Frush, Danny

Frush, who fought as a featherweight from 1917-1926, was the classic contender -- a fighter who was good enough to beat all but the very best. Although he was never quite able to win a title, Danny fought twice for the championship crown. After losing to champ Johnny Kilbane for the undisputed crown in 1921, he fought Hall of Famer Johnny Dundee in August 1922 for the New York version of the world title. The State Commission stripped Kilbane of his title because he refused to fight Dundee in a required defense. The division split as the NBA continued to recognize Kilbane (although he lost to Eugene Criqui in July) while New York set up Dundee and Frush in the title fight (the division would not be unified until 1926). In front of 18,000 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, Dundee (the junior-lightweight champion -- that title was not on the line) controlled the fight. Frush, although he was overwhelmed, had been knocked down only once and seemed poised to go the distnace. Suddenly, Dundee knocked out Frush only 50 seconds into the ninth round. The New York Times wrote that, "seldom has such a ring surprise been witnessed in local boxing...no one in the great gathering...anticipated a knockout victory for Dundee." Frush fought another four years but never received another title shot.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. February 20, 1897 - March 1961

Career Highlights:
Called a "Cleveland featherweight" by the New York Times, Frush began his professional career in 1917 and was already facing top competition the following year. He faced future junior-lightweight champ Jack "Kid" Wolfe in March, but lost a 10-round decision. Frush quickly rose up through the featherweight ranks and received a title shot in 1921. On September 17, Frush was knocked out by world featherweight champion Johnny Kilbane in the seventh-round (Kilbane had been champ since he took the crown from Jewish Hall of Famer Abe Attell in 1912).

The following August, Frush had another shot at the title when he took on Hall of Famer Johnny Dundee, but Danny was knocked out in the ninth round. Frush faced another great fighter in Louis "Kid" Kaplan in May 1923. Kaplan, who won the world featherweight title in 1925, knocked Frush out in the sixth round of their bout. The following year, Danny moved up in weight and travelled to Paris to fight Fred Bretonnel for the European lightweight title; Frush lost on a eighth-round TKO. Danny continued to fight until 1926, when he retired with a record of 60 wins against only 10 losses.

Origin:
unknown

Physical description:
125 pounds

Career Statistics:
Professional record:
Wins: 60 (24 by knockout)
Losses: 10
Draws: 1
No decisions: 17

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