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 (1949 and 1950) at Kent State University. Also won NCAA championships in horizontal bars, 1950, and side horse, 1951. Coach of U.S. team in 1966 North American Championships at Montreal.
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 as most promising young gymnast in nation in 1960. Earned gold medal in USA-USSR dual meet in Moscow, 1961.
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 for the Sullivan Trophy given by AAU to the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete of the year.
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.
First team NCAA All-American in sabre at Case Western Reserve University in 1970, finishing second in national competition and second team All-American in 1971 when he finished fourth. Won four All-Ohio championships and five Northern Ohio Division championships between 1968 and 1973.
Captain of United States 1972 Olympic Fencing Team and 1971 Pan-American Games Team. Won gold medal as member of 1956 national championship epee team and silver medal as member of runner-up team in national three-weapon championship tournament on same day. Set University of Pennsylvania record for most consecutive victories in one season.