Fred Apostoli
Encyclopedia
Alfredo "Fred" Apostoli (February 2, 1913 – November 29, 1973) was a rugged, accomplished body punching middleweight
, who was recognized as the world champion when he defeated Marcel Thil
on September 23, 1937. He was elected to The Ring
's Boxing Hall of Fame. During World War II
Apostoli served aboard the light cruiser
USS Columbia (CL-56)
in the Pacific theater.
within his first seven months as a professional. Although, the more experienced Steele stopped him in 10 rounds, Apostoli went on to defeat top fighters such as Swede Berglund, Babe Marino, Babe Risko, Solly Krieger
and Lou Brouillard
to become the leading contender for the world championship.
Eventually, Apostoli was matched with title claimant Marcel Thil; he defeated the Frenchman via a 10th round TKO. The New York Boxing Commission, however, still recognized Freddie Steele as champion. In 1938, Apostoli fought Steele in a non-title rematch and avenged his earlier defeat with a 9th round KO.
Apostoli also fought as a light heavyweight. Although he dropped two close decisions to Hall of Famer Billy Conn
, Conn always credited Apostoli as a great fighter who hurt him in both matches. On October 2, 1939, Apostoli's title reign ended when he lost the middleweight crown to Ceferino Garcia
.
Apostoli served in the United States Navy during World War II
as a gunner. Wounded in battle, he received a Bronze Star and returned to San Fancisco in 1946. We rehabilitated from injuries sustained in the Battle of Midway at Letterman Army Hospital located in the Presidio of San Francisco. He retired from the ring in 1948 with a 61–10–1 (31 KOs) record. He was also a member of the Olympic Club
in San Francisco.
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
, who was recognized as the world champion when he defeated Marcel Thil
Marcel Thil
-Career:Born in Saint-Dizier, Haute-Marne in the Champagne-Ardenne Region of France, Thil started boxing at a very young age and turned professional at the age of sixteen...
on September 23, 1937. He was elected to The Ring
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
's Boxing Hall of Fame. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Apostoli served aboard the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
USS Columbia (CL-56)
USS Columbia (CL-56)
was one of 26 United States Navy light cruisers completed during or shortly after World War II. The ship, the sixth US Navy ship to bear the name, was named for the city of Columbia, South Carolina. Columbia was commissioned in July 1942, and saw service in several campaigns in the Pacific...
in the Pacific theater.
Early life
An orphan, Apostoli won the Pacific Coast Junior Welterweight championship, Golden Gloves Middleweight championship, and the National AAU middleweight championship in 1934, and turned pro later that year.Pro career
He quickly moved up the ladder and fought future middleweight champion Freddie SteeleFreddie Steele
Freddie Steele was a boxer and film actor born Frederick Earle Burgett in Seattle, Washington. He was recognized as middleweight champion of the world between 1936 and 1938. Steele was nicknamed "The Tacoma Assassin" and was trained by Jack Connor, Johnny Babnick, and Ray Arcel, while in New York...
within his first seven months as a professional. Although, the more experienced Steele stopped him in 10 rounds, Apostoli went on to defeat top fighters such as Swede Berglund, Babe Marino, Babe Risko, Solly Krieger
Solly Krieger
Solly Krieger was an American middleweight boxer who fought from 1928-41.-Boxing career:A Golden Gloves amateur champion, Krieger turned professional in 1928....
and Lou Brouillard
Lou Brouillard
Lucien Pierre Brouillard, better known as Lou Brouillard, , was a professional boxer in the welterweight division....
to become the leading contender for the world championship.
Eventually, Apostoli was matched with title claimant Marcel Thil; he defeated the Frenchman via a 10th round TKO. The New York Boxing Commission, however, still recognized Freddie Steele as champion. In 1938, Apostoli fought Steele in a non-title rematch and avenged his earlier defeat with a 9th round KO.
Apostoli also fought as a light heavyweight. Although he dropped two close decisions to Hall of Famer Billy Conn
Billy Conn
William David Conn , better known as Billy Conn, was an American Light-Heavyweight boxing champion famed for his fights with Joe Louis. He had a professional boxing record of 63 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw, with 14 wins by knockout...
, Conn always credited Apostoli as a great fighter who hurt him in both matches. On October 2, 1939, Apostoli's title reign ended when he lost the middleweight crown to Ceferino Garcia
Ceferino Garcia
Ceferino Garcia was a champion boxer born in Naval, Biliran, Philippines. His number of victories are the most ever achieved by a Filipino boxer. He's also the only boxer from the Philippines ever to become world champion at middleweight. He was managed, during the final years of his career by...
.
Apostoli served in the United States Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a gunner. Wounded in battle, he received a Bronze Star and returned to San Fancisco in 1946. We rehabilitated from injuries sustained in the Battle of Midway at Letterman Army Hospital located in the Presidio of San Francisco. He retired from the ring in 1948 with a 61–10–1 (31 KOs) record. He was also a member of the Olympic Club
Olympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
in San Francisco.