Palefsky, Irving

A tough middleweight in the 1940s and 1950s, Palefsky was described as 'well proportioned. He has a strong neck set on broad shoulders...agressive, hard-socking...highly appreciated by the followers of fistiana.'

Birth and Death Dates:
b. November 5, 1926

Career Highlights:
Born in Ellinville, New York, Palefsky and his family moved to the Bronx when he was five years old. He attended Theodore Roosevelt High School for a brief time before quitting in order to become a professional boxer. Considered a natural fighter rather than a molded boxer by his trainer and others, Palefsky won 12 of his 14 amateur bouts before turning professional. In February 1944 - at the age of 17 - he fought his first pro fight and knocked out Jimmy Green in the second round of their bout at Laurel Gardens in Newark. He fought seven more time that year, winning six of the bouts. (The New York Times called him 'Murray' Palefsky in his December 19 bout against Jerry McGee)

In 1945, Palesfky won his first eight fights of the year before losing to Lou Valles in a six-round decision at Madison Square Garden (Palesky's first appearance at the Garden). The two boxers had a rematch on March 1, 1946 and Valles again won a decision from Palefsky. However, Palefsky was gaining a reputation as a good fighter and his April 1946 bout with Leo Romanello at the Park Arena in the Bronx was prefaced in the New York Times with the paper exclaiming that Palefsky 'is expected to have little trouble with his foe.' Palefsky knocked out Romanello in the fourth round.

In Palefsky's next fight, against Vic Costa, again at the Park Arena, Irving knocked out his opponent in the second round and the New York Times described the victory of his 39th win in 41 bouts, including 17 knockouts. By early in 1947, Palefsky was fighting two or three times a month, but by the end of the year, his boxing career had slowed down considerably. He had only three recorded fights between 1948-1950, and then fought Pete Arebalo twice in 1952 before retiring (it is unclear as to why he stopped fighting regularly).

Origin:
Ellinville, New York

Physical description:
145-150 pounds

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