Tobias, Phil

Philip Tobias

Tobias was a highly-ranked flyweight in the 1920s and early 1930s. Although he never received a title shot, Tobias fought some of the best black boxers of his era, including Black Bill and Ruby Bradley (two of the few black fighters to get a title shot during this period).

Birth and Death Dates:
b. February 4, 1906 - d. May 1981

Career Highlights:
A Brooklyn fighter, Tobias began his professional career in 1925 as a flyweight and defeated Benny Brostoff that year in his first pro fight. He had a successful year in 1926, fighting exclusively in New York and New Jersey, and winning the majority of his fights. Even at that early stage of his career, Tobias was fighting bantamweights, and even featherweights. He defeated Brostoff (a featherweight) a second time in 1927 in a 10-round decision, and fought bantamweight Joey Eulo three times in 1926 and 1927 (all three bouts ended in no decisions); Eulo defeated Tobias in their rematch the following year. In 1927, Tobias also had his first fight with flyweight contender Black Bill of Cuba, losing a 10-round decision in New York City.

In 1928, Tobias continued to fight the top boxers in the flyweight division as he moved up the ranks. He defeated lesser opponent such as Joe Jacoy, Jose Allano, and Harry Goldstein, but lost to Joey Eulo in a six-round decision. Tobias also fought future flyweight champion Midget Wolgast three times, with Tobias winning once and losing twice. Despite compiling a good record, he could not seem to consistently defeat the top fighters in the lower weight classes. In 1929, he fought Wolgast three more times, resulting in one draw and two Tobias losses. He remained a contender for the flyweight crown though, with a win over former California world champion Johnny McCoy in February 1929 (an eight-round decision).

Ranked in the top ten of the flyweight division, Tobias never became a No. 1 contender and never received a title shot during his career. With losses in 1929 to bantamweight contender Pete Sanstol (10-round decision) and Black Bill (10-round decision), Tobias was not considered a potential draw for a title fight. He fought only four times in 1930, including a victory over top contender Ruby Bradley, and after losing his first four fights in 1931, Tobias soon left the country to fight elsewhere.

In the summer of 1931, Tobias traveled to Venezuela for a series of bouts, and won three of four; the only loss was to future world bantamweight champion Sixto Escobar (the first Puerto Rican to win a world title). Tobias remained in Venezuela for the remainder of the year and then fought in Mexico and Panama in 1932. He fought twice in Mexico (both losses) and four times in Panama City (two wins, two losses) before retiring in July 1932. In March 1933, despite not having fought since the previous summer, Tobias was still ranked the No. 9 flyweight contender by Ring magazine. The following month, he was finally dropped from the rankings.

Origin:
New York City

Physical description:
5'2", 112-115 pounds

Career Statistics:
Professional record: (incomplete)
Wins: 34 ( 6 by knockout)
Losses: 21
Draws: 9

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