Tommy Paul
Encyclopedia
Tommy Paul was an a former world featherweight boxing champion from Buffalo, NY. He was inducted into the first class of Buffalo’s Ring No. 44 Boxing Hall of Fame and in 2003 to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He won the world featherweight championship in May 1932, defeating Johnny Pena. He retired from the ring in 1935
in New York
where he won by decision and the legendary Panama Al Brown
in New York
where he won by DQ.
Tommy's best matches came against Freddie Miller
he had 6 fights against Miller. His record was 2-4.
Tommy fought Phil Zwick
in Philadelphia where he won by decision. He fought Baby Arizmendi
in a non title fight in Mexico
where he lost by a decision.
where he won by unanimous decision. He would go on to lose the title the following year to Freddie Miller
at Chicago Stadium
by unanimous decision on January 13, 1933. He retired from boxing in 1935 and continued to train boxers till his own retirement age.
During a 34-year period from 1899–1933, the City of Buffalo reigned over the professional boxing world as home of champions. Boxing held center stage in that era, and names such as Goodrich, Kansas and Slattery were as familiar as Kelly, Smith and Thomas to today's fans. Heros all, but none matched the feats of the outstanding, Tommy Paul.
Paul, christened Gaetano Papa, was a product of Buffalo's West Side and Hutchinson Central High School who attempted to follow his father and his brothers into the ring at an early age. His boyish looks hindered his efforts to land even the role of a trainer, but legendary handler Jack Singer spotted something special in the lad, and gave him a tryout. Tommy was soon cleaning up in his amateur fights in the 112-pound division, and Singer realized it was time for bigger and better things. With only six months' experience under his belt, Paul won the Niagara District Bantamweight Amateur Title, the National AAU Tournament in Boston and the Empire State Amateur Championship within a three month span in 1927.
On August 1, 1927, Paul knocked out Freddie Griffiths in four rounds in his first professional fight. A string of 27 straight wins followed, and by 1932 Tommy had compiled an impressive record of 58-6, and earned a shot at the world featherweight crown. On May 26, 1932, Paul defeated Johnny Pena in Detroit's Olympia Stadium and brought the world featherweight title to Buffalo. In so doing, he became the last world boxing champion from the Queen City.
Far from resting on his laurels, the indefatigable Paul fought nine top contenders for his crown in nine months, a feat never duplicated in boxing history. He held the title until losing a controversial decision to Freddie Miller in Cincinnati in 1933. Tommy's career, though a brief nine years, was spectacular, with 114 wins, 80 as a professional. In his quest to be the best, he fought the best, including champs Fidel d LaBarba, Tommy Ryan, Frankie Genaro and Kid Chocolate. Several other notables refused to fight Paul, especially in Buffalo, once his reputation had been established. Paul fought with an unusual hands-down style, but his quickness and power made him hands-down the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of his era. He drew great pride from representing a hometown which tonight honors him in turn with induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
And also, 12 grandchildren, 24 Great grandchildren and 22 Great Great grandchildren and counting. (2009)
Career
Tommy was undefeated in his first 27 fights with a record of 23-0-4. He faced some of the great fighters during his career such as the great Frankie GenaroFrankie Genaro
Frank "Frankie" Genaro was a former Olympic gold medalist and boxing world flyweight champion...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he won by decision and the legendary Panama Al Brown
Panama Al Brown
Alfonso Teofilo Brown , better known as Panama Al Brown, was a bantamweight boxer from Panama who made history by becoming boxing's first Hispanic world champion. Brown was a native of the city of Colón....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he won by DQ.
Tommy's best matches came against Freddie Miller
Freddie Miller
Freddie G. Miller was a broadcaster and television personality in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Miller worked for Atlanta television station WXIA-TV from the 1950s to the 1970s...
he had 6 fights against Miller. His record was 2-4.
Tommy fought Phil Zwick
Phil Zwick
Phil Zwick was an American boxer from Wisconsin.Zwick became a professional boxer in 1923. In 1928, he fought former bantamweight champion Bud Taylor in Milwaukee where he lost by knockout. He fought future featherweight champion Freddie Miller in 1931 and also lost by knockout...
in Philadelphia where he won by decision. He fought Baby Arizmendi
Baby 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...
in a non title fight in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where he lost by a decision.
Featherweight Title
In his first title fight on May 26, 1932, he faced Johnny Pena for the vacant National Boxing Association World featherweight title in MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
where he won by unanimous decision. He would go on to lose the title the following year to Freddie Miller
Freddie Miller
Freddie G. Miller was a broadcaster and television personality in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Miller worked for Atlanta television station WXIA-TV from the 1950s to the 1970s...
at Chicago Stadium
Chicago Stadium
The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....
by unanimous decision on January 13, 1933. He retired from boxing in 1935 and continued to train boxers till his own retirement age.
During a 34-year period from 1899–1933, the City of Buffalo reigned over the professional boxing world as home of champions. Boxing held center stage in that era, and names such as Goodrich, Kansas and Slattery were as familiar as Kelly, Smith and Thomas to today's fans. Heros all, but none matched the feats of the outstanding, Tommy Paul.
Paul, christened Gaetano Papa, was a product of Buffalo's West Side and Hutchinson Central High School who attempted to follow his father and his brothers into the ring at an early age. His boyish looks hindered his efforts to land even the role of a trainer, but legendary handler Jack Singer spotted something special in the lad, and gave him a tryout. Tommy was soon cleaning up in his amateur fights in the 112-pound division, and Singer realized it was time for bigger and better things. With only six months' experience under his belt, Paul won the Niagara District Bantamweight Amateur Title, the National AAU Tournament in Boston and the Empire State Amateur Championship within a three month span in 1927.
On August 1, 1927, Paul knocked out Freddie Griffiths in four rounds in his first professional fight. A string of 27 straight wins followed, and by 1932 Tommy had compiled an impressive record of 58-6, and earned a shot at the world featherweight crown. On May 26, 1932, Paul defeated Johnny Pena in Detroit's Olympia Stadium and brought the world featherweight title to Buffalo. In so doing, he became the last world boxing champion from the Queen City.
Far from resting on his laurels, the indefatigable Paul fought nine top contenders for his crown in nine months, a feat never duplicated in boxing history. He held the title until losing a controversial decision to Freddie Miller in Cincinnati in 1933. Tommy's career, though a brief nine years, was spectacular, with 114 wins, 80 as a professional. In his quest to be the best, he fought the best, including champs Fidel d LaBarba, Tommy Ryan, Frankie Genaro and Kid Chocolate. Several other notables refused to fight Paul, especially in Buffalo, once his reputation had been established. Paul fought with an unusual hands-down style, but his quickness and power made him hands-down the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of his era. He drew great pride from representing a hometown which tonight honors him in turn with induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
Family
He was married to Edith and one son and three daughters.And also, 12 grandchildren, 24 Great grandchildren and 22 Great Great grandchildren and counting. (2009)
External links
- Biography from Boxrec.com
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6544