Paul Pender
| Paul Pender | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Paul Pender |
| Rated at | 160 lb (73 kg) (middleweight) |
| Height | 5'10' |
| Reach | 72 |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
June 20, 1930 Brookline, Massachusetts |
| Died |
January 12, 2003 (aged 72) Bedford, Massachusetts |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 48 |
| Wins | 40 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 0 |
Paul Pender (June 20, 1930 – January 12, 2003), was an American boxer and fire-fighter from Massachusetts who held the World Middleweight Championship.[1][2]
Early life
He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna (Leicester) Pender. A 1949 graduate of Brookline High School, Pender was recruited as an all American football player at Michigan State University and Penn State, but instead, chose to enter professional boxing, while attending Staley College. Although a champion, he regarded boxing as his second job and being a Brookline fire fighter his first. As an amateur, he won the New England welterweight championship.
Pender was a member of the United States Marine Corps.
Pro career
In 1959, the National Boxing Association withdrew its recognition of Sugar Ray Robinson as middleweight champion. Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basilio fought for the vacant NBA title, and Fullmer won. Pender beat Robinson, one of the greatest fighters of all time, for the disputed middleweight championship title.[3] He won by split decision in 15 rounds. Pender fought Robinson once again to defend his title and went on to beat him by split decision.
He fought a set of three matches against English boxer Terry Downes, of which only the third (on April 7, 1962) went the full distance. He won the first and the third bout, but the last would prove to be the only fight of that year for Pender and the last of his career. The New York Boxing Commission stripped Pender of his title for not defending it against Dick Tiger. Pender sued and won on appeal.[4]
His career was hampered by his brittle hands.[5] He retired May 7, 1963 as the current world middleweight champion.[6]
His career record was 40 wins (20 by KO), 6 losses, and 2 draws.
Death
He died in Bedford, Massachusetts on January 12, 2003, at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital.
See also
References
- ↑ "The Lineal Middleweight Champions". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
- ↑ "Paul Pender, 72; Middleweight Boxing Champion in the 1960s - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. 2003-01-14. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ↑ "Paul Pender - Boxer, 72". NYTimes.com. 2003-01-14. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ↑ "Terry Downes: Forgotten man of the fight game still packs a punch | Profiles | News". The Independent. 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ↑ Mulcahey, Marty. "ESPN.com - BOXING - Forgotten Champ: Paul Pender". A.espncdn.com. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
- ↑ Mike Lewis. "Obituary: Paul Pender | News". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sugar Ray Robinson |
World Middleweight Champion 2 January 1960– 11 Jun 1961 |
Succeeded by Terry Downes |
| Preceded by Terry Downes |
World Middleweight Champion 7 April 1962– 7 May 1963 |
Succeeded by Dick Tiger |