Ben Jeby


Ben Jeby, was an American world champion middleweight boxer from the Lower East Side of New York City. He was managed by the legendary Hymie Caplin.

Early life and career

Jeby was born on December 27, 1909, near Clinton and Delancey Streets in New York's teaming Lower East side to Jewish parents.
He turned professional in 1927, at the age of 19.
He defeated Joey LaGrey in an eight-round points decision on August 19, 1930, in at Queensboro Stadium in Long Island. Harry Ebbets fell to Jeby in a ten-round points decision at Madison Square Garden on November 14, 1930. There were no knockdowns in the bout.
He drew in ten rounds with Dave Shade, the division's number one contender, on September 8, 1931, at Queensboro Stadium. In the close bout, Jeby had an edge in the third, fourth, and final three rounds. The following month he lost to Shade in a twelve-round unanimous decision at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Jeby would become one of several Jewish title-holders of the time. On March 20, 1931, weighing 157.5 pounds, he defeated Len Harvey on points over 12 rounds in a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Jeby fought a rushing, mauling, body punching battle, at close range, for which Harvey had no answer. His attempts to clinch were inadequate to stop the onrush of Jeby.
My Sullivan fell to Jeby from a technical knockout in the ninth at Chicago Stadium before a crowd of 11,000 on February 26, 1932. Sullivan had built a substantial lead in the early rounds, but Jeby got to him with both hands in the later rounds, finally leaving him helpless on the ropes in the ninth.
He had a difficult loss to Frank Battaglia in a first-round knockout at Chicago Stadium on March 18, 1932. The knockout loss, which came 1:30 into the first round, discouraged Jeby, but ultimately did not affect his plans to pursue the World Middleweight title. The two would meet again.
Chick Devlin fell soundly to Jeby in a fifteen-round points decision at New York's St. Nicholas Arena on November 21, 1932. The fifteen-round decision for Jeby upheld his contention hopes for the Middleweight title.

NYSAC World Middle champion

From 1932 to 1933, Jeby was the New York Boxing Commission Middleweight Champion of the World. Jeby defeated Canadian Frankie Battaglia, viewed as one of the world's best middleweights, by TKO at Madison Square Garden in a title fight on January 13, 1933. In the twelfth round, referee Jack Britton stopped the fighting due to a cut on Battaglia's eye. The injury was caused by a left hook from Jeby in the third round. Battaglia was down for a count of nine in the second.
He defeated Paul Pirrone on January 30, 1933, in a sixth-round technical knockout in Cleveland. The quarterfinal match was for the NYSAC's World Middleweight Tournament. A crowd of 8,400 saw Jeby drop Pirrone seven times before the bout was stopped in the sixth.
Jeby fought Vince Dundee to a draw over 15 rounds, keeping his title, at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 1933. The crowd of 11,000 felt strongly that Dundee had won the bout and reacted with derision to the draw ruling. Jeby, who had twice previously lost to Dundee, looked far worse than his opponent at the end of the bout.
Young Terry fell to Jeby in an NYSAC Middleweight Title bout at Dreamland Park in New Jersey in a fifteen-round points decision on July 10, 1933. Terry mounted a bristling two-fisted attack in the final two rounds that had many in the crowd of 12,052 unhappy with the final decision for Jeby. Jeby won six, Terry five, and four were even.

Loss of World middle title, August, 1933

On August 9, 1933, he was knocked out by Lou Brouillard in the seventh round of a scheduled 15-round title fight at the Polo Grounds, surrendering his NYSAC World Middleweight title. Although only twenty-five at the time, Jeby's career began to falter after the loss of his title.
On April 6, 1934, he lost to Teddy Yarosz in a twelve-round points decision in Pittsburgh. The bout was a title match for the Pennsylvania version of the World Middleweight Title. Yarosz's powerful right continually assaulted Jeby with devastating results, but Jeby managed to hold off a knockout. The Pittsburgh Press credited Yarosz with nine rounds, with only one to Jeby.
In 73 bouts, he was 54–14 with 22 knockouts.

Life after boxing

After he retired from the ring, Jeby obtained a plumber's license and worked in that field the rest of his life. He died on October 5, 1985, in New York, and was survived by wife Evelyn Siedman, a former chorus line dancer.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
73Win54–14–4 Jackie AldarePTS8Jul 15, 1934Coney Island Velodrome, New York City, New York, U.S.
72Win53–14–4 Al CocozzaTKO2 Jul 1, 1934Queensboro Arena, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
71Loss52–14–4 Swede BerglundPTS10Jun 20, 1934Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
70Win52–13–4 Anson GreenUD10Apr 27, 1934Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
69Loss51–13–4 Teddy YaroszPTS12Apr 6, 1934Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.For Pennsylvania State middleweight title
68Loss51–12–4 Vince DundeeMD10Feb 16, 1934Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
67Loss51–11–4 Al DiamondPTS10Feb 8, 1934Armory, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
66Loss51–10–4 Young TerryPTS10Jan 3, 1934Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
65Win51–9–4 Joey LaGreyPTS10Nov 17, 1933Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
64Win50–9–4 Al RossiPTS10Nov 9, 1933Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
63Win49–9–4 Joey LaGreyPTS10Sep 5, 1933Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
62Loss48–9–4 Lou BrouillardKO7 Aug 9, 1933Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost NYSAC middleweight title
61Win48–8–4 Young TerryPTS15Jul 10, 1933Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Retained NYSAC middleweight title
60Win47–8–4 Al RossiPTS12Jun 2, 1933Fugazy Bowl, New York City, New York, U.S.
5946–8–4 Gorilla JonesNC6 Apr 19, 1933Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.The Cleveland Boxing Commissioners ordered Block to halt the fight due to the lack of effort from both fighters
58Draw46–8–4Vince DundeePTS15Mar 17, 1933Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NYSAC middleweight title
57Win46–8–3Paul PirroneTKO6 Jan 30, 1933Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
56Win45–8–3Frank BattagliaTKO12 Jan 13, 1933Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won vacant NYSAC middleweight title
55Win44–8–3Chick DevlinPTS15Nov 21, 1932St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
54Win43–8–3Paul PirroneTKO6 Oct 13, 1932Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
53Win42–8–3Nick PalmerTKO4 Aug 19, 1932Coney Island Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
52Win41–8–3Leo LarriveeKO1 Aug 4, 1932Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
51Win40–8–3Roscoe ManningPTS10Jul 21, 1932Belmont Park, Garfield, New Jersey, U.S.
50Win39–8–3Billy KohutTKO3 Jul 15, 1932Long Beach Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S.
49Loss38–8–3Frank BattagliaKO1 Mar 18, 1932Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
48Win38–7–3Babe MarshallTKO9 Feb 26, 1932Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
47Win37–7–3Babe MarshallTKO4 Feb 22, 1932Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
46Win36–7–3Al LamontKO2 Jan 4, 1932Jamaica Arena, Jamaica, New York City, New York, U.S.
45Win35–7–3Eddie WhalenKO3 Dec 29, 1931Elks Lodge 22, New York City, New York, U.S.
44Win34–7–3Jackie AldarePTS8Dec 12, 1931Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
43Win33–7–3Buck McTiernanTKO7 Nov 9, 1931Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
42Win32–7–3Charley HornKO6 Oct 26, 1931Jamaica Arena, Jamaica, New York City, New York, U.S.
41Loss31–7–3Dave ShadeUD12Oct 2, 1931Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
40Draw31–6–3Dave ShadePTS10Sep 8, 1931Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
39Draw31–6–2Pete AugustPTS10Aug 24, 1931Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
38Win31–6–1Ignacio AraPTS10Jul 23, 1931Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
37Loss30–6–1Young TerryPTS10Jun 29, 1931Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
36Loss30–5–1Vince DundeePTS10Jun 4, 1931Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
35Win30–4–1Johnny PilcUD10Apr 24, 1931St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
34Win29–4–1Laddie LeeKO5 Apr 10, 1931St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
33Win28–4–1Len HarveyUD12Mar 20, 1931Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
32Win27–4–1Battling TraceyPTS8Feb 2, 1931St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
31Win26–4–1Harry EbbetsPTS10Nov 14, 1930Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
30Win25–4–1Babe McCorgaryPTS6Sep 30, 1930Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
29Win24–4–1Joe DundeePTS8Sep 11, 1930Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
28Win23–4–1Joey LaGreyPTS8Aug 19, 1930Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
27Win22–4–1Dennis GoldenTKO6 Aug 1, 1930Long Beach Stadium, Long Beach, New York, U.S.
26Loss21–4–1Vince DundeePTS10Apr 4, 1930Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
25Win21–3–1Floyd HybertKO1 Mar 22, 1930Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Win20–3–1Floyd HybertPTS6Mar 8, 1930Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
23Win19–3–1Billy FranklinPTS10Feb 17, 1930St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
22Win18–3–1Joey LaGreyPTS6Dec 30, 1929St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
21Win17–3–1Tony VaccarelliPTS10Nov 18, 1929St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
20Win16–3–1Alf RosPTS10Oct 11, 1929Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
19Win15–3–1Nick PalmerKO8 Sep 18, 1929Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
18Win14–3–1Joe SalinoPTS10Aug 13, 1929Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
17Win13–3–1Jackie HornerPTS8Jul 23, 1929Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
16Win12–3–1Charlie RosenPTS10Jul 2, 1929Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York City, New York, U.S.
15Loss11–3–1Alf RosPTS10Jun 6, 1929New York Coliseum, New York City, New York, U.S.
14Loss11–2–1Cecil HarperPTS10Mar 15, 1929Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
13Win11–1–1Cecil HarperTKO2 Feb 1, 1929Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
12Win10–1–1Cecil HarperKO3 Jan 18, 1929Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
11Win9–1–1Elky MillerKO2 Jan 7, 1929Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
10Win8–1–1Justin HoffmanPTS4Dec 22, 1928Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
9Win7–1–1Jack KiernanPTS6Dec 3, 1928St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
8Win6–1–1Joe SpatolaKO4 Nov 16, 1928Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
7Win5–1–1Howard ReddyPTS4Oct 22, 1928St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
6Win4–1–1Frank BuchananPTS4Oct 20, 1928Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
5Win3–1–1Benny BonavitaKO3 Oct 6, 1928Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
4Loss2–1–1George DaggettPTS4Oct 4, 1927St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
3Draw2–0–1Jimmy O'HaraPTS4Sep 29, 1927Columbus Hall, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
2Win2–0Frankie BartelsPTS4Sep 24, 1927Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0Sammy SchneiderPTS4Sep 3, 1927Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.