Pete Rademacher

Thomas Peter Rademacher (November 20, 1928 – June 4, 2020) was an American heavyweight boxer.[3] A gold medalist at the 1956 Olympics,[4] he became the only person to challenge for the world heavyweight championship in his first professional bout when he faced Floyd Patterson in Seattle on August 22, 1957.[5][6]

Pete Rademacher
Rademacher in 1961
Statistics
Real nameThomas Peter Rademacher
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Reach196 cm (77 in)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Born(1928-11-20)November 20, 1928
Tieton, Washington, U.S.[2]
DiedJune 4, 2020(2020-06-04) (aged 91)
Sandusky, Ohio, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights23
Wins15
Wins by KO8
Losses7
Draws1
No contests0
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1956 Melbourne +81 kg

A former college football player at Washington State,[4][5] Rademacher took up boxing as a form of rehabilitation during his recovery from rheumatic fever, which he contracted in military school.[7]

Amateur career

In his amateur career, Rademacher won 72 bouts and lost 7. He won a series of tournaments, including the 1949 and 1951–1953 Seattle Golden Gloves (he lost in 1950 to Zora Folley, who was his frequent opponent throughout his boxing career), and the US Amateur Championship as a heavyweight in 1953—avenging his earlier loss to Folley.

He captured the Chicago Golden Gloves, the All-Army championship, and the Service championship in 1956, before qualifying for the Olympic team. At the Olympics he captured a gold medal in the heavyweight division and served as the U.S. flag bearer at the closing ceremony.[2]

1956 Olympic results
  • Round of 16: bye
  • Quarterfinal: Defeated Josef Němec KO 2
  • Semifinal: Defeated Daan Bekker (South Africa) KO 3
  • Final: Defeated Lev Mukhin (Soviet Union) KO 1 (won gold medal)

Rademacher also attended college, playing offensive line on the football team for Washington State.

Professional career
Rademacher and Folley in 1958

After winning the gold medal, Rademacher started saying that he would be able to become world heavyweight champion in his first professional fight. He made his belief public and was able to lure world Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson into defending his crown against him in his professional debut. It is the only time to date that a fighter making his professional debut has challenged for the world heavyweight title.

The bout, at Sick's Stadium in Seattle, was refereed by former light-heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, who himself had contended for the heavy crown once, vs. Primo Carnera, in 1934. Rademacher dropped Patterson in round two, but Patterson recovered and knocked Rademacher down seven times, defeating him by a knockout in round six.[1][2][6]

Rademacher fought Zora Folley, Brian London, George Chuvalo, Buddy Turman, and the former world light heavyweight champion, Archie Moore. He lost to Moore, Folley and London but beat Chuvalo, LaMar Clark, and Turman, among others. His last bout was with former world middleweight champion Carl "Bobo" Olson, whom he beat by decision.[1]

Personal life

Rademacher had Finnish ancestry; his maternal grandparents were immigrants from Finland.[8] He was married to Margaret and had a daughter Susan (born c. 1954–1955).[9] In addition to boxing, he was a salesman and inventor. He was president of the company Kiefer-McNeil which was founded by fellow Olympian, Adolph Kiefer.[2] Rademacher died in Sandusky, Ohio on June 4, 2020 at the age of 91.[10]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
23 fights 15 wins 7 losses
By knockout 8 6
By decision 7 1
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
23 Win 15–7–1 Bobo Olson UD 10 3 Apr 1962 Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
22 Loss 14–7–1 Karl Mildenberger PTS 10 20 Jan 1962 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
21 Win 14–6–1 Buddy Turman TKO 9 (10) 30 Nov 1961 Fair Park Coliseum, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
20 Loss 13–6–1 Archie Moore TKO 6 (10), 2:10 23 Oct 1961 Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
19 Loss 13–5–1 George Logan KO 2 (10), 2:40 17 Aug 1961 Boise, Idaho, U.S.
18 Loss 13–4–1 Doug Jones KO 5 (10), 0:54 29 Apr 1961 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
17 Win 13–3–1 Dan Vanderford KO 1 (10), 2:17 14 Apr 1961 Armory, Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S.
16 Win 12–3–1 Harvey Taylor KO 1 (10), 2:47 22 Feb 1961 Yakima, Washington, U.S.
15 Win 11–3–1 Donnie Fleeman UD 10 23 Jan 1961 Seattle Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
14 Win 10–3–1 Willi Besmanoff UD 10 13 Dec 1960 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
13 Win 9–3–1 Kirk Barrow SD 10 8 Dec 1960 Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, Washington, U.S.
12 Win 8–3–1 George Chuvalo UD 10 19 Jul 1960 Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Canada
11 Win 7–3–1 LaMar Clark TKO 10 (10), 2:27 29 Jun 1960 Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
10 Loss 6–3–1 Brian London KO 7 (10), 0:15 26 Apr 1960 Empire Pool, London, England
9 Draw 6–2–1 Ulli Ritter PTS 10 8 Apr 1960 Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany
8 Win 6–2 Ulli Nitzschke KO 7 (10) 6 Feb 1960 Festhalle Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
7 Win 5–2 Johnny York PTS 8 9 Dec 1959 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
6 Win 4–2 Buddy Keener KO 1 (10), 2:52 12 Nov 1959 City Auditorium, Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
5 Win 3–2 Calvin Butler UD 10 29 Sep 1959 Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
4 Win 2–2 Ralph Schneider TKO 3 (10) 17 Sep 1959 Greenville Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
3 Win 1–2 Tommy Thompson RTD 5 (10) 13 Aug 1959 Municipal Auditorium, Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
2 Loss 0–2 Zora Folley KO 4 (10), 1:15 25 Jul 1958 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1 Loss 0–1 Floyd Patterson KO 6 (15), 2:57 22 Aug 1957 Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. For vacant NBA, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight titles

See also

References
  1. Pete Rademacher. Boxrec.
  2. Pete Rademacher. sports-reference.com
  3. "Pete Rademacher, 1956 Olympic boxing champion, dies at 91". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  4. "Former WSC boxer takes Olympic title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 2, 1956. p. 13.
  5. Boni, Bill (August 22, 1957). "Patterson gains four pounds; Pete eager for longer fight". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 18.
  6. Boni, Bill (August 23, 1957). "Patterson pounds Pete; all over in 6th round". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1.
  7. Borrone, Bert (July 31, 1957). "Suspicion Grows That Marciano Is Using Role As Coach Of Rademacher As Stepping Stone To Comeback Try". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. p. 13.
  8. "Rademacher, Thomas Peter (b. 1928)". www.historylink.org. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  9. File:Wife and daughter of Pete Rademacher 1957.jpg
  10. Goul, Matt (June 6, 2020) Olympic boxing champion Pete Rademacher, 91, dies. cleveland.com
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