Freddie Steele fought in a deep middleweight division during the 1930’s and was a powerful boxer-puncher with dynamite in his fists, especially his right-hand, and possessed very good footwork.
He beat such men as future champion Ceferino Garcia twice by knockout, broke former champion Vince Dundee’s jaw in three places before eventually stopping him, Gus Lesnevich, Gorilla Jones three times, Ken Overlin, a then-inexperienced Fred Apostoli, Solly Krieger and beat Babe Risko thrice, the first time in a non-title bout, the second time to be crowned as the middleweight champion of the world by both the NBA and New York Athletic Commission and the third time when Steele defended his title.
After being battered by Fred Apostoli before the referee stopped the contest in the ninth-round in a non-title bout in 1938, Steele would defend his title once more with a seventh-round knockout of Carmen Barth.
He was later stripped of the New York Athletic Commission crown for not agreeing to give Fred Apostoli a shot at the title.
Steele was still recognized by the NBA as the world middleweight champion when he stepped into the ring to face the murderous punching Al Hostak on July 28, 1938.
For the first time, Steele didn't have his long-time manager Dave Miller in the corner, who had died suddenly. Whether or not that could have contributed to the result is up for debate, Hostak won after knocking Steele out at 1:43 of the first round.
After this loss, Steele retired from boxing at the young age of 25. For those who are unfamiliar with what age he debuted as a professional it may seem like a very short career but the fact is that Steele had turned pro at the age of 13!
Yes, you saw it right. He turned pro at the age of 13!
He did a brief comeback attempt three years later in 1941, but was sent back into retirement immediately with a five-round knockout loss.
When everything was set and done, Freddie Steele had defended his middleweight title five times in a very deep era
On the other side is Bernard Hopkins, who ruled a weak middleweight era with an iron fist. His most notable victories at the weight were over two fighters which did their best work at 147 lbs.
With that said, his longevity was/is impressive and is the biggest reason for him being in these kinds of discussions.
I’ve seen quite a few people that places Hopkins in the Top 5 when the best middleweights of all-time are being discussed, a view that I necessarily don’t agree with.
So my question is: who do you think should be ranked higher as a middleweight, Freddie Steele or Bernard Hopkins?
He beat such men as future champion Ceferino Garcia twice by knockout, broke former champion Vince Dundee’s jaw in three places before eventually stopping him, Gus Lesnevich, Gorilla Jones three times, Ken Overlin, a then-inexperienced Fred Apostoli, Solly Krieger and beat Babe Risko thrice, the first time in a non-title bout, the second time to be crowned as the middleweight champion of the world by both the NBA and New York Athletic Commission and the third time when Steele defended his title.
After being battered by Fred Apostoli before the referee stopped the contest in the ninth-round in a non-title bout in 1938, Steele would defend his title once more with a seventh-round knockout of Carmen Barth.
He was later stripped of the New York Athletic Commission crown for not agreeing to give Fred Apostoli a shot at the title.
Steele was still recognized by the NBA as the world middleweight champion when he stepped into the ring to face the murderous punching Al Hostak on July 28, 1938.
For the first time, Steele didn't have his long-time manager Dave Miller in the corner, who had died suddenly. Whether or not that could have contributed to the result is up for debate, Hostak won after knocking Steele out at 1:43 of the first round.
After this loss, Steele retired from boxing at the young age of 25. For those who are unfamiliar with what age he debuted as a professional it may seem like a very short career but the fact is that Steele had turned pro at the age of 13!
Yes, you saw it right. He turned pro at the age of 13!
He did a brief comeback attempt three years later in 1941, but was sent back into retirement immediately with a five-round knockout loss.
When everything was set and done, Freddie Steele had defended his middleweight title five times in a very deep era
On the other side is Bernard Hopkins, who ruled a weak middleweight era with an iron fist. His most notable victories at the weight were over two fighters which did their best work at 147 lbs.
With that said, his longevity was/is impressive and is the biggest reason for him being in these kinds of discussions.
I’ve seen quite a few people that places Hopkins in the Top 5 when the best middleweights of all-time are being discussed, a view that I necessarily don’t agree with.
So my question is: who do you think should be ranked higher as a middleweight, Freddie Steele or Bernard Hopkins?
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