Paul Berlenbach (original) (raw)
Paul Berlenbach (February 18, 1901 – September 30, 1985), nicknamed the Astoria Assassin was the world light heavyweight boxing champion in 1925 and 1926. Known for his punching power, he took 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]
Prior to his professional boxing career, Berlenbach had been a champion at amateur wrestling and amateur boxing, both at middleweight.[2] His record as an amateur boxer was 21–0 with 21 knockouts.[3] He made the United States Olympic wrestling team in 1920, but was injured and did not participate.[4]
Berlenbach scored a 10th-round TKO over former champion Battling Siki to earn a title shot against champion Mike McTigue. Berlenbach defeated McTigue with a unanimous decision to become light-heavyweight champion.[5]
In his first title defense against Tony "Young" Marullo, the bout was stopped in the 9th round and declared no contest. "(Referee) Lewis was convinced the boxers were pulling their punches. I agreed with Lewis that the bout should be declared 'no contest,'" inspector Platt Adams of the New Jersey Boxing Commission said after the fight.[6] Adams cleared both boxers though, when examination revealed that Berlenbach had broken a bone in his hand.[7]
Berlenbach stopped Jimmy Slattery in his second defense. Next was Jack Delaney, the only fighter who had previously defeated him. After being knocked down in the 4th round, Berlenbach rallied and won on a split decision, with one judge calling the fight a draw.[8]
Against heavyweight Johnny Risko he suffered a surprise loss. A rematch was requested by both fighters, but the request was denied by the New York boxing commission, citing desire for the champion to fight opponents in his own division.[9]
Young Stribling, who had fought Berlenbach to a draw two years before, and also owned a victory over Risko, was given a shot at the light-heavyweight title. Berlenbach won the rematch decisively.[10]
Jack Delaney defeated Paul Berlenbach for the light-heavyweight championship on July 16, 1926, in front of 41,000 spectators. After the victory Delaney said Berlenbach had "the hardest left hand punch I ever took." Berlenbach, "I was never in serious trouble, but I could not land my lefts effectively."[11]
"If Berlenbach wants a return bout, he'll get it," Jack Delaney said after his championship win.[12] Instead of seeking a rematch with Delaney for the light-heavyweight title, Paul Berlenbach moved to heavyweight.[13] In his first match at heavyweight he fought Mike McTigue, who Berlenbach had taken the light-heavyweight title from. McTigue won in the 4th round. Berlenbach announced his retirement afterward.[14] However he would return to the ring 5 months later back at light-heavyweight.
After a string of victories at light-heavyweight. He fought the middleweight champion Mickey Walker in a non-title match. Walker won on points, knocked Berlenbach down in the 4th. Berlenbach's 11 pound advantage did not seem to matter.[15]
He fought Jack Delaney for a 4th time, this time in front of only 6,000. Berlenbach was knocked down 3 times before the fight was stopped in the 6th round.[16]
After a match with veteran Larry Estridge in 1928 both boxers had their boxing licenses rescinded.[17] Berlenbach had won in 8 rounds. According to sportswriter James P. Dawson, the fight "proved conclusively to all those in attendance that their days of real boxing are at an end."[18]
After multiple unsuccessful returns to the ring in 1931 and again in 1933, Berlenbach finally retired for good.
He retired from boxing 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.
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
No.
Result
Record
Opponent
Type
Round
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 9, 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)
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)
TKO
6 (10)
Dec 9, 1927
Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
45
Loss
35–5–3 (2)
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 9, 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)
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)
UD
15
Jul 16, 1926
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Lost NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
36
Win
30–2–2 (2)
UD
15
Jun 10, 1926
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
35
Win
29–2–2 (2)
Ray Neuman
PTS
10
Apr 5, 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)
PTS
15
Dec 11, 1925
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring 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)
TKO
11 (15)
Sep 11, 1925
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
30
NC
25–1–2 (2)
Tony Marullo
NC
9 (15)
Jul 13, 1925
Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles at stake;
Both men were disqualified for "not trying"
29
Win
25–1–2 (1)
UD
15
May 30, 1925
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Won NBA and NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
28
Win
24–1–2 (1)
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 9, 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)
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 5, 1924
Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
22
Win
18–1–2 (1)
Johnny Gill
NWS
10
Oct 1, 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
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 7, 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 7, 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
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 3, 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 2, 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 4, 1923
102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.