Billy conn vs tony zale biography

•

KNOWN as "The Man of Steel," middleweight champion Tony Zale is best remembered for his thrilling three-fight series with fellow Hall of Famer Rocky Graziano.

Born Anthony Florian Zaleski, in Gary, Indiana, Zale opted for a boxing career rather than a lifetime spent working in Gary's steel mills. He worked the mills throughout his amateur career but turned to boxing full-time when he entered the pro ranks in 1934.

By 1939, Zale was considered a top-10 middleweight by virtue of splitting a four-fight series with contender Nate Bolden. He was considered impervious to pain. He managed to endure endless punishment and time and again would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

In 1940, he decisioned NBA middleweight champ Al Hostak in a non-title fight. That win earned him a return match with Hostak. This time, with the belt on the line, Zale knocked Hostak out in the 13th to win the title.

Zale remained busy, splitting a pair of non-title fights with Billy Soose

•

Tony Zale

No.Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes 87 Loss 67–18–2 Marcel CerdanRTD 11 (15) Sep 21, 1948 Roosevelt etapp, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring middleweight titles86 Win 67–17–2 Rocky GrazianoKO 3 (15) Jun 10, 1948 Ruppert Stadium, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Won NBA and The Ring middleweight titles85 Win 66–17–2 Lou Woods KO 3 (10) Mar 19, 1948 Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.84 Win 65–17–2 Bobby Claus TKO 4 (10) Mar 8, 1948 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.83 Win 64–17–2 Al Turner KO 5 (10) Jan 23, 1948 Armory, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.82 Loss 63–17–2 Rocky GrazianoTKO 6 (15) Jul 16, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Lost NBA and The Ring middleweight titles81 Win 63–16–2 Cliff Beckett TKO 6 (10) May 8, 1947 Arena, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.80 Win 62–16–2 Al Timmons

•

WHEN BILLY Conn turned pro in January 1935, he hardly performed like a future Hall of Famer, losing six of his first 14 fights. But by September of that year, Conn put together a 27-fight unbeaten streak that included victories over Fritzie Zivic, Babe Risko, Vince Dundee and Teddy Yarosz.

Conn won the 175-pound crown in 1939 established himself as an all-time great. He won two non-title fights against reigning world middleweight champion Fred Apostoli, decisioned NBA middleweight king Solly Krieger in another non-title tilt, and then won the vacant world light heavyweight title by beating Melio Bettina. One month after he became champion, he beat future heavyweight title challenger Gus Dorazio, retained his own title in a rematch against Bettina, and outpointed Gus Lesnevich, a future light heavyweight champion.

Conn is clearly one of the greatest light heavyweight champions in boxing history. But he will forever be remembered for his near-upset of heavyweight champion Joe Loui