Freddie Steele (December 18, 1912 â€" August 22, 1984) was a boxer and
film actor born Frederick Earle Burgett in Seattle, Washington. He was
recognized as the National Boxing Association (NBA) 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. His managers included George McAllister,
Dave Miller, Eddie Miller, and Pete Reilly. He appeared as an actor in
a number of Hollywood films in the 1940s, including Preston Sturges's
Hail the Conquering Hero.Steele was born on December 18, 1912 in
Seattle, Washington to Virgie and Charles E. Steele. As a youth, he
played baseball, but in high school in Tacoma participated in
basketball, soccer, football, golf, and swimming.A good boxer and a
hard hitter, Steele lost only two fights during his first ten years in
the ring. Among those he defeated were Ceferino Garcia, Ralph Chong,
Leonard Bennett, Joe Glick, Bucky Lawless, Andy Divodi, "Baby" Joe
Gans, Vince Dundee, Gorilla Jones, Swede Berglund, Young Stuhley,
Meyer Grace, Henry Firpo, Eddie "Babe" Risko, Jackie Aldare, Gus
Lesnevich, Paul Pirrone, Frank Battaglia, Ken Overlin, Carmen Barth,
and Solly Krieger.On July 11, 1936, he defeated Babe Risko to take the
Middleweight Boxing Championship of the World in a unanimous fifteen
round decision at the Civic Stadium in Seattle. Steele floored Risko
for seven seconds in the first round. Steele took seven of the fifteen
rounds with good margins, with only four going to Risko. Steele
damaged both of Risko's eyes during the bout which hampered the
reigning champion's ability to defend himself. The Associated Press
gave Risko only three rounds of the well attended bout of around
27,000.
film actor born Frederick Earle Burgett in Seattle, Washington. He was
recognized as the National Boxing Association (NBA) 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. His managers included George McAllister,
Dave Miller, Eddie Miller, and Pete Reilly. He appeared as an actor in
a number of Hollywood films in the 1940s, including Preston Sturges's
Hail the Conquering Hero.Steele was born on December 18, 1912 in
Seattle, Washington to Virgie and Charles E. Steele. As a youth, he
played baseball, but in high school in Tacoma participated in
basketball, soccer, football, golf, and swimming.A good boxer and a
hard hitter, Steele lost only two fights during his first ten years in
the ring. Among those he defeated were Ceferino Garcia, Ralph Chong,
Leonard Bennett, Joe Glick, Bucky Lawless, Andy Divodi, "Baby" Joe
Gans, Vince Dundee, Gorilla Jones, Swede Berglund, Young Stuhley,
Meyer Grace, Henry Firpo, Eddie "Babe" Risko, Jackie Aldare, Gus
Lesnevich, Paul Pirrone, Frank Battaglia, Ken Overlin, Carmen Barth,
and Solly Krieger.On July 11, 1936, he defeated Babe Risko to take the
Middleweight Boxing Championship of the World in a unanimous fifteen
round decision at the Civic Stadium in Seattle. Steele floored Risko
for seven seconds in the first round. Steele took seven of the fifteen
rounds with good margins, with only four going to Risko. Steele
damaged both of Risko's eyes during the bout which hampered the
reigning champion's ability to defend himself. The Associated Press
gave Risko only three rounds of the well attended bout of around
27,000.
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