The diminutive Benny Bass was pound-for-pound one of the most bruising boxing champions of the 20th century, with more than two-thirds of his 176 victories coming by way of the knockout. Born in Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine, the 5 ft.1 in. Bass won two world titles within the span of 25 months. He… Read more »
The Beloff Family — David Beloff, Harriet Beloff Goodwin and Bethanne Beloff Goodwin-Nolan — represents three generations of outstanding and talented Philadelphia athletes who have excelled in the fields of boxing, coaching and ice skating. Dave Beloff was an exceptionally versatile young athlete while growing up the son of Russian immigrants in South Philadelphia. On… Read more »
Joe Brown had hands hard enough to knock out a light-heavyweight and soft enough to sculpt a remarkable figure of a beaten boxer. His story is fascinating, the transformation from athlete to artist, from pugilist to Princeton professor, and his work brightens Philadelphia’s cultural landscape. Brown’s toughness was tested early, growing up in Grays Ferry…. Read more »
Marty Feldman was an acclaimed middleweight boxer who possessed a solid knockout punch. He won 20 of 23 professional fights from 1953 to 1962, scoring 19 knockouts. As successful as his career was, he never earned more than $500 for a single match. It was as a world-famous trainer and fight manager that Feldman made… Read more »
According to the late Joe Gramby, the legendary dean of Philadelphia fight managers, Phil Glassman was the greatest boxing manager he ever knew. Glassman, the son of Polish immigrants, made his bones in the first half of the 20th century, most notably handling two of the greatest fighters ever to come out of Philadelphia, lightweight… Read more »
George Katz, a colorful and charismatic devotee of the “sweet science”, was born in South Philadelphia and lived there his entire life. Katz’ career was eclectic and varied ranging from ownership of a billiard parlor to serving as Secretary to Philadelphia Mayor Joe Clark. In the 1940’s he turned to boxing full-time and managed such… Read more »
Using his ring name, “Battling Levinsky “, Barney Lebrowitz was the light heavyweight champion of the world from 1916 to 1920. During his professional career he fought heavyweight legends Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey, losing both matches. His official professional record boasted 287 bouts with 192 wins (34 by knockout), 52 losses, 34 draws and… Read more »
Born in 1886 as Harry Besterman, Harry Lewis was recognized as welterweight champion of the world from April, 1908, to March, 1911. Nat Fleischer, founder, editor & publisher of “The Ring” magazine, rated Lewis the sixth-greatest welterweight of all time. With a strong jaw, and an impressive defensive style, Lewis was knocked out only twice… Read more »
From the time J. Russell Peltz saw his first live boxing match at age 13, he knew it wouldn’t be his last. He was hooked for life. After a brief career as a journalist, a young Russell Peltz promoted his first boxing card on Sept. 30, 1969, selling out the 1,300-seat Blue Horizon with the… Read more »
The Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame has inducted boxers, trainers, promoters, even a referee – but never before a judge. Yet this isn’t the first time Carol B. Polis has made history, because 47 years ago she became the first woman boxing judge, appointed by then Pennsylvania governor Milton Shapp. Polis has made her… Read more »
