Katz, Herbie : Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum

Katz, Herbie

Katz boxed professionally in the 1930s and 1940s primarily as a light-heavyweight. During his career, he fought three former or future world champions, Gus Lesnevich, Joey Maxim, and Solly Krieger, but never received a title shot.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
A middleweight and light-heavyweight in the 1930s and 1940s, Katz began his professional career in 1936 in New York City. Initially fighting in four-round bouts, he lost to Teddy Movan in May 1936 but defeated Bobby "Ice" Cream the following month. In 1937, Katz was already fighting as a light-heavyweight, defeating Paul Pirrone in August on a fifth-round technical knockout and knocking Ralph Chong out at 1:20 of the first-round in September. Two months later though, Herbie lost an eight-round decision to future world champion Gus Lesnevich.

In 1940, Katz faced another champion, former middleweight title-holder Solly Krieger and was knocked out in the fourth-round. Two years later, he was knocked out by future light-heavyweight champion Joey Maxim before being floored in the first-round by heavyweight contender "Two Ton" Tony Galento in 1943. Herbie retired soon after that, never having received a title shot, but fighting three world champions durgin his career.

Origin:
Brooklyn, New York



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References:
When Boxing Was A Jewish Sport, by Allan Bodner (Connecticut: Praeger, 1997)