Suey Welch
Encyclopedia
Stephen H. "Suey" Welch was an Akron, Ohio
-based manager who handled boxers from the 1920s through the 1970s. He specialized in bringing fighters from Ohio
to Southern California
, where many of them went on to become main event fighters. Most notably, he managed Middleweight Champion Gorilla Jones
. One of the last fighters he brought to Southern California in the 1970s was Gil King of Akron. He puportedly got his name of Suey, while catching rides on a Chinese
laundryman's truck as a kid.
and Wally Hally. In January 1938, Welch was made the superivsor of all of Olympic manager Harry Popkin's boxing operations in Los Angeles
and San Francisco. Waterman was then reinstated as matchmaker at the Olympic, though Welch would still assist him in making matches. Welch left his position at the Olympic in April 1939, amidst allegations that Lou and Jack Daro managers of the Olympic and powerful figures in the wrestling game, were paying sportswriters and local politicians. Welch was subsequently cited for tax evasion
by the State of California
in 1937 and 1938, during which time he was paid $19,000, while claiming a salary of $100 per week. The state also invested claims of fixed boxing matches, which included the Chuck Crowell and Al (Big Boy) Bray bout.
and Howe
for the Akron Indians of the "Ohio League
" from around 1916 until 1918. The Indians were reestablished in 1916 and temporarily called the Akron Burkhardts, after a local brewer. The team was reportedly built around the brothers. In 1921, Welch bought the "Akron Indians" name and fielded his own independent team.
Welch, a bachelor, died January 16, 1974 in Long Beach, California after a series of heart attacks. He was later inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
-based manager who handled boxers from the 1920s through the 1970s. He specialized in bringing fighters from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, where many of them went on to become main event fighters. Most notably, he managed Middleweight Champion Gorilla Jones
Gorilla Jones
William Jones William Jones (May 12, 1906 – January 4, 1982) William Jones (May 12, 1906 – January 4, 1982) (better known as Gorilla Jones, was an American boxer and Middleweight boxing champion of the world.-Professional Boxing Career:...
. One of the last fighters he brought to Southern California in the 1970s was Gil King of Akron. He puportedly got his name of Suey, while catching rides on a Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
laundryman's truck as a kid.
Work at the Olympic Auditorium
Welch was named the matchmaker at the Olympic Auditorium on March 16, 1937, after previous matchmaker Joe Waterman was fired (Waterman's claim) or resigned (Olympic's claim) from his position. Welch made his debut on March 23, 1937 with a main event between Baby ArizmendiBaby Arizmendi
Alberto "Baby" Arizmendi was a professional boxer and featherweight world title holder. He also competed in the bantamweight and welterweight divisions. Arizmendi is famous for being the youngest boxer to turn pro...
and Wally Hally. In January 1938, Welch was made the superivsor of all of Olympic manager Harry Popkin's boxing operations in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and San Francisco. Waterman was then reinstated as matchmaker at the Olympic, though Welch would still assist him in making matches. Welch left his position at the Olympic in April 1939, amidst allegations that Lou and Jack Daro managers of the Olympic and powerful figures in the wrestling game, were paying sportswriters and local politicians. Welch was subsequently cited for tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
by the State of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1937 and 1938, during which time he was paid $19,000, while claiming a salary of $100 per week. The state also invested claims of fixed boxing matches, which included the Chuck Crowell and Al (Big Boy) Bray bout.
Akron Indians
For a few years, Suey played along side his brothers ChangChang Welch
Charles "Chang" Welch was an American Footballer, and the brother of well-known boxing manager Suey Welch. He managed Hank Hankinson and Charley Coates, who were his brother's fighters, while Suey was involved in promoting and matchmaking at the Olympic Auditorium...
and Howe
Howe Welch
Howard A. "Howe" Welch was a professional football player for the Akron Indians. Around 1916, the Indians were briefly referred to as the Burkhardts, a semi-pro team was organized by Howe's brother Suey around brothers Howe and his other brother Chang and Carl Cardarelli...
for the Akron Indians of the "Ohio League
Ohio League
The Ohio League was an informal and loose association of American football clubs active between 1903 and 1919 that competed for the Ohio Independent Championship . As the name implied, its teams were based in Ohio...
" from around 1916 until 1918. The Indians were reestablished in 1916 and temporarily called the Akron Burkhardts, after a local brewer. The team was reportedly built around the brothers. In 1921, Welch bought the "Akron Indians" name and fielded his own independent team.
Welch, a bachelor, died January 16, 1974 in Long Beach, California after a series of heart attacks. He was later inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame
World Boxing Hall of Fame
The World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
Stable
Other boxers in his stable included:- Andy Bundy (1934, while in Los Angeles}
- K.O. Christner
- Charley (Killer) Coates
- Art Hafey
- Hank Hankinson
- Tommy HartTommy HartTommy Lee Hart is a former American football defensive end who played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints in a thirteen year career that lasted from 1968 to 1980 in the National Football League.Hart played college football at Morris Brown College and was...
- Gus LesnevichGus LesnevichGustav George Lesnevich was an American boxer. Lesnevich was born and raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey....
(1936, while boxing in Los Angeles) - Al Manfredo (1935-37)
- Emilio Martinez (1936, after drawing with John Henry LewisJohn Henry LewisJohn Henry Lewis was an African American boxer who was the world Light Heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1939.One interesting fact of his is that Lewis was managed by a gambler and racketeer of the 1930s: Gus Greenlee, a man who became very important to baseball's Negro Leagues as a commissioner...
- Sammy O'Dell
- Billy Peacock
- Charley Powell