Franklin, Walter

The son of a rabbi from Yemen -- and a Yeshiva student himself, before he decided to become a professional pugilist -- Franklin was a middleweight during the 1930s.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
Although he had great potential, Franklin's career ended almost as quickly as it began. After winning many of his first decisions -- including a particularly notable victory against former middleweight champion Babe Risko -- Franklin fought at Madison Square Garden. For two years, the handsome, well-built middleweight with the powerful punch and an iron jaw was a rising star and considered a contender. But then, after winning his first Garden bout with a first-round knockout, he fought a tough fighter named Cal Cagni. Cagni hit him with a terrible blow in the first round; Franklin fought the rest of the contest courageously, but lost the hard-fought contest. After that fight, Walter was never the same again; he was easier to hit, his own punches had less impact, and his once impervious frame now crumpled under blows he would previously have laughed off. From that point on, he lost most of his fights, and no longer resembled the handsome contender he had once been. Franklin had become the classic case of a fighter aging dramatically in a single fight.

Later in his career, Walter faced light-heavyweight Harry Balsamo twice. In 1939, Franklin, outweighed by 5 pounds, lost the first fight on an eight-round decision. Their rematch, in 1940, was a draw.

Origin:
New York City

< Previous |  Next >