Paul Berlenbach


Paul Berlenbach, nicknamed the Astoria Assassin was the world light heavyweight boxing champion in 1925 and 1926. Known for his punching power, he took 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.

Career

Prior to his professional boxing career, Berlenbach had been a champion at amateur wrestling and amateur boxing, both at middleweight. His record as an amateur boxer was 21–0 with 21 knockouts. He made the United States Olympic wrestling team in 1920, but was injured and did not participate.

World light heavyweight champion

Berlenbach scored a 10th-round TKO over former champion Battling Siki to earn a title shot against champion Mike McTigue. Berlenbach defeated McTigue with a unanimous decision to become light-heavyweight champion.
In his first title defense against Tony "Young" Marullo, the bout was stopped in the 9th round and declared no contest. " Lewis was convinced the boxers were pulling their punches. I agreed with Lewis that the bout should be declared 'no contest,'" inspector Platt Adams of the New Jersey Boxing Commission said after the fight. Adams cleared both boxers though, when examination revealed that Berlenbach had broken a bone in his hand.
Berlenbach stopped Jimmy Slattery in his second defense. Next was Jack Delaney, the only fighter who had previously defeated him. After being knocked down in the 4th round, Berlenbach rallied and won on a split decision, with one judge calling the fight a draw.
Against heavyweight Johnny Risko he suffered a surprise loss. A rematch was requested by both fighters, but the request was denied by the New York boxing commission, citing desire for the champion to fight opponents in his own division.
Young Stribling, who had fought Berlenbach to a draw two years before, and also owned a victory over Risko, was given a shot at the light-heavyweight title. Berlenbach won the rematch decisively.
Jack Delaney defeated Paul Berlenbach for the light-heavyweight championship on July 16, 1926, in front of 41,000 spectators. After the victory Delaney said Berlenbach had "the hardest left hand punch I ever took." Berlenbach, "I was never in serious trouble, but I could not land my lefts effectively."

Late career

"If Berlenbach wants a return bout, he'll get it," Jack Delaney said after his championship win. Instead of seeking a rematch with Delaney for the light-heavyweight title, Paul Berlenbach moved to heavyweight. In his first match at heavyweight he fought Mike McTigue, who Berlenbach had taken the light-heavyweight title from. McTigue won in the 4th round. Berlenbach announced his retirement afterward. However he would return to the ring 5 months later back at light-heavyweight.
After a string of victories at light-heavyweight. He fought the middleweight champion Mickey Walker in a non-title match. Walker won on points, knocked Berlenbach down in the 4th. Berlenbach's 11 pound advantage did not seem to matter.
He fought Jack Delaney for a 4th time, this time in front of only 6,000. Berlenbach was knocked down 3 times before the fight was stopped in the 6th round.
After a match with veteran Larry Estridge in 1928 both boxers had their boxing licenses rescinded. Berlenbach had won in 8 rounds. According to sportswriter James P. Dawson, the fight "proved conclusively to all those in attendance that their days of real boxing are at an end."
In 1929 Paul Berlenbach began a brief career as a professional wrestler.
After multiple unsuccessful returns to the ring in 1931 and again in 1933, Berlenbach finally retired for good.
He retired from boxing with a record of 40 wins, 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

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
54Loss40–8–3 Carl KnowlesPTS10Sep 28, 1933Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
5340–7–3 Ray LopezNC2 Sep 14, 1931Saint Albans, Vermont, U.S.The bout was declared NC after Lopez had been floored three times by relatively light punches.
52Loss40–7–3 Herman WeinerDQ1 Jul 22, 1931Twin City Arena, Laurel, Maryland, U.S.Berlenbach DQ'd for going down without a blow being struck.
51Win40–6–3 Jerry GarfieldTKO4 Jul 9, 1931Fort Hamilton Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
50Win39–6–3 Billy HendersonTKO1 Apr 13, 1931Prospect Hall, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
49Win38–6–3 Eddie ClarkKO3 Mar 31, 1931Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
48Win37–6–3 Larry EstridgeKO8 May 22, 1928Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
47Win36–6–3 Floyd ShimallaKO1 May 12, 1928Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
46Loss35–6–3 Jack DelaneyTKO6 Dec 9, 1927Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
45Loss35–5–3 Mickey WalkerPTS10Nov 25, 1927Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
44Draw35–4–3 Joe LohmanPTS10Oct 13, 1927Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
43Win35–4–2 Bob LawsonKO7 Jul 28, 1927Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
42Win34–4–2 Bing ConleyPTS10Jul 18, 1927St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
41Win33–4–2 Gus BergerTKO4 Jul 9, 1927Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
40Win32–4–2 Charley RammellTKO1 Jun 27, 1927St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
39Loss31–4–2 Mike McTigueTKO4 Jan 28, 1927Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
38Win31–3–2 Francis CharlesTKO1 Aug 20, 1926Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
37Loss30–3–2 Jack DelaneyUD15Jul 16, 1926Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
36Win30–2–2 Young StriblingUD15Jun 10, 1926Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
35Win29–2–2 Ray NeumanPTS10Apr 5, 1926Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
34Loss28–2–2 Johnny RiskoPTS10Mar 19, 1926Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
33Win28–1–2 Jack DelaneyPTS15Dec 11, 1925Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
32Win27–1–2 Emilio SolomonTKO9 Oct 12, 1925Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.
31Win26–1–2 Jimmy SlatteryTKO11 Sep 11, 1925Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
3025–1–2 Tony MarulloNC9 Jul 13, 1925Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles at stake;
Both men were disqualified for "not trying"
29Win25–1–2 Mike McTigueUD15May 30, 1925Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.Won NBA and NYSAC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles
28Win24–1–2 Battling SikiTKO10 Mar 13, 1925Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
27Win23–1–2 Frankie MaguireTKO5 Feb 9, 1925108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
26Win22–1–2 Tony MarulloPTS12Jan 30, 1925108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
25Win21–1–2 Rocky SmithTKO4 Jan 14, 1925108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
24Win20–1–2 Larry EstridgeTKO2 Dec 26, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
23Win19–1–2 Tom BurnsKO5 Dec 5, 1924Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
22Win18–1–2 Johnny GillNWS10Oct 1, 1924Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
21Win18–1–2Jack ReddickKO8 Sep 19, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
20Draw17–1–2Young StriblingPTS6Aug 27, 1924Velodrome, New York, U.S.
19Win17–1–1Hambone KellyKO4 Aug 15, 1924Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
18Draw16–1–1Augie RatnerPTS8Jul 24, 1924Polo Grounds, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
17Win16–1Frank CarpenterTKO7 Jul 7, 1924Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
16Win15–1KO JaffeTKO7 Jun 20, 1924Henderson's Bowl, Brooklyn New York City, New York, U.S.
15Win14–1Chief HalbranTKO3 Jun 16, 1924Bralls Arena, Freeport, New York U.S.
14Win13–1Harold AbbottTKO4 Apr 29, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
13Win12–1Jack StoneTKO5 Apr 7, 19241st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S.
12Win11–1Harry KrohnKO4 Mar 31, 19241st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S.
11Loss10–1Jack DelaneyKO4 Mar 14, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
10Win10–0Jimmy DarcyTKO3 Mar 3, 1924Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York U.S.
9Win9–0Young FisherKO6 Feb 28, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
8Win8–0Pat WalshTKO1 Feb 15, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
7Win7–0Frank CarboneTKO6 Jan 28, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
6Win6–0Lew ChesterKO2 Jan 18, 1924Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0Billy RyanKO1 Jan 10, 1924102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
4Win4–0KO JaffreKO7 Jan 2, 1924Lenox A.C., New York, U.S.
3Win3–0Jerome BairdKO1 Dec 13, 1923102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
2Win2–0Charles HoffmanKO1 Nov 29, 1923102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0Jimmy RobertsKO1 Oct 4, 1923102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

''The Ring'' magazine titles

Undisputed titles