No.3 in the world. Now 19, he lost a split decision, which prevented him from moving up in the rankings behind Saddler and Willie Pep. A draft call for the Korean War put his career on hold from 1951-53, after which he resumed competing in elimination bouts as a lightweight until he retired in 1958, with a record of 40 wins, including 11 knockouts, and eight losses. Two of those losses were disputed split decisions in New York City to highly rated Johnny Busso and future lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz. Ortiz was later quoted as saying his fight with the Cleveland contender was the toughest of his career. After putting away his gloves he attended college and pursued a career in advertising and sales. He and his wife Dorothy, a college professor, make their home in Independence.
Deceased 2015
Director of the Cleveland Athletic Club for nearly five years and a leading figure in AAU activities. Served as chairman of the National AAU Boxing Committee and was a member, manager or chairman of several U.S. Olympic Boxing Teams. The Jimmy Lee Foundation now provides college scholarships for deserving Cleveland high school athletes annually.
Active in AAU programs for over 50 years, he made his mark most strongly in the sport of boxing where as a trainer and coach he produced a long list of nationally prominent fighters. In 1974 he was inducted into the AAU Boxing Hall of Fame and was named the AAU’s “Man of the Year.” Served as secretary-treasurer of the Ohio Association of Boxing and Ohio Wrestling Commission and the National Wrestling Association.
Won National AAU championship at 125 pounds in 1914, representing The Cleveland Athletic Club. One of four Cleveland boxers to win titles that year. Their showing launched a highly successful era of amateur boxing in Greater Cleveland.
Won Olympic 118-pound title at Helsinki, Finland, in 1954. Was Cleveland Golden Gloves flyweight champion in 1949 and 1950, won 118-pound championship in 1951, Won Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions at 112 pounds in 1950 and 118 pounds in 1951.
Won National AAU championship at 135 pounds in 1914, representing The Cleveland Athletic Club. One of four Cleveland boxers to win titles that year. Their showing launched a highly successful era of amateur boxing in Cleveland.
Won World Welterweight Amateur Boxing Championship in 1916 at age 19, first Ohioan to win world amateur crown. Also won national AAU championship that year. Boxed for the U.S. Army during World War 1, winning every tournament he engaged in while in England and France.