Bob Satterfield
Bob "Bombardier" Satterfield was a heavyweight boxer who fought from 1945–1957. Satterfield, a top rated contender who never fought for the title, retired with a record of 50 wins, 25 losses and 4 draws. Known for his punching power, he is listed in Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time at number 58. Satterfield later died from cancer at the age of 53.
Amateur career
Satterfield was the Chicago City Golden Gloves 147-pound champion in 1941. He lost to Al Tribuani on a first round knockout in the inter-city championship between Chicago and New York boxers.Professional career
Satterfield, known for his punching power and aggressive style, was a fan favorite. His poor stamina and weak chin often cost him fights, however. In his bout against heavyweight contender Rex Layne on March 9, 1951, Satterfield hurt Layne, and knocked him down for an eight count in the first round. Layne slowly retook control of the fight, and ultimately knocked out Satterfield in the eighth round.Satterfield was knocked out in 7 rounds by future middleweight champion Jake LaMotta on September 12, 1946. He was also knocked out in 2 rounds by former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles on January 13, 1954. Satterfield did score a knockout over future heavyweight contender Cleveland Williams and also beat the dangerous giant Cuban Niño Valdés, but lost by KO to light heavyweight champion Archie Moore, and dropped 2 out of 3 to future light heavyweight champion Harold Johnson.
He retired from boxing on January 15, 1958, due to a detached retina in his left eye.
In the media
In the 2007 motion picture Resurrecting the Champ a reporter named Erik Kernan Jr. finds a homeless man claiming to be Bob Satterfield and writes an article about him in the Denver Times Magazine. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett and Alan Alda and was directed by Rod Lurie.Trivia
- Satterfield served in the United States Army from 1942–45.
- The 1997 story "Resurrecting the Champ" by J.R. Moehringer in the Los Angeles Times said that he was friends with musician Miles Davis and introduced Muhammad Ali to his first wife. This was based on an interview in the Chicago home of his son, Robert Satterfield Jr.
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Age | Location |
| 79 | Win | Howard King | SD | 10 | Nov 21, 1957 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | ||
| 78 | Win | 49–25–4 | Garvin Sawyer | SD | 10 | Oct 21, 1957 | Enright Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 77 | Loss | 48–25–4 | Bert Whitehurst | UD | 10 | Oct 1, 1957 | Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 76 | Loss | 48–24–4 | Julio Mederos | PTS | 10 | Jun 3, 1957 | Last Frontier Sportsdrome, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 75 | Win | 48–23–4 | Frankie Daniels | MD | 10 | May 16, 1957 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
| 74 | Win | 47–23–4 | Ben Wise | KO | 1 | Apr 15, 1957 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 73 | Loss | 46–23–4 | Harold Johnson | UD | 10 | Mar 12, 1957 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 72 | Win | 46–22–4 | Julio Mederos | UD | 10 | Feb 4, 1957 | Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 71 | Win | 45–22–4 | Dale Hall | KO | 5 | Jan 8, 1957 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 44–22–4 | Warnell Lester | KO | 10 | Nov 27, 1956 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 69 | Win | 43–22–4 | Claude Chapman | KO | 7 | Nov 12, 1956 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 68 | Loss | 42–22–4 | Harold Carter | TKO | 5 | Aug 1, 1956 | War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 42–21–4 | Johnny Summerlin | UD | 10 | Jun 20, 1956 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 66 | Win | 41–21–4 | Jim Persey | UD | 10 | Apr 10, 1956 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 65 | Loss | 40–21–4 | Harold Carter | UD | 10 | Mar 20, 1956 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 64 | Draw | 40–20–4 | Harold Carter | PTS | 10 | Feb 28, 1956 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 63 | Loss | 40–20–3 | John Holman | TKO | 8 | Jan 11, 1956 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 40–19–3 | Paul Andrews | KO | 9 | Dec 6, 1955 | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 39–19–3 | Niño Valdés | UD | 10 | Aug 17, 1955 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 60 | Draw | 38–19–3 | Joe Rowan | PTS | 10 | Jul 19, 1955 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 59 | Loss | 38–19–2 | Archie McBride | SD | 10 | May 11, 1955 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 58 | Loss | 38–18–2 | Joe Lindsay | UD | 10 | Apr 19, 1955 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 38–17–2 | Marty Marshall | SD | 10 | Mar 22, 1955 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 56 | Loss | 37–17–2 | Marty Marshall | KO | 2 | Nov 30, 1954 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 37–16–2 | John Holman | KO | 1 | Nov 10, 1954 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 36–16–2 | Frankie Daniels | TKO | 7 | Aug 30, 1954 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 35–16–2 | John Holman | KO | 10 | Jul 20, 1954 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 34–16–2 | Cleveland Williams | KO | 3 | Jun 22, 1954 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 51 | Loss | 33–16–2 | Charley Williams | SD | 10 | Jun 1, 1954 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 33–15–2 | Julio Mederos | KO | 2 | May 11, 1954 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 49 | Loss | 32–15–2 | Ezzard Charles | KO | 2 | Jan 13, 1954 | Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 32–14–2 | Ray Augustus | KO | 8 | Dec 15, 1953 | Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 31–14–2 | Bob Baker | KO | 1 | Jul 1, 1953 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 30–14–2 | Gene Brown | KO | 2 | Jun 3, 1953 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 29–14–2 | Murray Burnett | KO | 3 | Rocky Marciano vs. [Jersey Joe Walcott II|May 15, 1953] | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 44 | Loss | 28–14–2 | Harold Johnson | KO | 2 | Oct 6, 1952 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 28–13–2 | Harold Johnson | SD | 10 | Aug 6, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 42 | Loss | 27–13–2 | Clarence Henry | TKO | 1 | Jan 30, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 27–12–2 | Wes Bascom | MD | 10 | Nov 15, 1951 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 40 | Loss | 27–11–2 | Rex Layne | TKO | 8 | Mar 9, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 27–10–2 | Elkins Brothers | TKO | 2 | Jan 19, 1951 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 26–10–2 | Vern Mitchell | UD | 10 | Dec 13, 1950 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 25–10–2 | Lee Oma | UD | 10 | Sep 25, 1950 | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 25–9–2 | Lee Oma | KO | 6 | May 17, 1950 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 24–9–2 | Tommy Gómez | UD | 10 | Mar 22, 1950 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 23–9–2 | Nick Barone | UD | 10 | Feb 22, 1950 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 22–9–2 | Sylvester Perkins | TKO | 2 | Nov 18, 1949 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 21–9–2 | Henry Hall | KO | 4 | Apr 25, 1949 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 31 | Loss | 21–8–2 | Archie Moore | KO | 3 | Jan 31, 1949 | Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 21–7–2 | Bob Amos | PTS | 10 | Dec 10, 1948 | International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 29 | Loss | 20–7–2 | Joey Maxim | UD | 10 | Nov 12, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 28 | Draw | 20–6–2 | Bob Amos | PTS | 10 | Sep 15, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 20–6–1 | Richard Hagan | TKO | 9 | Sep 7, 1948 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 19–6–1 | Oakland Billy Smith | KO | 1 | Jun 29, 1948 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 18–6–1 | Art Swiden | KO | 1 | May 7, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 24 | Loss | 17–6–1 | Sam Baroudi | TKO | 2 | Jan 23, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 17–5–1 | Al Johnson | PTS | 10 | Nov 12, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 16–5–1 | Chuck Hunter | KO | 10 | Oct 6, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 21 | Loss | 15–5–1 | Al Johnson | UD | 8 | Aug 18, 1947 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 15–4–1 | Willie Moore | KO | 2 | Jun 30, 1947 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 19 | Loss | 14–4–1 | Bob Foxworth | KO | 1 | Mar 14, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 14–3–1 | Willie Moore | UD | 8 | Feb 10, 1947 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 17 | Loss | 13–3–1 | Jake LaMotta | KO | 7 | Sep 12, 1946 | Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 13–2–1 | Vince Pimpinella | KO | 2 | Aug 14, 1946 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 15 | Loss | 12–2–1 | Holman Williams | SD | 10 | Apr 25, 1946 | Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Johnny Clark | TKO | 5 | Mar 28, 1946 | Coliseum North Hall, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Benny McCombs | KO | 2 | Dec 26, 1945 | Ashland Blvd. Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Collins Brown | KO | 1 | Dec 7, 1945 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 9–1–1 | Bob Garner | KO | 2 | Nov 14, 1945 | Ashland Blvd. Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Charley Polk | KO | 2 | Oct 24, 1945 | Ashland Blvd. Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | Oscar Boyd | KO | 4 | Sep 27, 1945 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 6–1–1 | Curley Denton | KO | 1 | Sep 6, 1945 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 5–1–1 | Vecie Van | KO | 1 | Aug 10, 1945 | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 4–1–1 | Herman Hayes | KO | 1 | Jul 23, 1945 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 5 | Draw | 3–1–1 | Johnny Vorce | PTS | 8 | May 28, 1945 | Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Charley Roth | KO | 1 | May 7, 1945 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 3 | Loss | 2–1 | Mack Parshay | KO | 1 | May 2, 1945 | Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Arthur McWhorter | KO | 1 | Apr 23, 1945 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Tom Mitchell | KO | 1 | Mar 19, 1945 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |