Paul Berlenbach
Paul Berlenbach | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Paul Berlenbach February 18, 1901 |
| Died | September 30, 1985 (aged 84) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Other names | Astoria Assassin |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Light Heavyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 51 |
| Wins | 40 |
| Wins by KO | 33 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 3 |
| No contests | 1 |
Paul Berlenbach (February 18, 1901 – September 30, 1985) was the world light heavyweight boxing champion from May 30, 1925, when he wrested the crown from Mike McTigue, until July 16, 1926, when he was defeated by his nemesis Jack Delaney. The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer rated him as the #10 best light heavyweight of all-time. Berlenbach was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1971 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.[1]
Professional career
World light heavyweight champion
Known as the "Astoria Assassin", Berlenbach was known for his punching power. The New York City-born Berlenbach was an AAU champion wrestler before turning to professional boxing in 1923. Eventually he scored a 10th-round TKO over former champion "Battling Siki" to earn a title shot against champion Mike McTigue.
Described by writer Paul Gallico as "untutored, unlettered, slow-witted, slow-moving, and wholly lacking in animation or imagination", Berlenbach was, nevertheless, a formidable fighter. As Gallico noted, he possessed "a numbing, paralyzing body punch that caused his opponents suddenly to crumple up" as though shot. His weaknesses were his non-existent defense, and slow movements which enabled sharp shooting opponents, such as Jack Delaney, to hit him at will.
Retirement
He retired with a record of 40 wins (33 KOs), 8 losses, and 3 draws. He was named #93 on the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Upon his retirement, he owned and operated Paul Berlenbach's Ringside Restaurant in Sound Beach, New York in the 1950s.
Professional boxing record
| 51 fights | 40 wins | 8 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 34 | 3 |
| By decision | 6 | 4 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 3 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | Loss | 40–8–3 (3) | Carl Knowles
|
PTS | 10 | Sep 28, 1933 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 53 | NC | 40–7–3 (3) | Ray Lopez
|
NC | 2 (?) | Sep 14, 1931 | Saint Albans, Vermont, U.S. | The bout was declared NC after Lopez had been floored three times by relatively light punches. |
| 52 | Loss | 40–7–3 (2) | Herman Weiner
|
DQ | 1 (5) | Jul 22, 1931 | Twin City Arena, Laurel, Maryland, U.S. | Berlenbach DQ'd for going down without a blow being struck. |
| 51 | Win | 40–6–3 (2) |  Jerry Garfield
|
TKO | 4 (6) | Jul 09, 1931 | Fort Hamilton Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 39–6–3 (2) | Billy Henderson
|
TKO | 1 (4) | Apr 13, 1931 | Prospect Hall, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 38–6–3 (2) | Eddie Clark
|
KO | 3 (4) | Mar 31, 1931 | Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 37–6–3 (2) | Larry Estridge
|
KO | 8 (?) | May 22, 1928 | Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 36–6–3 (2) | Floyd Shimalla
|
KO | 1 (?) | May 12, 1928 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 35–6–3 (2) | Jack Delaney
|
TKO | 6 (10) | Dec 09, 1927 | Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 45 | Loss | 35–5–3 (2) | Mickey Walker
|
PTS | 10 | Nov 25, 1927 | Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 44 | Draw | 35–4–3 (2) | Joe Lohman
|
PTS | 10 | Oct 13, 1927 | Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 35–4–2 (2) | Bob Lawson
|
KO | 7 (?) | Jul 28, 1927 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 34–4–2 (2) | Bing Conley
|
PTS | 10 | Jul 18, 1927 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 33–4–2 (2) |  Gus Berger
|
TKO | 4 (10) | Jul 09, 1927 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 32–4–2 (2) |  Charley Rammell
|
TKO | 1 (10) | Jun 27, 1927 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 39 | Loss | 31–4–2 (2) |  Mike McTigue
|
TKO | 4 (10) | Jan 28, 1927 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 31–3–2 (2) |  Francis Charles
|
TKO | 1 (10) | Aug 20, 1926 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 30–3–2 (2) | Jack Delaney
|
UD | 15 | Jul 16, 1926 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles For vacant NYSAC light heavyweight title |
| 36 | Win | 30–2–2 (2) | Young Stribling
|
UD | 15 | Jun 10, 1926 | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles |
| 35 | Win | 29–2–2 (2) | Ray Neuman
|
PTS | 10 | Apr 05, 1926 | Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 28–2–2 (2) | Johnny Risko
|
PTS | 10 | Mar 19, 1926 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 28–1–2 (2) | Jack Delaney
|
PTS | 15 | Dec 11, 1925 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles |
| 32 | Win | 27–1–2 (2) |  Emilio Solomon
|
TKO | 9 (10) | Oct 12, 1925 | Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 26–1–2 (2) | Jimmy Slattery
|
TKO | 11 (15) | Sep 11, 1925 | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles |
| 30 | NC | 25–1–2 (2) | Tony Marullo
|
NC | 9 (15) | Jul 13, 1925 | Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles No decision bout. Both men were disqualified for "not trying" |
| 29 | Win | 25–1–2 (1) | Mike McTigue
|
UD | 15 | May 30, 1925 | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles |
| 28 | Win | 24–1–2 (1) |  Battling Siki
|
TKO | 10 (12) | Mar 13, 1925 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 23–1–2 (1) | Frankie Maguire
|
TKO | 5 (10) | Feb 09, 1925 | 108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 22–1–2 (1) | Tony Marullo
|
PTS | 12 | Jan 30, 1925 | 108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 21–1–2 (1) | Rocky Smith
|
TKO | 4 (10) | Jan 14, 1925 | 108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 20–1–2 (1) |  Larry Estridge
|
TKO | 2 (?) | Dec 26, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 19–1–2 (1) | Tom Burns
|
KO | 5 (10) | Dec 05, 1924 | Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 18–1–2 (1) | Johnny Gill
|
NWS | 10 | Oct 01, 1924 | Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 18–1–2 | Jack Reddick
|
KO | 8 (?) | Sep 19, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 20 | Draw | 17–1–2 | Young Stribling
|
PTS | 6 | Aug 27, 1924 | Velodrome, New York, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Hambone Kelly
|
KO | 4 (10) | Aug 15, 1924 | Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 18 | Draw | 16–1–1 | Augie Ratner
|
PTS | 8 | Jul 24, 1924 | Polo Grounds, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Frank Carpenter
|
TKO | 7 (10) | Jul 07, 1924 | Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | KO Jaffe
|
TKO | 7 (10) | Jun 20, 1924 | Henderson's Bowl, Brooklyn New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Chief Halbran
|
TKO | 3 (10) | Jun 16, 1924 | Bralls Arena, Freeport, New York U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Harold Abbott
|
TKO | 4 (10) | Apr 29, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Jack Stone
|
TKO | 5 (12) | Apr 07, 1924 | 1st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Harry Krohn
|
KO | 4 (10) | Mar 31, 1924 | 1st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S. | |
| 11 | Loss | 10–1 | Jack Delaney
|
KO | 4 (12) | Mar 14, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 |  Jimmy Darcy
|
TKO | 3 (12) | Mar 03, 1924 | Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Young Fisher
|
KO | 6 (?) | Feb 28, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Pat Walsh
|
TKO | 1 (?) | Feb 15, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Frank Carbone
|
TKO | 6 (8) | Jan 28, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Lew Chester
|
KO | 2 (6) | Jan 18, 1924 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Billy Ryan
|
KO | 1 (?) | Jan 10, 1924 | 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | KO Jaffre
|
KO | 7 (?) | Jan 02, 1924 | Lenox A.C., New York, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jerome Baird
|
KO | 1 (8) | Dec 13, 1923 | 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Charles Hoffman
|
KO | 1 (8) | Nov 29, 1923 | 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jimmy Roberts
|
KO | 1 (8) | Oct 04, 1923 | 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S. |
See also
References
- ^ Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia - Paul Berlenbach CyberBoxingZone.com Retrieved on 2014-04-30