Percy Bassett
Encyclopedia
Percy Bassett was a featherweight
professional boxer
from Pennsylvania
.
of opponent Joe Camarata. Bassett fought frequently, and had compiled a record of 25-0 before losing for the first time, an eight-round points loss to Brown Lee on December 23, 1948. Bassett avenged that loss just eight days later, with a ten round decision. Bassett continued to fight often, and to win most of the time. Unfortunately for Bassett, he had no mob connections, and never got a title fight. He did get an interim belt while Sandy Saddler
was in the army, but never had the privilege of fighting for the championship. Despite this, Bassett faced a number of the top small fighters of his era, including Mario Pacheco
, Miguel Acevedo
, Redtop Davis
, Jimmy Carter
, Frankie Sodano, Federico Plummer
, Ray Famechon, Lulu Perez, and others. Bassett's retirement due to a detached retina came after his last fight, a tenth round TKO
of undefeated (16-0) Seraphin Ferrer. Bassett's final record was 64 wins (41 by knockout
), 12 losses, and 1 draw.
, a well-regarded veteran lightweight from Baltimore with a professional record of 46-7-1. Between the sixth and seventh rounds West began to complain in his corner of double vision
, but the fight was allowed to continue. According to boxrec.com, "After he was hurt to the body by Bassett, he was floored by a right hand. As he fell, he landed hard on his head. West died of injuries suffered in this bout on December 21st. The official cause of death was given as a 'inter-cerebral hemorrhage resulting from a cerebral concussion.'".
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
professional 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...
from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Professional career
Bassett made his professional debut at the age of 17, on July 31, 1947. The result in his first professional bout was a 3rd round knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
of opponent Joe Camarata. Bassett fought frequently, and had compiled a record of 25-0 before losing for the first time, an eight-round points loss to Brown Lee on December 23, 1948. Bassett avenged that loss just eight days later, with a ten round decision. Bassett continued to fight often, and to win most of the time. Unfortunately for Bassett, he had no mob connections, and never got a title fight. He did get an interim belt while Sandy Saddler
Sandy Saddler
Joseph "Sandy" Saddler was an American boxer born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a two-time featherweight world champion, and also held the junior lightweight crown. Over his twelve-year career , Saddler scored 103 knockouts. He was stopped only once, in his second pro fight, by Jock Leslie. ...
was in the army, but never had the privilege of fighting for the championship. Despite this, Bassett faced a number of the top small fighters of his era, including Mario Pacheco
Mario Pacheco
Mario Pacheco was a Spanish record producer, photographer and entrepreneur.Born in Madrid, Pacheco was an essential figure in the development of contemporary flamenco and other musical genres in Spain for more than two decades....
, Miguel Acevedo
Miguel Acevedo
-Professional career:Acevedo's professional career began in March 1940 and ended in June 1951. Acevedo's official record at his retirement was 50 wins and 20 losses, although it is not known how many unsanctioned fights may have been excluded from his official record...
, Redtop Davis
Teddy Davis (boxer)
Teddy "Redtop" Davis, alias Murray Cain , was a featherweight professional boxer from South Carolina.-Personal life:...
, Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter (boxer)
James Walter Carter was a world lightweight boxing champion. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2000. Carter's loss to Lauro Salas in 1952 and his loss to Paddy DeMarco in 1954 were each named Ring Magazine upset of the year...
, Frankie Sodano, Federico Plummer
Federico Plummer
Federico Plummer is a former lightweight professional boxer from Panama.-Personal life:Plummer is a native of Panama and a resident of [Miami, Florida]Born April 10, 1929 and died April 4, 2004-Professional career:...
, Ray Famechon, Lulu Perez, and others. Bassett's retirement due to a detached retina came after his last fight, a tenth round TKO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
of undefeated (16-0) Seraphin Ferrer. Bassett's final record was 64 wins (41 by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
), 12 losses, and 1 draw.
Tragedy
On December 20, 1950 Bassett fought Sonny Boy WestSonny Boy West
"Al West" redirects here. Not to be confused with American League West.Al West, alias Sonny Boy, was a lightweight professional boxer from Maryland.-Personal life:...
, a well-regarded veteran lightweight from Baltimore with a professional record of 46-7-1. Between the sixth and seventh rounds West began to complain in his corner of double vision
Diplopia
Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object that may be displaced horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in relation to each other...
, but the fight was allowed to continue. According to boxrec.com, "After he was hurt to the body by Bassett, he was floored by a right hand. As he fell, he landed hard on his head. West died of injuries suffered in this bout on December 21st. The official cause of death was given as a 'inter-cerebral hemorrhage resulting from a cerebral concussion.'".