Boxing [2] Trivia Quiz

Answer: Billy Conn

Billy Conn, Light heavyweight Champion from 1939-1941, lost a 4 round decision to Dick Woodward on June 28th, 1934, in Fairmont WV. Conn is best remembered for his two bouts with the legendary "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis. Marcel Cedan, perhaps France's greatest fighter, born in Algeria held the Middleweight title from 1948-1949 won a six round decision in his first go against one Marcel Bucchianer in Meknes Morocco on November 4, 1934. Cerdan was killed in a plane crash enroute to America to meet then champion Jake LaMotta on October 27, 1949. Antonio 'Kid Pampele' Cervantes Columbia's first world champion (Junior Welterweight had two reigns as champ. First from 1972-1976, then from 1977-1980) defeated Juan Martinez via 6 round decision January 23 1964.

This bout took place in Cerete Columbia. Kid Williams, Bantamweight champion 1914-1917 Danish born (December 5, 1893 Copenhagen Denmark), defeated Shep Farren via the kayo route (KO-5) July 18, 1910 Baltimore Md. Williams migrated (with his parents) to America in 1904.

Answer: Benny Leonard

Leonard, whom many regard as the greatest pure boxer of all time held the Lightweight championship 1917-1923, retired with a professional record of 85-5-1. Leonard died in a boxing ring (heart attack) while refereeing a boxing match at the famous St. Nicks arena on April 4, 1947. Leonard also fought a total of 121 no decision bouts. John Henry Lewis turned pro at 14, retired at age 25 due to blindness held the Light heavyweight belt 1935-1939, finished with a record of 103-8-6. Lewis took part in the first all black heavyweight championship bout, when he took on the murderous punching then heavyweight champion Joe Louis January 25, 1939, in New York city. John Henry was kayoed in one round. Luis Manuel Rodriquez Welterweight king March 1963-June 1963, finished up with a record of 107-13-0, and 1 no contest.

The Cuban born Rodriquez who passed away in 1996 at the age of 59, was the last welterweight champion to annex 100 wins. Philadelphia Jack O'Brien who defeated the great boilermaker Bob Fitzsimmons in San Francisco December 20, 1905 for the Light heavyweight championship (TKO-13) had a final record of 100-6-16 57 no decisions. O'Brien twice challenged Tommy Burns for the Heavyweight championship drawing the first time in 20 rounds in 1906, losing a 20 round decision in their second go round in 1907. Both bouts took place in Los Angeles.

Answer: Gene Tunney

Gene Tunney heavyweight champion 1926-1928 had a record of 61-1-1 with 45 kayos. Tunney's only defeat came at the hands of Harry Greb in New York May 23, 1922. Jack Johnson Heavyweight champion 1908-1915 had a record of 68-10-10 40 kayos. Johnson's last bout came at the age of 50 (a 7 round knockout lost to Wild Bill Hartwell in May 1928). Rocky Marciano, also known as the "Brockton Blockbuster", had a perfect record of 49-0-0 43 kayos. Marciano was the first heavyweight champion to retire undefeated and remain so. Marciano held the heavyweight laurels from 1952 to 1956. James J Jeffries who at one time was credited as being the greatest fighter of all time, had only 21 recorded professional fights with a record of 18-1-2 15 kayos. Jeffries held the championship from 1899 until his first retirement in 1905.

Answer: Sugar Ray Robinson

The Nonpareil Jack Dempsey middleweight champion, fought future Heavyweight champion Ruby Robert Fitzsimmons January 14, 1891, losing the fight and his championship in 13 rounds. Fitzsimmons would win the heavyweight title 6 years later (1897). Stanley Ketchel, Middleweight champion 1908-1910, fought the then reigning heavyweight champion Jack Johnson losing in 12 rounds on October 16 1909. Ketchel was murdered a year later (October 15 1910), while still middleweight champion when he was shot in the back by a jealous boyfriend of a woman that cooked for him. Mickey Walker (welterweight 1922-26 & middleweight 1926-31 champion) while past his prime, received a savage beating at the hands of then former heavyweight champion Max Schmeling, losing in 8 rounds on September 26 1932.

A year earlier Walker fought to a 15 round draw with Jack Sharkey July 22 1931. Sharkey would go on to defeat Max Schmeling on a controversial decision less than a year later. Sugar Ray Robinson welter & 5 time middleweight champion never fought past Lightheavyweight.

Answer: Tiger Flowers

Flowers defeated Greb for the middleweight championship Febuary 26 1926, then defended against Greb in August of the same year (winning both times via 15 round decision), died on November 16 1927, while being operated on to remove scar tissue from his eyes. Greb met his maker just two months after his second lost to Flowers on October 22, 1926, while receiving a similar operation.

Answer: Pascual Perez

Pascual Perez born March 4, 1926, Tupungate, Mendoza, Argentina, grew up working in his family's vineyard, was inspired by Argentine great Luis Angel Firpo (best known for knocking Jack Dempsey out of the ring). Perez, after a brilliant amateur career (capped by an olympic gold medal in 1948), worked as a janitor before pocket pains (money) took it's toll. Perez fought then world champion Yoshio Shirai to a 10 round draw on July 24 1954.

In November of the same year, these two combatants did battle again only this time with the world championship at stake, Perez won a decision in Shirai's hometown of Tokyo Japan.

The rest is history!

Answer: Carlos Zarate

Olivares, while having 61 bouts (60-0-1) before losing to Chucho Castillo by 14th round TKO On October 16, 1970, along with his then bantamweight championship (Olivares would regain that championship some 6 months later by decision from Castillo), winning streak ended at 26 when he was held to a 10 round draw by German Bastidas in Mexico City on July 29, 1967.

He would stop Bastidas in 5 rounds six months later in January of 1968, also in Mexico city. Gomez whom many regard as the greatest fighter ever to come from the Island (Puerto Rico), never really got started on a winning streak as he was held even in his initial bout, a 6 round draw with Jacinto Fuentes in Panama City on November 16, 1974. Gomez went on to win 32 consecutive bouts all by knockout annexing the 122 pound championship (WBC version) in the process. Gomez first defeat came when he challenged the great Salvador Sanchez for the featherweight title (WBC version) August 21, 1981. Gomez who would win that title in 1984 was stopped in 8 rounds.

The hard punching Sugarman won his first 40 bouts before spotting Jake LaMotta 15 pounds, losing a 10 round decision along with his undefeated record. King Carlos Zarate won his first 47 bouts (46 by knockout) along with the bantamweight belt (WBC version) before an ill-fated challenge to the aformentioned Gomez. Zarate who was rummored to be running a fever was stopped in 5 brutal rounds.

Answer: Masahiko "Fighting" Harada

Joey Maxim Lightheavyweight champion 1950-1952, was born Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli in Cleveland OH 3/28/1922. Joey Giaredello middleweight champion 1963-1965, was born Carmine Orlando Tilelli July 16, 1930, in Brooklyn New York. Jackie "Kid" Berg birth name was Judah Bergman. Berg, the Jr. welterweight champion 1930-31 was born across the sea in London England on June 28, 1909. Masahiko "Fighting" Harada, a two division titlist (Flyweight 1962-63 & Bantamweight 1965-68) never changed his birth name, born April 5, 1943, in Toyko Japan. Harada was one of very few fighters to win a world championship while still a teenager.

Answer: George Gardner

Ruby Robert as Fitzsimmons was also known after losing his heavyweight championship to James J. Jeffries in 1899 (Kayoed in 11), and an unsuccessful attempt to regain against the bigger stronger Jeffries in 1902, fought and defeated George Gardner for the light heavyweight championship in San Francisco on November 25, 1903, via a 20 round decision. "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey was defeated by the boilermaker for the middlweight title January 14, 1891, via the kayo route (round 13). Philadelphia Jack O'Brien actually relieved Fitzsimmons of the Lightheavyweight championship, stopping Ruby Robert in 13 rounds on December 20, 1905, in San Francisco. Dan Creedon was never a champion, however he did challenge Fitzsimmons for the middleweight belt September 26, 1894, in New Orleans. Creedon was belted out in two rounds.

Answer: Joe Rindone

Robinson scored a 6th round knockout over Joe Rindone in Detroit on Jan 5, 1955. Robinson was defeated By Ralph "Tiger" Jones in his 2nd comeback bout, just two weeks after his victory over Rindone. That bout took place in Chicago on January 21, 1955, with Jones winning a 10 round decision. Castellani one of the few fighters to deck Sir Sweetness lost a 10 round split decision to Robinson on July 22, 1955 in San Francisco.