New HW Boxers Rated

[Rocco Del Sesto]

In the early part of his career, Ben Moroz fought a couple times at Chicago's Marigold Gardens Arena. Looked up some info and photos on it. There was actually a file in my DB for Marigold. Not sure if it was original or supplied by someone.

Marigold Gardens Chicago, Ill
Location: Grace and Halsted Streets
Capacity : 1800 (based on article found) but this seemed to vary from +/- 2000 or so.

Found on the restaurantwarecollectors.com website: The Marigold Gardens, In the late 1800s, the venue was Deberg's Grouve located at Grace and Halstead streets on Chicago's North Side. In 1896, Emil and Karl Eitel, owners of the Bismarck Hotel purchased the property and renamed it the Bismarck Gardens, at the time a popular Chicago beer garden featuring cabarte shows. The Eitel's changed the name to the Marigold Gardens in 1915 due to anti-German sentiments.

After remodeling the Marigold was a two-dance-hall venue from 1923-1926. Then from 1931-1962 the venue was billed as the Marigold Gardens and featured boxing and wrestling at the arena. In 1963 the property was purchased and extensively remodeled by the Faith Tabernacle Church ending it's career as a boxing venue. A book, "That Toddlin Town: Chicago's White Dance Bands and Orchestras 1900-1950" by Charles A. Sengstock, this website notes the source of much of this information.

Another great website showing a lot of history of this venue especially in it's days as the Bismark Gardens is at this website and shows many postcard images and maps of the time that confirm the venue was on the corner of Grace and Halsted with Broadway intersecting at that corner. That website is lakeviewhistoricalchronicles.ord/2013/06/beer-gardens-groves

Scroll about 1/2 way down this website and it gets into history during it's days as a boxing and wrestling venue with some articles from the Chicago Tribune in it. One article about its being taken over by the Faith Tabernacle church in 1963 shows the photo of it as it appeared at the time and when it would be remodeled by the church. That article mentions the arena where wrestling was to still take place for a year yet seated 1800.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Still working on Ben Moroz I side tracked looking at some of his opponents to see just what kind of fighters he went up against and then side tracked on this opponent of a Moroz opponent.

Big Boy Jones (Yes how he is presented in BoxRec and how he was named in all the newspaper articles, though one did present a "real name" for him.
HW from Pottsville, PA area Did not run across any photo of him.

Career Record: W4(KO 2) / L4(KO 3) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB has been estimated.
Real Name: John Kovich


12 Oct 1932, Wed, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Big Boy Jones, 187 lost by TKO in the 3rd of a 4 rounder to Mike Lucas, 182.

09 Nov 1932, Wed, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Big Boy Jones, 195, Pottsville, won a 4 round decision over Johnny Kutcha, 192 of Nesquehoning.

03 Jan 1933, Tue, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Big Boy Jones, 180, beat Curley Shomen, 171, Pottsville, by first round TKO. Jones came out swinging as the bell rung and Shomen fell several times just to avoid the swings.The referee finally called a hault to save Shomen from undo punishment.

04 Jan 1933, Web, Pottsville Republican, PA - Short bio on Big Boy Jones called him the Mt. Hope heavyweight who had just joined the Lindes-Lucas stable."He has the ideal build and reach for a heayweight and can hit.

This first year and short months in Big Boy's career various newspaper mentions of him noted his manager having a hard time getting opponents for him with a lack of heavyweight talent in the immediate area apparenlty.

09 May 1933, Tue, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Prefight, "Pottsville Tom Jones" of Bucknell and National League football fame was to meet Big Boy Jones of Pottsvill. Thinking Big Boy Jones being confused with Tom Jones in the 28 Oct 1933 article on him in the Times-Tribune (see belown). Another article on 27 Oct 1933 in The Tribune called Big Boy Jones a professional football player formally of the New York Giants. They were confusing Big Boy with Tom "Pottsville" Jones.

10 May 1933, Wed, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Tom "Pottsville" Jones, 200, Llewelyn, defeated Big Boy Jones, 189, Pottsville as Big Boy hit the canvas twice and at times it looked like the fight would not go the distance.

31 May 1933, wed, Pottsville Republican, PA - Short newspaper account notes that Joey Ferraro, Palo Alto and Big Boy Jones, Pottsville bot signed up for a six month enlistment in the Civic Conservation Corps (Forestry Army) and are stationed at Camp Meade, Maryland, but will leave that camp Friday for Idaho and spend the remainder of thier enlistment there. Indication of Big Boy Jones' inactive state in boxing till he meets Anthony (Young Hippo) Ashrut in late October.

28 Oct 1933, Sat The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA- Write up of Big Boy Jones' fight with Young Hippo notes that Big Boy's name is John Kovich, a "sterling gridiron star who peforms with the professional football team in Pottsville. Young Hippo manaed to land a right across on Jones' jaw in the first rougnts and Big Boy went down on his back. Big Boy got up as Referee Al Murphy counted ten, but, Murphy stopped the fight.

11 Nov 1933, Wed, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Ervin Fishburn, 188, Pottsville, in his debut fight it is said never threw one punch in the fight as Big Boy Jones began swining after the fighters handshakes and soon sent Fishburn down for the count.

23 May 1934, Wed, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Big Boy Jones, 195 won a six round decision over Tommy Joseph, 190, Scranton though it was apparent troughout the bout, Jones' was trying for a knockout but didn't get a chance to swing his long hook. Joseph kept in close punching hard but he took a number of short jabs by Big Boy that bloodied Joseph's nose.

30 Jul 1934, Mon, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - Promoter Frank Hollister was trying to put together a show at the Charleston's Hall in Pottsville and Big Boy Jones was to be in one of the fights against a Joe Benyock of Kulpmont but the fight was cancelled when Benyock had several teeth pulled.

19 Sep 1934, Wed, Republican and Herald, Pottsville, PA - It was a surpise quick finish as Big Boy Jones forgot about guarding himself against Joe Benyock's punches and while trying to land blows himself, he was knocked down senseless on the canvas in the first round by Benyock.

[Coiler12]

Great work as always!

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Originally Posted by Coiler12

Great work as always!

Thank you!
Rocco

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Reviewing Anthony (Young Hippo) Ashrut, early opponent for Ben Moroz and ran across he had a brother who fought once it would seem professionally.

Eddie Ashrut - HW
Career Record: W0(KO 0) / L0(KO 0) / D1

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB has been estimated.

Manager Jack Britton of Pringle.

Several newspaper articles about Eddie Ashrut's upcoming fight debut against Tommy Joseph mentions he is a brother of Anthony (Young Hippo) Ashrut. Doesn't say younger or older. Making an assumption younger since he is just coming out for his first fight?

Not sure why BoxRec lists him as light heavy. His only recorded fight against Tom Joseph, newspaper accounts put his fight weight at 209 while Joseph's at 190. Both heavyweights.

19 Feb 1934, Mon, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA - Report of the weight in's of fighters in the afternoon Feb 19th card at Town Hall, Scranton put Eddie Ashrut at 209 and Tom Joseph at 190.

20 Feb 1934, Tue, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Brother of Young Hippo, Eddie Ashrut, 209 fights to a 4 round draw with West Scranton, Tom Joseph. This was Ashrut's first professional fight and was noted to display speed and hard punching and could stand up to some punishment. He is under the management of Jack Britton of Pringle.

20 Feb 1934, Tue, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Notes briefly the Tom Joseph, West Scranton and Eddie Ashrut, Edwardsville, four round draw.

20 Feb 1934, Tue, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA - This newspaper account noted it felt Eddie Ashrut, 209 got a Christmas present when he was given a draw with Tom Joseph, 188 (matches what BoxRec shows).Comments were the Ashrut failed to please the fans on hand expecting to see another "murderous puncher like his brother". Joseph managed a right hook on Ashrut's left eye in the opening round and swelled it up terrible is sounds. Joseph did the better fighting in the 1st and last rounds while Ashrut took the third and the second round scored even.

Nothing more found on Eddie Ashrut after this. A quick search through papers up through end of 1945 turned up nothing.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

[QUOTE=Rocco Del Sesto;4871841]Reviewing Anthony (Young Hippo)

I've attached here an updated file for Eddie Ashrut. While finishing Anthony, I found on line obituary (99.99% sure for this Eddie) establishing a date of his death.

Rocco

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Anthony (Young Hippo) Ashrut - HW

Career Record: W10(KO 9) / L9(KO 5) / D1

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB i'm assuming Bear did verify somewhere. Anthony's DOD that Bear had entered I did verify in obituaries found. None of those mentioned a DOB though.

Original rating by Bear.

Manager - Johnny O'Leary noted in 13 Dec 1933 The EVening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Reading through Anthony's career in the papers, he had the size but just never appeared to get the proper training and lacked the discipline to have a successful career. Raw strength and power but lack of boxing skills.

15 Dec 1932, Thu, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Pre fight announcement of Young Hippo figting a four rounder with Gus Ottoviani of Luzerne, notes Ashrut as from Edwardsville as noted by BoxRec.

19 Dec 1932, Mon, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Prefight account of Young Hippo(Anthony Ashrut) vs Gus Ottovini (how the paper spelled it), mentions Gus from Luzerne, PA and Ashrut from Edwardsville where Ashrut played football at the Sportsland Club and was a arch rival of Ottovani in football and amateur boxing.

14 Oct 1933, Sat, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Short one sentance of Young Hippo's knockout of Scut Kelly, Scranton in the first round.

28 Oct 1933, Sat, The Evening News,Wilkes-Barre, PA - 220 pound Young Hippo defeated Pottsville football player, Big Boy Jones in a 1st round KO of a scheduled 4 rounder. Shortly after the round started, Hippo connected flush on Jones' ear with a right and Jones went down. He took a count of nine and got up, but then Hippo connected again with a right to Jones' chin and he went down for the full count by referee Murphy.

28 Oct 1933, Sat The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA- Write up of Big Boy Jones' fight with Young Hippo notes that Big Boy's name is John Kovich, a "sterling gridiron star who peforms with the professional football team in Pottsville. Young Hippo manaed to land a right across on Jones' jaw in the first rougnts and Big Boy went down on his back. Big Boy got up as Referee Al Murphy counted ten, but, Murphy stopped the fight.

24 Nov 1933,Fri, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Account notes Young Hippo being 6ft 4in tall with a reach of 80 inches.

25 Nov 1933, Sat, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Young Hippo, Edwardsville, scroed a 4th round TKO victory over Frank Kowalsky, of Baldwinsville, NY. Kowalsky never had much chance as he was downed six times by Hippo before the referee stopped it. The Wilkes-Barre Record account of the fight says Referee Jack Walton stopped the bout in the second round after Kowalsky was down for a fourth time.

08 Dec 1933, Fri, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA - Article talking about a fight program to take place at the Town Hall, Scranton, PA on Dec 11th, which did happen, mentions Young Hippo to be fighting against Gus Ottoviana who is listed in BoxRec as Young Hippo's first fight won by Hippo in a 4 round decision. This article and another one found says Ottoviana holds a decision over Hippo in a previous pro bout in Wilkes-Barre which is where that bout in BoxRec is held at.

27 Dec 1933, Wed, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Article about an all heavyweight(planned 12 heavyweights) program to be held New Years Day by Promoter Henry Stezar featuring Young Hippo mentions his real name, Anthony Ashrut.

28 Dec 1933, Thu, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Discussing the upcoming January 1st fight between Young Hippo and Frankie Cawley, gives a detailed physical statistical lowdown on Hippo. 6ft 4in tall, 220lbs, neck measures 17in., Chest Normal 44in, Chest expanded 48in, waist 35 in, ankle 10 1/2 and reach 80 inches.

02 Jan 1934, Tue, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA -Francie Cawley, 220, Pittston heavy, stopped Young Hippo before about 2000 at Town Hall, Scranton with a right to Hippo's jaw in the second round of a scheduled six. Cawley was favored in this fight over his Luzerne County rival from Edwardsville. Cawley in the opening round used heavy jabs and Hippo hardly laid a glove on Cawley. Shortly into the second, Cawley hit Hippo with that right on the jaw and Hippo went down. Hippo's head hit the canvas and he sprawled out flat on his back. Hippo tried to get up as referee Jack Walton started the count, but he could not make it up.He was carried to his corner and it was several minutes getting him revived to the point to get him out of the ring.

13 Feb 1934, Tue, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Young Hippo KO'd Frank Kowalsky in the fifth round.

13 Feb 1934, Tue, Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY - Young Hippo 222 1/2 floored Frank Kowalski, 226 1/2 of Baldwinsville in One minute of the sixth round.

27 Mar 1934, Tue, The Tribune, Scranton,PA - Young Hippo, 218 knocked out Bob Cawley, NY, 190 in the third round.

28 Mar 1934, WEd, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader,PA - Notes that Young Hippo had put Bob Cawley away in the 3rd round after Cawley had been floored three times. It mentions Hippo had floored Frank Kowalksi 11 times in 6 rounds before stopping him finally in the 6th.

20 and 23 Apr 1934, Mon, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Young Hippo was to fight Jack O'Doud in a six rounder as part of a program at Town Hall put on by Promoter Henry Stezar. Jack O'Doud ended up fighting that day but against LEn Shetline instead of Hippo.

21 Apr 1934, Sat, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA - A letter by some boxing fan apparenlty to a column called "Willy's Letter Box" talked about Young Hippo and what such a great looking potential boxer he was, mentions Hippo had knocked out Frank Kowalsky despite breaking his right hand in the first round! Had not ready anything to that affect in any other newspaper accounts.

24 Apr 1934, Tue, The Wilkes-Barre Record, PA - Reports that Young Hippo failed to show up for his scheduled bout with Jack O'Doud. No mention of why.

26 Apr 1934, Thu, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Reports that the State Athletic Commission announced the indefinite suspension of Anthony Ashrut, "Young Hippo" boxer of Kingston, PA for failure to honor a contract with the Town Hall A.C., Scranton on April 23rd.

Some articles in early May were running talk going on about a "Tuffy" Kravistsky, the chief of the police of Edwardsville challenging Young Hippo to fight him, but Hippo was not agreeing to fight.

25 May 1934, Fri, Lancaster New Era, Lancaster PA - Short blub reports that Young Hippo, height 6ft 4in, weight 225 and 21 years old wants to fight there. Piece said that he's managed by Johnny Dundee and fights out of Kingston, PA. After the no show against Jack O'Doud, went and got a new manager and looked for somewhere else to fight?

18 Aug 1934, Sat, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Article about Baseball play this summer in the Inter-County League and Young Hippo has been playing for the Edwardsville Royals.

13 Sept 1934 Thu, The Wilkes-Barre Record, PA -Short notes that Young Hippo fought some 1 and 2 round exhibition fights agaisnt a Young Shamus and a Jack Riley.

28 Sep 1934, Fri, Press and Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, NY - Young Hippo fought a Dutch Hagenberger in some exhibition bout at en-Joie Park, Endicott. Hippo knocked Hagenberger around for the first couple rounds then, in the third he shot some lefts which connected and stopped Harbenberger 18 seconds into the third.

16 Oct 1934, Tue, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA - Young Hippo,223 scored a one round KO over Bob (Tiger) Perry, 190 of Cleveland, Ohio in Buffalo, NY. Local fans apparenlty liked what they saw as local Promoter, Charley Murray signed Hippo for three fights within the next six weeks per this account.

20 Oct 1934, Sat, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Young Hippo, substituting for Jack Corrigan who was not recovered from an injury, knocked out Jimmy "Kid" Dykes of Emira in the first minute of the opening round. A blow to Dykes' midsection followed by a right to the jaw dropped Dykes to the canvas. He had to be carried from the ring. The Tribune, Scranton, PA account of the fight mentions that Dykes first went down for a count of eight within the first 30 seconds of the fight and then went down a second time for the full count.

30 Oct 1934, Tue, Bradford Evening Star and The Bradford Daily Record, Bradford, PA - Young Hippo floored Frank Kowalsky nine times in the first round and the last blow, a right beneath the left ear sent Kowalsky down for the fun count.Turned out to be Young Hippo's (Anthony Ashrut) last career win.

19 Nov 1934, Mon, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Pre-fight account of Young Hippo's match with Big Boy Brackey is second account found putting his age at 21 here in 1934. His birth year then in 1913 some time?

20 Nov 1934, Tue, The Wilkes-Barre Record, PA - Young Hippo, 223 and Big Boy Brackey, 210 1/2 of Lackawanna fought to a 6 round draw. Both right handers, the account said furious swings by both resulted in frequent knockdowns by both.

20 Nov 1934,Tue, Bradford Evening Star and The Bradford Daily Record, Bradford, PA - A crowd of more than 6000 at the Broadway auditorium in Buffalo saw furious action between Big Boy Brackey and Young Hippo for six rounds. Brackey, the aggressor most of the time, was knocked down four times in the fight while HIppo went down twice.

06 Dec 1934, Thu, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - An interesting accessment of the two fighters, Big Boy Brackey and Young HIppo by the sports editor of The Buffalo Times, Bill Abbott. Abbott said "Brackey was too tired and too green to stop Hippo and declared Hippo too crude and too dumb to knock out Brackey."!

02 Jan 1935, Wed, Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY - Big Boy Brackey, 211, Lackawanna won a decision over Young Hippo, 221 1/2. As in thier fight in Novemember, both heavyweights spent much time "wrestling, stumbling, swinging and missing." They both were said to have gone to the floor "frequently", there was only one scored as a knockdown, that scored by Hippo in the openig round.

04 23 1935, All the newspaper accounts where the short, Al Delaney knocked out Young Hippo in the first round and they all placed thier weights at 184. BoxRec lists Hippo's at 224?

14 Jun 1935, Fri Hartford Courant, Conn. - Tony Galento used a terrific left hook to the jaw, with the first punch of the fight between Galento and YOung Hippo in one of the preliminary fights of the Baer v. Braddock championship fight, to send Anthony (Young Hippo) Ashrut down. Anthony got up immediately but Galento hammered him a few more times , then put him down for good with another left hook.

19 Jun 1935, Wed, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Anthony "Young Hippo" Ashrut, was knocked out in the first round by Tony Galento in a preliminary bout to the Max Baer v. Jim Braddock Heavyweight championship bout at Madison Square Garden Bowl. Per the writer in the Tribune, "Young Hippo grinned last night as kegshaped Tony Galento charged across the ring. Hippo's eyes were fixed on Tony's bulging tummy and an instant later Hippo's trunks were fixed to the floor, following a left hook which almost tore in him two. Hippo rose but didn't stay up long and was down again to end the fight after a minute and five seconds." I thought that writen replay of the happenings deserved a compete quote!

05 Oct 1935, Sat, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Frankie Wojcak, 207 of Utica, outpointed Young Hippo, 220 in a six round affair. After this fight, Young Hippo seemingly retired from the ring and took to playing football with various teams around the area, namely the Plains A.C. and the 109th Field Artillery as noted in an article on Oct 23rd, 1936 in The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA and other newspaper articles through to 1937.

15 Mar 1937, Mon, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA - Article mentions that Young Hippo, Edwardsville, was returning to Scranton competion in a fight at the Watres Armory.The article says he'd recently returned home from the Pacific coast where under the management of Frank Backman, manager of Maxie Rosenbloom, he engaged in ten fights. The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA on March 16th mentions these same bits of info about Hippo.

19 Mar 1937, Fri, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Wild Bill Fogarty gained a split decision over Young Hippo in a six rounder. He won the last two rounds which gained him the winning verdict from Referee Murphy and Judge Gaeton. While Chapin saw it Hippo's way. Fogarty stunned Hippo in the fifth with belt to the chin but was apparently too tired to follow up his advantage.


In late July into August 1939 when Young Hippo was being mentioned to be making another comback to at Town Hall, Scranton, he was being refered to as Tom Hart in the newspapers along with his boxing alias, Young Hippo?

03 Aug 1939, Thu, The Tribune, Scranton, PA- The Tribune called this a "Clownish Affair" between Jack Hiller of Philadelphia and Edwardsville, Young Hippo, who the Tribune reported was fighting for the first time under the "new tag" Tom Hart. The Tribune reported there being so many "screwy incidents" that Referee Kelly finally disqualified Hart/Hippo after two minutes and five seconds of the fourth round.

04 Aug 1939, Fri, The Wilkes-Barre Record, PA - Accounts reads of the fight card put on by Hank Stezar put on at the Town Hall, included "Tom Hart, who is better known as Young Hippo and Jack Miller of Philadelphia?" Says Young Hippo, from Edwardsville was reported making a comeback. In the first round of the fight, Hippo came out "swinging wildly" hitting Hiller with most every swing.Referee Johnny Kelly though along with ringside spectator saw some illegal low blows by Hippo. Referee Kelly stopped the fight and advised the judges to take the round away from Hippo then let the fight continued. aFter that though, Young Hippo did very little in the ring appearing to not care about the fight and finally in the fourth, Referee Kelly stopped the fight and awarded it to Hiller because Young Hippo was "not trying." It was reported even Hippo's seconds were disgusted with his lack of performance and Deputy Commissioner Ellis Riskin declared he would hold up Hippo's purse.

17 Aug 1939, Thu, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - Reported that Commissioner George Jones ended up awarding Young Hippo his $45 pay day for the Hiller fight, but then suspended him for 30 days.

08 Nov 1939, Wed, The Tribune, Scranton PA - Not a fan of YOung Hippo for sure. His performance against a very young Ben Moroz who was fighting professionally for only the 2nd time, The tribune reported, "added another humorous chapter to his slapstick comedy fistic career, Anthony Ashrut, giant Edwardsville ex-footballer who's known to fistianna as YOung Hippo, Tom Hart and whatever else comes in handy at the moment." Hippo probably should have won this fight, but, The Tribune reported he just appeared lazy and floundered around the ring until the referee stopped the fight after a minute and 20 secondsof the second declaring Moroz the winner.


28 Jan 1941, Tue, The Tribune, scranton, PA - Frankie Poreda, 195, Jersey City received a TKO over Young Hippo, 212 after 1:43 of the fourth. Hippo offered little opposition in the fight and Referee Frank Manna called at halt after Poreda knocked Hippo with a stiff left jab and sharp body blows. Other accounts noted the time of the stoppage as 1:43 of the fourth round. Accounts of this fight and pre fight accounts were recording Young Hippo as from Kingston, PA.

14 Apr 1942, Tue, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Mentions Anthony J. Ashrut, 45 Center Street, Kingston, known in the heavyweight boxing ring as Young Hippo was one of six volunteers from this region to join the army.

17 Oct 1945, Wed, The Wilkes-Barrer Record, PA - Record of PFC Anthony J. Ashrut, 45 Center, Kingston discharged from service.

07 May 1946, Tue, Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, PA - Ran an account of about the annual Sports Dinner and Recognitition Night held with one of the honorees being Anthony Ashrut, who this article says is "stationed at Neustack, Germany."

31 Aug 1991, Sat, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Obituary pretty sure would be for Anthony Ashrut. Says Anthony J. Ashrut, of Center Avenue, Kinston died Thursday, Aug 29th. Was born in Kingston to father Matthew and mother Maryann and preceded in death by brother Edward in 1988. Mentions he was in the service 20 years retiring in 1962 as an Army Sergeant. So that is correct to the 14 April 1942 article when he volunteered for the Army.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

OK here is the for awhile promised Ben Moroz , HW Prospect of the month in the January 1940 Ring Magazine. This prospect just turned more into an attraction and you saw a LOT of him in the newspapers but, really just because of his size and not really his overall success in the ring.

Ben Moroz - HW
Career Record: W21(KO 17) / L17(KO 6) / D1

Unknown information has been left blank.

Original rating by Mark Elwood

Real name Ben Morosz.
Manager Bill Duffy.

DOB estimated 1920 from Philadelphia Inquirer article of Nov 6 1939.
DOB estimated 1918 from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY article Dec 1, 1939.
DOB put as Feb 19, 1920 per the March 13 1940 St. Louis Globe-Democrat, a later article in The Long Beach Sun, CA in Oct 1943 put his age at 23 at the time so would appear to confirm his 1920 birth year.

21 Apr 1957, Sun, The Austin American, Austin, TX - Article talking to Gil Stromquist mentions that Ben Moroz had died in 1956.

19 Aug 1956, Sun, Daily News, NY, NY - Account that Ben Moroz, agae 36 passed away on that Friday the 17th after suffering a heart attack. Puts his DOB in 1920.

Numerous newspaper articles quoted Moroz's height at varying levels, anywhere from 6ft 8in on up to 7ft 1in. The most I found quoted though was 7ft 1/2in, so that is what I've listed him at instead of the 6ft 8in in Mark's rating.

You could probably make up a pretty thick book with all the newspaper accounts and photos of Ben Moroz over his career. A lot there with the media's infatuation with his size. That and not ability really kept him in the ring for as long as he did.

16 Sep 1939 Sat, The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah - Ben Moroz stopped Bill Kettle in 2 minutes - 10 seconds of the 4th and final round.

01 Oct 1939 Sun, The Minneapolis Star, MN - Account says Moroz is of Ukranian extraction, six feet 9 inches tall. Some other newspaper accounts around this time on Moroz was putting his height at 6 ft 10-1/2 inches?

23 Oct 1939 Mon, Courier-Post, Camden, NJ - "Bobbie Dawson, the trainer, refers to Ben Moroz, Bill Duffy's six-foot nine Lithuanian Loogan and a Lutheran but born in America."

06 Nov 1939 Mon, The Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - A preview of Moroz before his fight with 'Young Hippo", gives his height at 6ft 9in and his age at 19 and of Austrian parentage.

07 Nov 1939, Tue, Reading Times, Reading, PA - Ben Moroz knocked out Anthony Ashrut in 2:20 of the second round in their scheduled six. Couple other accounts mentions he knocked Ashrut out with a left jab.

01 Dec 1939, Fri, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY - Mentions MOroz's age as 21 putting DOB in 1918? Also says he is a product of the Pennsylvania coal mines.

03 Dec 1939, Sun, The Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - Ben Moroz, 277 scored a TKO win in 1:44 of the third round over Robert Ely, 196 3/4.

January 1940 Ring Magazine listed Ben Morosz, Philadelphia PA as the best heavyweight prospect of the month.

29 Jan 1940, Mon, Daily News, NY,NY - Ran a short piece reporting saying Gene Tunney was said to picking Ben Moroz "as the coming heavyweight.." this piece places him as an ext steel worker from the Midvale plant in Philadelphia and puts his height at 6 ft 10, weighing 285! Get how the weight can vary but don't seem to have any agreement how tall he is, 6-8, 6-9, 6-10??

13 Mar 1940, Wed, St. Louis Globe-Democrat - Ran a story on Ben Moroz when he and his manager Bill Duffy traveled through St. Louis on their way to Arkansas. This article mentions he's 6ft 10in but includes some great bio info. The article states he just celebrated his twentieth birthday last Feb 19th. It says he is of Ukranian-Russian parentage, born and raised in Chester, PA, attended high school there and starred in athletics before taking up boxing. It says he had to abandon his plans to play football though because they couldn't find equipment large enough to fit him!

10 Apr 1940, Wed, The St.Louis Star and Times - Notes that Ben Moroz has been signed to fight Sandy McDonald, "sturdy Dallas Scotsman" on a fight card featuring Lee Savold against Johnny Whiters. The articles states Moroz, as an amateur won 29 bouts in a row. The St.Lous Post-Dispatch, recounting this matchup also, expands on the amateur record stating Moroz lost his first fight and then won the 29 straight for the remainder before turning pro.

19 Apr 1940 Fri, The St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch accounts of the Ben Moroz vs Sandy McDonald both did not give much good to say about Moroz, despite his 2nd round KO of McDonald. The Democrate hoted Moroz' 75 1/4 pound weight advantage, "pawing his left and fanned his right at Sandy's jaw without effect until a right finally glanced off his chin." Sandy went down for nine, got up and then a short spurt of punches by Moroz sent Sandy down for the count. Dispatched called him big and strong but "green and unpolished". The Dispatch just said, Moroz didn't show enough despite his size to justify he'd go anywhere.

25 June 1940 Tue, Chicago Tribune - Referee Johnny Behr call the fight a draw but Judges William O'Connell and George Kenny scored it a win for Ben Moroz over Selman Martin in thier 8 round bout at Marigold Gardens. Some of the 1426 spectators did not agree with the decision.

23 Jul 1940 Tue, Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, PA - An overflow crowd of 5,360 spectators at the Chicago Marigold Gardens saw in the opener of the card, Don Siegel, 205, Detroit knockout Ben Moroz, 287, Philadelphia in the second round of thier scheduled 8.

30 Aug 1940 Fri, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ben Moroz, the Inquirer listed him at 299, lost by TKO to Big Jim Thompson, 235 pound Pittsburgh and noted he was a colored fighter. Moroz came up with a bad cut over his left eye after taking a nine count, at which Referee Al Graybar called an end to the contest. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted the end of the fight at 1:24 of the fourth round.

29 Sep 1940,Sun, Democrat and Chronicle,Rochester, NY - A 4 round bout originally scheduled between Ben Moroz and a Johnny Flynn on the card for the Pat Comiskey/Max Bear fight on 9/26/40, did not end up taking place.

14 Feb 1941, Fri, The Baltimore Sun, Maryland - In an 8 round fight, Ben MOroz, 300 lbs from Philadelphia knocked out Jimmy McAvoy, New York, 232 pounds. Moroz landed his big hands on McAvoy until a hard right to the body knocked him down in the third. McAvoy took a nine count and regained his feet but then was battered again down with another mid section belt and he fell face forward. He could not get up in time to beat the count.The article described Moroz as "neither very tough nor very fast".

18 Feb 1941, Tue, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington and numerous other papers - It was a "David-Goliath" fight as the Spokesman-Review described it. Al Williams form PHiladelphia weighed in at only 193 compared to the reported 305 pounds of his opponent, Ben Moroz. Williams knocked out Moroz at 2:31 of the second round on a left hook!

04 Mar 1941, Tue, The Miami News, FL - Ben Moroz was slated to meet Maxie Rosenbloom in a three-Round exhibition but suffered an injury and was replaced in the exhibition.

05 Aug 1941, Tue, The Evening News, Harrisburg,PA - Jose Fonesca of Mexico City who weighed 202 compared to his opponent's, ben Moroz' 291 was down once in the first and twice in the second before referee Jack Michaels stopped the fight at 2:12 in the second.

23 Aug 1941, Sat, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY - Ben Moroz, 285 3/4, knocked out Abner Powell, 199 1/4 of Harlem in 1:22 of the fifth round of their scheduled 8.

23 Oct 1941, Thu, Detroit Free Press, MI - Article was talking about the pairings and details of the second round of a White Hope heavyweight tournament at the Olympia put on by a promoter, Frank Barbaro's. Part of the article was discussing the fate of six boxers who failed to appear in Detroit for the first round but now wanted to get in to the next round. Those six fighters were Pat Comiskey, Lou Thomas, Ben Moroz, Jack Marshall, Pat O'Neill and Conrad Baron.

22 Nov 1941, Sat, The Indiana Gazette, Indiana, PA - Ben Moroz, 285, won a 4 round decision over Bill Cashaw, 212. The Gazette, noted that it was difficult to see why Moroz got the decision for the lack of little fighting that was done. Cashaw appeared to do more the fighting. Moroz "didn't seem able to even move his huge arms let alone punch with them."

Moroz then was not seen from for about six months. Finally then he shows up for a fight in Long Island City in NY.

20 Jun 1942, Sat, Daily News, NY, NY - Ran a short add that advertized that with that add and 55 cents you could be admitted to the reserve section for "Pro Boxing Tonight Queensboro Area". The add played the fight as "6 round special attraction, Big Ben Moroz, Biggest Fighter of All Time vs Dee Amos". By this time, his size was appearing to be all that was getting him any kind of fights.

21 Jun 1942, Sun, The Philadelphia Inquirer - Dee Amos spotted Ben Moroz more than 100 pounds in their 6 round fight in Queensborough Arena with Amos scoring the decision victory.

03 Jul 1942, Fri, Newsday(Nassau Edition), Hempstead, NY- Numerous articles on Moroz placed his height at 7 feet. This one noting his up and coming rematch against Dee Amos puts his hieght a 7 ft 1/2 in.
The Booklyn Daily Eagle on 06 Jul 1942 placed him at 7 ft 1 in.
08 Jul 1942, Wed, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ben Moroz was able to get a six round points victory against Dee Amos.

17 Jul 1942, Fri, The Morning Call, Paterson, NJ - Ben Moroz, 295 defeated Indian red Allen, 220 when Allen went down for the final count in 2:13 of the second round in a scheduled 6.

10 Aug 1942, Mon, The Courier-News, Bridgewater, NJ - This notes Ben Moroz as the tallest man ever to take to the prize ring at 7 ft, 1 inch and weighing 300 pounds in his upcoming fight against Lou Flowers.

12 Aug 1942, WEd, The Daily Record, Long Branch, NJ - Ben Moroz, 293 scoring a KO in the 1st at 1:52 over Lou Flowers, 216. Boxrec lists Flowers'first name spelled Lew not Lou.
15 Aug 1942, Sat, Daily News, NY, NY - Same kind of add the Daily posted for the first Dee Amos fight, it posts for "Big Ben Moroz, 7 ft 1/2 in. Giant vs Buddy Moore Former Golden Glove Heavyweight Champion".

16 Aug 1942, Sun, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY - Ben Moroz, 294 1/2, lost on points to Buddy Moore, 199 1/2 in a six rounder. Moore won by working inside getting past Moroz' guard to land heavy body punches.

28 Aug 1942, Fri, The Los Angeles Times, CA - Eddie Blunt, 226 on an eight round decision over Ben Moroz, 300.

13 Mar 1943, Sat, The Tribune, Scranton, PA - The "battle of the dreadnoughts" as the TRibune described it ended in a hurry as Ben Moroz with a righthand knocked out Gilbert STromquist in 2:09 of the fourth round of a scheduled 6.

17 May 1943, Mon, The Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - This piece previewing Ben Moroz' fight against Napoleon Mitchell puts Moroz at 6 ft 8 in. and 270 pounds. I really think they are mixing this up with Gilbert Stromquist whom was listed at 6ft 8 in and around 260 in his fight with Moroz back in March.

18 May 1943, Tue, Daily News, NY, NY - Prefight account puts Moroz at 6 ft 11in and Gilbert Stromquist at 7 ft.

19 May 1943, Wed, The Los Angleses Times, CA - Ben Moroz, 295 knocked out Gilbert Stromquist, 256 1/2, in the first round of thier scheduled 8 main event at the Broadway Arena. Moroz decked Stromquist for a six count as the bout opened and when Gilbert regained his feet, Moroz crashed a hard right hook to the jaw sending STromquist down for the full count. Referee Jed Gahan though didn't even finish the full 10 count before calling Stromquist out. Per The Brooklyn Daily Eagle account on the fight the call was made at 2:42.

21 May 1943, Fri, Courier-Post (Camden, NJ) - Ben Moroz, 293 took a beating from his opponent, Napoleon Mitchell, 200 1/2, as Mitchell just kept working around the lumbering Moroz and belted him continually getting Moroz to wobbling on three occasions.

04 Aug 1943, Wed, The Los Angeles Times, CA - "Turkey Silences Big Ben In Hurry" read the headlines in the LA Times recount of Turkey Thompson's 2nd round KO of Ben Moroz 12 seconds before the end of the round. Moroz went to the canvas twice from left hooks by Thompson in the second round.From his 16 1/2" height dissadvantage, The Times describes how Thompson had to take "a running brad jump to land his left hooks to Moroz's head." The Times likened Moroz's ability in the ring a being better than Primo Carnera showed in the ring, but Moroz was just too slow to get out of the way of Thompson's punches. Referee Mushy Callahan called the 10 count on Moroz at 2:48 of the second round. The Eugen Guard, Oregon, account of the fight mentions Thompson send left hooks to Moroz's jaw sending hin down the first time for a nine count and then more marks on Moroz's jaw sent him across the ring and into the ropes where a left jab and a hook sent him down for the 10 count.

By Thursday, Aug 5, some of the California newspapers were reporting that the California state athletic commisision, declared that Moroz should not be boxing. "He must have gland trouble to be that big. He hasn't got enough behind his blows to hurt the other fellow and I'm afraid that if we let hm roam Califorinia he might suffer some serious injury." Jules Covey, chairman of the state athletic commission was quoted as sa ying.

24 Aug 1943,Tue, Daily News, LA, CA - Up until the day of the fight, Ben Moroz was to fight Roy Cramer at Ocean Park Arena, Santa Monica on the 23rd. Charley Johnson ended up being a last minute replacement for Cramer and the results was what would normally be expected from a fighter coming in last minute probably with no preperation. Johnson, 220 was put down four times by Moroz only to keep boing by in the fourth round, showing signs of running out of gas, Moroz hit Johnson in the stomach with a right hand and Charley went down for the count finally. The Los Angeles Times noted the referee in the fight was Reggie Gilmore.It noted Johnson being sent to the canvas a total of 6 times in the four rounds.

07 Oct 1943, Thu, The Long Beach Sun, CA - Referee REggie Gilmore stopped the fight between the fourth and fifth rounds after Ben Moroz had applied a thorough punishment to his opponent, Sergeant Barrow Woods. Moroz worked a steady stream of rights and lefts to Wood's ribs, putting Woods down for a nine count midway through the fourth round.Woods did manage to rock Moroz in the third round with a left hook to the jaw but Moroz rallied.

28 Oct 1943, Thu, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY - Al Ware, 210, rushed out of his corner in the opening round and quickly landed three hard rights to Ben Moroz's chin. Moroz though stepped into War, caught Ware with a right to the jaw and then crossed to the body. Ware backed away holding his right arm as if it was injured and told Referee Billy Burke he didn't want to continue and Burke raised Moroz' hand. An attending physician said Ware's arm was not broken per this account, but some other newspaper accounts stated Ware broke his arm.

18 Nov 1943,Thu, Oakland Tribune, CA - Ben Moroz won by second round knockout when a body punch to Jack Scott landed after two minutes of the round, caused a "bewilderment" look on Scott's face. He remained upright for a moment but then sagged to the canvas on his knees. Referee Billy Burke had counted to nine when Scott rolled over on his back where the count was completed. Up till then Scott had made a pretty good showing landing rights and lefts to Moroz' body and jaw that had Moroz looking in trouble at one point but he stayed up.

27 Nov 1943, Sat, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY - Ernie Griffin from Paine Field, washington pounded away at Ben Moroz for 10 rounds to earn a decision win over Moroz. Griffin, 6 ft and 195 pounds fought in close landing shots that earned him 5 rounds to overcome an earlier rounds lead by Moroz who "mauled his smaller opponent all evening but failed to land a single solid blow."

It was the beginning of the end it turned out of Moroz' career.

22 Jan 1944, Sat, The Times, San Mateo, CA - Ben Moroz, weighing in over 100 lbs more than his opponent Jack Cobbins, managed only a 10 round draw. Coggins sent Moroz down in the third but Ben came back to down Coggins two rounds later to pull the fight even at the end.

10 Feb 1944, Thu, The San Francisco Examiner, CA - Al Ware, 218, got off to a fast start using a "looping right to the chin to send Ben Moroz down for a nine count in the first round of their 10 round bout. Ware continued on through the fight using a variety of wild swings to tag Moroz who was fighting like a stationary target. Moroz would occassionly put a right to Ware's body but it seemed to lack any force. In the sixth Ware came close again to sending Moroz down, this time with a left hook and right cross on the jaw. Ware finished with a 10 round decision win.

23 Feb 1944, Wed, Oakland Tribune, CA - Lou Nova completely out fought Ben Moroz to win by TKO in the seventh round of a scheduled 10. There were no knockdowns in the fight, but Nova, 207 was in control the whole fight continually putting shots with his left into the mid-section of Moroz, 289. Nova was hitting Moroz at will when the referee stopped it. The News, Paterson, NJ reported the stoppage at 2:48 of the seventh. The Los Angeles Times also recorded the stoppage at 2:48 and had this interesting painting of Moroz' ring abilities.."Moroz, a fourth-rate heavyweight, is just a big whale and too massive to get out of his own way."

14 May 1944, Sun, The Pittsburgh Press, PA - Found mention that "ailing Bill Duffy has turned over Ben Moroz to Eddie Walker, which is no bargain as Ben is a false alarm with only size and heart."
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle on 08 May 1944 noted this change.

24 Jul 1944, Mon, The Daily Times, New Philadelphia, Ohio - After being out of the ring for 5 months, it is announced that Ben Moroz was signed to meet Bill Peterson on the 27th at the Cleveland Stadium. The Moroz-Peterson six rounder was to replace a scheduled welterweight bout between Bobby Richardson and Jose Basora. Nothing much said in the papers on this fight as Moroz lost a 6 round decision to Peterson. The Des Moines REgister, Iowa listed Moroz at 304 and Peterson at 200 for the fight. BoxRec does not list their weights.

16 Sep 1944, Sat, The Wilkes-Barre Record, PA - Ben Moroz, 302 knocked out Gilbert Stromquist, 250 in the second round of a scheduled eight-rounder. Stromquist cut Moroz over the left eye in the opening round with a right hand, then Moroz cut the Texan down int he next round with two right uppercuts to the body. The Pottsville Republican, PA on 19 Sep 1944 noted the stoppage at 27 seconds of the second round.
23 Sep 1944, Sat, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY - Ben Moroz lost a 6 round decision to Dee Amos.

Moroz was out of the ring then for almost a year. Some different newspaper accounts in January 1945 discussed him taking on some fights in Portland, Oregon. He was said to be on a card for February to fight Jack Huber. This never materialized.An article in the May 2, 1945 Wilkes-Barre Times Leader written by none other than Damon Runyon talked about goiong to the Roseland Dance Hall on Broadway one evening and seen Ben Moroz there. Moroz was working as one of about 16 "housemen" which in less elite circles Runyon describes as bouncers! This story ran in a number of newspapers.

11 Sep 1945, Tue, Daily News, NY, NY - Ben Moroz reappears in the ring, at Madison Square Garden no less to take on Abel Cestac from Argentina, a protege of Luis Firpo. Cestac outpointed Moroz despite being a foot shorter and some 70 pounds lighter. Moroz was just too slow to get out of the way of Cestac's punches and had Ben's left side "looking like hamburger steak (very rare)."

30 Jun 1946, Wed, The Tampa Times, FL - Ben Moroz was no match for Tommy Gomez despite outweighing him by 110 pounds and being over a foot taller. Gomez won every round as he hit the "ambling" Moroz with everything he had. The bout was described as slow and uninteresting though as Moroz didn't appear to have enough hitting power to "beat an egg" and Gomez did manage to bring Moroz down on the canvas in the third for a seven count and then dropped him again in the sixth when referee Ton Cancela stopped the fight, TKO for Gomez.

After the Gomez fight, Moroz pretty much gave up on boxing. He later took up wrestling. Seen some newspaper accounts of him taking up acting and wrestling! Found an article in the April 27th, 1948 The Tipton Daily Tribune, Indiana, talking about his acting. Says "Moroz was originally lured to Hollywood by RKO to do a lead role in "The Harder They Fall", an expose of the fight racket. The Nov 28th, 1947 Cumberland Evening Times, Maryland, in the "Along Broadway" column by Jack O'Brian accounts how Moroz then working as a bouncer, was recently signed by an RKO Pictures talent scout who dropped into the Roseland dance hall where Moroz worked. The talent scout signed him to play in "The Harder They Fall", to play the role of Toro Molina, a "thinly fictionalized story of one of our recent behemoth heavyweight champions."

Several articles later in January time of 1949 show up talking of his wrestling career taking off.

Short quick account in the Hartford Courant, Connecticut, only thing found on Moroz,301 loosing a six round decision to Les Irwin 202 3/4 in last recorded fight.

[killerpuncher]

up to date here wow what history

[Tomato Can]

Just curious if you have all of your fighters in a group download where we can download them all at one time or if they have to be downloaded one at a time? AND Thanks for all of your hard work!!!

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Originally Posted by Tomato Can

Just curious if you have all of your fighters in a group download where we can download them all at one time or if they have to be downloaded one at a time? AND Thanks for all of your hard work!!!

Hi, thanks for your question and comments. Appreciate, unfortunately I myself do not have all of the fighters in this particular forum together in any download or group posting. Maybe someone else has done that? There's been other work done by other members here in these forums who have done such a thing with a lot of the different fighters in different threads; specifically from this one, I don't know. Maybe someone else around here could answer.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Tomato Can

Just curious if you have all of your fighters in a group download where we can download them all at one time or if they have to be downloaded one at a time? AND Thanks for all of your hard work!!!

Many of the fighters in this thread have been bundled here: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=232148

I think the last bundle ends at post 1664

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Ran across this heavyweight in an article in Boxing Illustrated on him. Looking at his record, immediately wondered what happened to his career cut off seemed abruptly. The answer.....

Cortez Stewart - LHW/HW
Career Record: W20(KO 2) / L2(KO 0) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB has been estimated though an article in April 1961 Boxing Illustrated on Stewart mentions he was born 24 years ago in Harrisburg, PA and started boxing at 12. Some later newspaper articles on Stewart in October 1962 placed his age at that time as 28. Boxerlist.com and Fightsrec.com Lists his DOB as 1934-03-6
DOD as 2005-04-03. An obituary found on line of the Penn Live Patriot-News noted record of a Cortez D. Stewart, 71, a Harrisburg native and former heavyweight boxer, passed away of heart failure on Sunday, April 3, 2005 in Manhattan, NY where he resided for 45 years. This does not mention specifically his DOB, but noted age and DOD points to the 1934-03-06 DOB being very well correct or close to.

14 June 1960 The Indiana Gazette, PA article when Stewart was to be part of a sparring session ofr Johansson, puts Stewart's height at 6'-3".

The Ring Magazine Feb 1962 issue with its annual world ratings had Cortez Stewart ranked in the Class A group of heavyweights. He had just beaten Garvin Sawyer (14-12-0) in a fight in Caracas, Venezualia to run his record to 20-2-0,2KO. It was Stewart's 2nd career fight outside of the New York/Philadephia area, the other being a 10 round decision win over Ernie Cab in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Golden moment in his career was acting as a sparing partner for then Ingemar Johansson in 1960. According to the article in BI, Stewart in thier first sparring secession caught Johansson on the chin with a right that sent Johansson back against the ropes into a sitting position on the lower rope.Johansson's people apparently after a few secessions desided Stewart was making things look bad for the champ and let Stewart go.

The main theme of the article was Stewarts lack of getting a chance to fight anyone of name despite his record that BI reported at the time as winning 21 of his 22 fights. According to BoxRec though at the time of the article, his record was 18-2 with 1 NC and 1 of his 2 knockouts recorded.

Biggest fights of his career was probably his 6 round decision against Alonzo Johnson, who was 4-0 on his way to a 24-18 career, and a 10 round UD win over Young Jack Johnson who was 20-12-1 at the time who was going into the down side end of his career.

After his victory over Sawyer, Stewart's just came to a sudden halt with no further fights. It is to come out in numerous newspaper articles from Oct 2-10, that during a New York State legislative commission that was investigating boxing heard testimony linking Frank (Blinky) Palermo, an underworld character and fight manager, with the camp of newly crowned heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. That testimony came from Cortez Stewart. Stewart testified that earlier in the year his manager Joey Reed sold 60% of his contract with Stewart to Carmine Graziano of Philadelphia. Graziano got Stewart a fight in Philadelphia (per BoxRec Stewart's last fight in Philadelphia was in Oct 1961, so question on timing of this) that paid more than he'd ever gotten for a fight. Some time after that Stewart's fight in Venezuela against Sawyer, he testified that he was approached by some men in Philadelphia, offering Stewart a job as a sparing partner for Sonny Liston and if he'd work with Liston, he'd get "a prestige shot" on the Liston-Patterson card "and that would be to his advantage." Stewart eventually turned down the offer even after meeting Blinky Palermo whom Stewart identified in court by a photo shown him. Liston and his camp denied any knowledge of this and List said he'd only met stewart one time back in the 50s. Through it all, Stewart apparently ended up loosing his fight license and never fought again.

Only mention later found in the newspapers gone through was in an article in the Sept 25, 1963 Newsday, Hempstead, NY. The article was talking about Jackie Robinson possibly being named the next NYSAC chairman. Part of the article talked about a lawyer, Fred Hayes, who had gone to the commission for a manager's license for himself and a fighter's license for a heavyweight, Cortez Stewart!

From the beginning of his career in Decembe 1954 through October 1956 he fought in the light heavyweight division, at least that being his and his opponent's fight weights. Then he had a layoff of about 5-1/2 months till his next fight when he stepped into the ring April 1, 1957 against Alonzo Johnson who was 4-0 in his very early career. Both fighters weights were in the low 180s. So at this time Stewart beefed up into the Heavyweight division for the rest of his career.

So I've broken him into LHW and HW ratings:
LHW - W8(KO 0) / L2(KO 0) / D0 Never fought more than 5 rounds.
HW - W12(KO 2) / L0(KO 0) / D0, 1NC

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Going through looking up info about heavyweight Garvin Swayer. Finishing Cortez Stewart, I seen I had Swayer and is part of the TBCB3 data base I have. Finding quite the Golden Gloves record for Swayer.
Came across some accounts of the 17th International Golden Gloves fought in Chicago May 20 1954. Here's a snip of the whole schedule. Garvin Swayer fought Finnish HW Ilkka Koski. I posted a piece on Koski a few months back. Here's a new photo that was in the article along with one for LHW Bjorne Lingaas from Norway. Thought you might like.
Rocco

[Waltercito]

Thanks Rocco!

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Been bouncing around between my hobbies baseball and boxing. Boxing been playing some time on LOB. Over there on the Summit Dephi Site, a thread is going where new heavyweight fighters (that wt right now) are being rated by players. Anyway that got me relooking at some of the early guys we looked at on this TB HW thread here and decided here to I'd look at doing some fresh look at. I was looking at Andre Wyns from Belgium, an early opponent for Gerhard Zech. This new rating I've split him up into LHW and HW ratings as his career was played out as such.

ANDRE WYNS - LHW/HW - BELGIUM
Career Record: W11(KO 2) / L34(KO 19) / D2

Unknown information has been left blank.
DOB has been estimated.

Fought and lost to Marcel Limage in April 1955 for the Belgium light heavyweight title.

Lost to Andre Cottyn for the same title in January 1956 when Limage had vacated the LHW title to move up to heavyweight.

The May 13, 1955 Boxing News had a pretty good article on Andre Wyns' fight against Arthur Howard in Kensington, Wyns' only fight outside of Europe in his entire career. The accounted noted how Wyns soon into the fight revealed his lack of technical ability in the ring as he fought pretty much upright, used the entire ring quite well but what punches he attempted lacked any decent punch. He managed a few short lefts and rights to Howard's face but they lacked sufficient power behind them to do any damage.

The January 1957 Ring Magazine noted current Belgium HW champ Alain Cherville defeating Andre Wyns in a fight, weights not noted. The Feb 1957 Ring noted Wyns' fight against Wenzel Bociek as a cruiser fight. The July 1957 Ring notes the Wyns vs Jacques Bro fight a cruiser action.

After winning an 8 round decision to light heavyweight Adrien Verburgh in January 1958, his 9th win against 13 losses and 2 draws as a light heavy, Wyns' record would appear to indicate then him moving up and finishing his career as a heavyweight with his next fight against Manfred Schneider. Career record wise, it prooves to be a poor decision.

BoxRec and the July 1958 Ring note Wyns fight weight at 191 against Manfred Schneider in thier fight on 4/19/58, then in the November 1958 Ring, the short account of Wyns' loss to Mariano Echevarria refers to Wyns as a "muscular but crude Belgian cruiser".

The March 1959 Ring Magazine notes Wyns fight weight at 188 against Karl Mildenberger who was fighting his 5th career fight at 178.

After fighting semi consistantly through 1960, after Wyns looses a 6 round decision to Gerhard Zech, Zech's 5th pro fight, in early April 1969, Wyns then appears of the ring pretty much till 1965, save for a couple appearances in late 1961 and early 1962. He's then out of the ring for 3 years when he comes out in late April 1965 to take on Adrien Verburgh for the then vacant Belgian Heavyweight Title. Verburgh had not fought since April of 1960!

The results of the fight shown in BoxRec are recorded in the 5/14/65 edition of the Boxing News, noting the fight as for the vacant Belgian heavyweight title. The August 1965 Ring shows a short account of this fight stating that Verbrugh, who campaigned during the fifties as a middleweight, reappeared after a lengthly absence to defeat "trialhorse of bygone times, Andre Wyns for the vacant Belgian middles title"?? An apparent misprint by the Ring. Does mention Wyns retired in the 8th round.

Wyns goes on to stay fairly busy through 1965 and 1966 fighting some of the somewhat better names in the European heavyweight class. Dante Cane, Peter Weiland, Manfred MarkGraf, Juergen Blin, Giuseppe Ross and Hans Jorgen Jacobsen. Unfortunately he only manages to loose all 7 fights fought between his comeback loss to Vergurgh and finally a 4th round TKO loss to new comer Hans Jorgen Jacobsen.

Wyns then dissapears from the ring for 3 years again. Then in 1969 Wyns fights 5 more times in his career against almost all total unknowns, save maybe Victor Chapelle against whom Wyns managed his 1 win, a 6 round decision in those 5 fights.

From Sept 1952 on thru his fight against Adrien Verburgh his BoxRec file looks to be he fought as a Light Heavyweight compiling a record of W9(KO 2) / L13(KO 9) / D2.

Starting with the Manfred Schneider has his shift up to heavyweight through the remainder of his career, he compired as horrendous record of W2(KO 0) / L21(KO 10) / D0.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Going through some Aldo Pellegrini opponents reworking on a rating for him and here is Ernest Chalono who I rated back in Nov. 2018. Tweaked his ratings a bit and updated a bit some bio info. Here also is photo that is now on BoxRec site.

ERNEST CHALONO - HW - Martinique
Career Record: W7(KO 4) / L20(KO 3) / D1

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB has been estimated.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

In continuing looking at Aldo Pellegrini's career, came upon Steve McCall, American heavyweight from Washington DC originally it appears, was a GI over in Europe in WWII and decided after to stay in Europe and take up boxing as a living over there. Probably boxed over there while in service.
Short career but, interesting to finding what I did on him.

STEVE MCCALL - HW - USA
Career Record: W2(KO 2) / L14(KO 7) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.
DOB estimated from newspaper articles.

Steve McCall was a GI in Europe who decided to stay over there and take up a living boxing. He stationed himself apparently in Antwerp, Belgium.

21 Jan 1950, Sat South Wales Echo and Evening Express, Cardiff, Wales report on Steve McCall's 4th round KO of Danish heavyweight champion Carl Nielsen in a scheduled 8 rounder. This first recorded fight for McCall in Boxrec. Nielsen was scheduled to fight Welsh heavyweight Johnny Williams the next Tuesday and apparenlty took enough beating in this fight, Nielsen's manager asked McCall to take out the Dane's date with Williams but McCall refused the invitation. A couple days later promoter Jack Solomons announced that Belgian heavyweight champion Piet Wilde would take Nielsen's place in the fight against Williams.

21 Jan 1950, Sat The Baltimore Sun paper noted the McCall v Nielsen fight listing McCall's weight at 192 3/4 lbs and Nielsen at 203 3/4. It mentions McCall's age as 27 and being an ex-GI who decided to remain in Europe to earn a living as a boxer.

23 Jan 1950, Mon Sun-Journal, Lewiston, Maine- mentions when WWII ended Steve McCall of Washington DC remained in Europe to box.

01 Mar 1950, Wed, The Baltimore Sun - A short account on Jamaican, Lloyd Barnett stopping Steve McCall in the 2nd round of a secheduled 8. It mentions that McCall was then living in Belgium. An article on this fight in the Birmingham Post, West Midlands, England mentioned the fight stopped in the 2nd because of a bad cut to McCall's left eyebrow.

30 Mar 1950, Thu The Age, Melbourne, Victoria Australia - Notes Australian heavyweight Alf Gallagher is to fight Steve McCall, whom the article notes as "a rugged fighter with a dangerous right hand rather than a boxer."

06 Apr 1950, The Sydney Morning Herald, New South Wales, Australia - Alf Gallagher won a points verdict over Steve McCall in eight rounds at the Royal Albert Hall in England. The account noted Gallagher as the much more "scientific" boxer while McCall relied chiefly on wild swings.

After beating Dutchman Jan Klein in his next fight, McCall then lost to Neinz Neuhaus, Kurt Schiegl and Guenter Nurnberg before landing his biggest name opponent, former British HW Champion Tommy Farr who was in the mist of a career comeback started in September 1950 after being out of the ring for 10 years near the early stages of WWII.

13 Aug 1951, Daily Mail, Hull, Humberside, England - Ran a short account of Tommy Farr's upcoming fight over 10 rounds at the Bangor City football grounds. His opponent, Steve McCall, the article says had beaten Robert Eugene of Belgium, who was originally selected as Farr's opponent, but withdrew. BoxRec does not list this McCall v Eugene fight, nore does a record of Eugene's career in the 1954 Ring Record book.

13 Aug 1951, Western Mail, Cardiff South Galmorgan, Wales - Another preliminary account on the Farr / McCall fight, also mentions the fight McCall had with beating Robert Eugene. Other fights McCall had this account lists are those with Nielsen, Jan Klein and against a Pierre Weigaub of France whom BoxRec also does not note in McCall's record.

31 Aug 1951, The Vancouver News-Herald, British Columbia, Canada - brief that Tommy Farr had won a 10 round decision over Steve McCall, an American now fighting out of Antwerp, Belgium. So another account of McCall fighting out of Belgium, specifically noting Antwerp.

Sept 5, 1951 Boxing News - Account of the Farr v McCall fight at Bangor, North Wales Athletic Grounds before about 18,000 fans. Farr weighed in at 14st 8-3/4lb(204-3/4lbs) and McCall weighed 14st 3lb(199lbs). Farr weaved and bobbed early in the fight making McCall miss badly with his punches. Farr's left found it's mark often and he shook McCall with left hooks. McCall thought showed he could take some punishment. McCall was constantly coming forward at Farr and somehow weathered a terrific right from Farr in the eigth. Farr couldn't quite make the knockout blow, but managed a clear decision victory handed him by referee I.K. Powell (noted in the 6 Sep 1951 edition of The North Wales Weekly News.

The include photo I found in the noted newspaper on line. If you just put this into your TB database, it will actually show up showing McCall's head in the box if you don't want to trim the image down.

[Cap]

I'm guessing McCall is standing on the scales in the above photo?

Cap

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Originally Posted by Cap

I'm guessing McCall is standing on the scales in the above photo?

Cap

Hey Cap, good to hear from you. Don't know. The photo is what I posted here. But, got to wonder if he wasn't standing on the scales. Otherwise with Farr being noted around 6-1, that would make McCall awfully tall! Never found any reference to his height.

I'm researching through papers and my boxing magazines right now on Alf Brown from London area in the mid 40s to early 50s. I rated him awhile back but going back and looking at some of these previous guys rated by myself or others, just to see what kind of more info I can dig up on them. Makes for some interesting reading and research.
Rocco