Paul Berlenbach

Paul Berlenbach (February 18, 1901 – September 30, 1985) was the world light heavyweight boxing champion from May 30, 1925, when he wrested the crown from Mike McTigue, until July 16, 1926, when he was defeated by his nemesis Jack Delaney. The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer rated him as the #10 best light heavyweight of all-time. Berlenbach was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1971 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.[1]

Paul Berlenbach
Statistics
Real name	Paul Berlenbach
Nickname(s)	Astoria Assassin
Weight(s)	Light Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Reach	72 in (183 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	February 18, 1901 New York, New York, United States
Died	September 30, 1985 (aged 84)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	51
Wins	40
Wins by KO	33
Losses	8
Draws	3
No contests	1

Professional career

World light heavyweight champion

Known as the "Astoria Assassin", Berlenbach was known for his punching power. The New York City-born Berlenbach was an AAU champion wrestler before turning to professional boxing in 1923. Eventually he scored a 10th-round TKO over former champion "Battling Siki" to earn a title shot against champion Mike McTigue.

Described by writer Paul Gallico as "untutored, unlettered, slow-witted, slow-moving, and wholly lacking in animation or imagination", Berlenbach was, nevertheless, a formidable fighter. As Gallico noted, he possessed "a numbing, paralyzing body punch that caused his opponents suddenly to crumple up" as though shot. His weaknesses were his non-existent defense, and slow movements which enabled sharp shooting opponents, such as Jack Delaney, to hit him at will.

Retirement

He retired with a record of 40 wins (33 KOs), 8 losses, and 3 draws. He was named #93 on the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Upon his retirement, he owned and operated Paul Berlenbach's Ringside Restaurant in Sound Beach, New York in the 1950s.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary

51 fights	40 wins	8 losses
By knockout	34	3
By decision	6	4
By disqualification	0	1
Draws	3

All Newspaper decisions are regarded as “no decision” bouts as they have “resulted in neither boxer winning or losing, and would therefore not count as part of their official fight record."

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
54	Loss	40–8–3 (3)	Carl Knowles	PTS	10	Sep 28, 1933	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
53	NC	40–7–3 (3)	Ray Lopez	NC	2 (?)	Sep 14, 1931	Saint Albans, Vermont, U.S.	The bout was declared NC after Lopez had been floored three times by relatively light punches.
52	Loss	40–7–3 (2)	Herman Weiner	DQ	1 (5)	Jul 22, 1931	Twin City Arena, Laurel, Maryland, U.S.	Berlenbach DQ'd for going down without a blow being struck.
51	Win	40–6–3 (2)	Jerry Garfield	TKO	4 (6)	Jul 09, 1931	Fort Hamilton Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
50	Win	39–6–3 (2)	Billy Henderson	TKO	1 (4)	Apr 13, 1931	Prospect Hall, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
49	Win	38–6–3 (2)	Eddie Clark	KO	3 (4)	Mar 31, 1931	Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
48	Win	37–6–3 (2)	Larry Estridge	KO	8 (?)	May 22, 1928	Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
47	Win	36–6–3 (2)	Floyd Shimalla	KO	1 (?)	May 12, 1928	Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
46	Loss	35–6–3 (2)	Jack Delaney	TKO	6 (10)	Dec 09, 1927	Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
45	Loss	35–5–3 (2)	Mickey Walker	PTS	10	Nov 25, 1927	Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
44	Draw	35–4–3 (2)	Joe Lohman	PTS	10	Oct 13, 1927	Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
43	Win	35–4–2 (2)	Bob Lawson	KO	7 (?)	Jul 28, 1927	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
42	Win	34–4–2 (2)	Bing Conley	PTS	10	Jul 18, 1927	St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
41	Win	33–4–2 (2)	Gus Berger	TKO	4 (10)	Jul 09, 1927	Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
40	Win	32–4–2 (2)	Charley Rammell	TKO	1 (10)	Jun 27, 1927	St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
39	Loss	31–4–2 (2)	Mike McTigue	TKO	4 (10)	Jan 28, 1927	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
38	Win	31–3–2 (2)	Francis Charles	TKO	1 (10)	Aug 20, 1926	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
37	Loss	30–3–2 (2)	Jack Delaney	UD	15	Jul 16, 1926	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.	Lost The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles For vacant NYSAC light heavyweight title
36	Win	30–2–2 (2)	Young Stribling	UD	15	Jun 10, 1926	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
35	Win	29–2–2 (2)	Ray Neuman	PTS	10	Apr 05, 1926	Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
34	Loss	28–2–2 (2)	Johnny Risko	PTS	10	Mar 19, 1926	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
33	Win	28–1–2 (2)	Jack Delaney	PTS	15	Dec 11, 1925	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
32	Win	27–1–2 (2)	Emilio Solomon	TKO	9 (10)	Oct 12, 1925	Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.
31	Win	26–1–2 (2)	Jimmy Slattery	TKO	11 (15)	Sep 11, 1925	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
30	NC	25–1–2 (2)	Tony Marullo	NC	9 (15)	Jul 13, 1925	Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.	Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles No decision bout. Both men were disqualified for "not trying"
29	Win	25–1–2 (1)	Mike McTigue	UD	15	May 30, 1925	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.	Won The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
28	Win	24–1–2 (1)	Battling Siki	TKO	10 (12)	Mar 13, 1925	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
27	Win	23–1–2 (1)	Frankie Maguire	TKO	5 (10)	Feb 09, 1925	108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
26	Win	22–1–2 (1)	Tony Marullo	PTS	12	Jan 30, 1925	108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
25	Win	21–1–2 (1)	Rocky Smith	TKO	4 (10)	Jan 14, 1925	108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
24	Win	20–1–2 (1)	Larry Estridge	TKO	2 (?)	Dec 26, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
23	Win	19–1–2 (1)	Tom Burns	KO	5 (10)	Dec 05, 1924	Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
22	Win	18–1–2 (1)	Johnny Gill	NWS	10	Oct 01, 1924	Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
21	Win	18–1–2	Jack Reddick	KO	8 (?)	Sep 19, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
20	Draw	17–1–2	Young Stribling	PTS	6	Aug 27, 1924	Velodrome, New York, U.S.
19	Win	17–1–1	Hambone Kelly	KO	4 (10)	Aug 15, 1924	Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
18	Draw	16–1–1	Augie Ratner	PTS	8	Jul 24, 1924	Polo Grounds, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
17	Win	16–1	Frank Carpenter	TKO	7 (10)	Jul 07, 1924	Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
16	Win	15–1	KO Jaffe	TKO	7 (10)	Jun 20, 1924	Henderson's Bowl, Brooklyn New York City, New York, U.S.
15	Win	14–1	Chief Halbran	TKO	3 (10)	Jun 16, 1924	Bralls Arena, Freeport, New York U.S.
14	Win	13–1	Harold Abbott	TKO	4 (10)	Apr 29, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
13	Win	12–1	Jack Stone	TKO	5 (12)	Apr 07, 1924	1st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S.
12	Win	11–1	Harry Krohn	KO	4 (10)	Mar 31, 1924	1st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S.
11	Loss	10–1	Jack Delaney	KO	4 (12)	Mar 14, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Jimmy Darcy	TKO	3 (12)	Mar 03, 1924	Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Young Fisher	KO	6 (?)	Feb 28, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Pat Walsh	TKO	1 (?)	Feb 15, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Frank Carbone	TKO	6 (8)	Jan 28, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Lew Chester	KO	2 (6)	Jan 18, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Billy Ryan	KO	1 (?)	Jan 10, 1924	102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	KO Jaffre	KO	7 (?)	Jan 02, 1924	Lenox A.C., New York, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Jerome Baird	KO	1 (8)	Dec 13, 1923	102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Charles Hoffman	KO	1 (8)	Nov 29, 1923	102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Jimmy Roberts	KO	1 (8)	Oct 04, 1923	102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.

See also

• List of light heavyweight boxing champions

References

1. Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia - Paul Berlenbach CyberBoxingZone.com Retrieved on 2014-04-30

External links

• Boxing record for Paul Berlenbach from BoxRec
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine%27s_Annual_Ratings:_Light_Heavyweight--1920s