Ken Overlin
Encyclopedia
Ken Overlin was an American
-born middleweight
boxer
who fought professionally from 1931 to 1944, compiling a record of 131 wins (23 by knockout), 18 losses, and 9 draws.
Overlin began boxing in the navy, having many of his early bouts in cities where his ship the U.S.S. Tennessee
was stationed. Overlin would do most of his work based out of Norfolk, Virginia and in cities along the American eastern seaboard. A middleweight contender by the mid-to-late 1930s, Overlin received his first title shot on September 11, 1937 when he was knocked out in the 4th round of a match with Freddie Steele
in Seattle. Overlin would win recognition as a world middleweight champion by the New York State Athletic Commission on May 23, 1940, when he won a unanimous decision over Ceferino Garcia
at Madison Square Garden
. Overlin would successfully defend his title twice against Steve Belloise
, before losing his title to Billy Soose
on May 9, 1941. Overlin would continue fighting without defeat until 1945, scoring notable wins over Ezzard Charles
and Al Hostak
, before his retirement.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born middleweight
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...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought professionally from 1931 to 1944, compiling a record of 131 wins (23 by knockout), 18 losses, and 9 draws.
Overlin began boxing in the navy, having many of his early bouts in cities where his ship the U.S.S. Tennessee
USS Tennessee (BB-43)
USS Tennessee , the lead ship of her class of battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 16th US state. During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she was damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 but was repaired and modernized...
was stationed. Overlin would do most of his work based out of Norfolk, Virginia and in cities along the American eastern seaboard. A middleweight contender by the mid-to-late 1930s, Overlin received his first title shot on September 11, 1937 when he was knocked out in the 4th round of a match with Freddie Steele
Freddie 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...
in Seattle. Overlin would win recognition as a world middleweight champion by the New York State Athletic Commission on May 23, 1940, when he won a unanimous decision over 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...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. Overlin would successfully defend his title twice against Steve Belloise
Steve Belloise
Steve "Gink" Belloise was an American boxer.Belloise was a talented fighter who lost only 13 of 111 bouts and scored 59 knockouts during his career; He was a top contender for the Middleweight Championship during the early 1940s and a brother of Mike and Sal, boxersSteve defeated such men as Anton...
, before losing his title to Billy Soose
Billy Soose
Billy Soose was an American boxer who won the world middleweight championship in 1941.After a collegiate boxing career, Soose became a professional boxer in 1938. That same year he met Charley Burley, defeated Soose by a unanimous decision. In 1940 Soose defeated two future middleweight champions,...
on May 9, 1941. Overlin would continue fighting without defeat until 1945, scoring notable wins over Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Mack Charles was an African-American professional boxer and former world heavyweight champion. He holds wins over numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Charles retired with a record of 93 wins, 25 losses and 1 draw.-Career:He was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia,...
and Al Hostak
Al Hostak
Albert Paul Hostak , nicknamed "the Savage Slav," was an American-born middleweight boxer who fought from 1932-1949. Hostak twice held the National Boxing Association Middleweight title between 1938 and 1940...
, before his retirement.