Benny Bass, known as "Little Fish," (born December 15, 1904, in Kiev, Ukraine; immigrated to the United States in 1906; died June 25, 1975, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American boxer. Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight,
He was world featherweight champion, and world junior lightweight champion.
Boxing career
Regarding Bass, Jack Dempsey was quoted as saying: "He is the greatest fighter of his weight and inches I have ever set my eyes upon. Jack "Manassa Mauler" Dempsey ( June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983) was an American boxer who held the world "[1] At a diminutive 5' 2", Benny possessed a bull neck and extraordinary musculature around his shoulders & biceps. He was a powerful force & rarely fought at over 130 pounds. Bass was one of the hardest punchers ever in the featherweight and junior lightweight divisions. Contemporary Ring Magazine writer, Francis Albertani, described Benny as "A deadly puncher, cool as the proverbial pebble under fire and a masterful boxer. "
By the age of 15, Benny began his amateur career, winning 95 out of an estimated 100 bouts. He earned a shot at representing the U. S. in the Olympics, but lost a heated decision to future world flyweight champion Frankie Genaro in the box-offs. Frank "Frankie" Genaro (née DiGennaro August 26, 1901 &ndash December 27, 1966) was a former Olympic gold medalist Genaro went on to win the gold medal at flyweight in the 1920 Olympics. The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1920
In 1920, at age 16, Bass won the U. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar S. Middle States Flyweight Championship.
Benny turned pro in 1921 under the tutelage of Phil Glassman, who also handled the quintessential Philadelphia fighter, the great Lew Tendler. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar (Lefty Lew Tendler (born September 28 1898 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania; died November 15 1970 in Atlantic City New Jersey) was an American
Over the next three years Benny socked his way to an outstanding record of 53-4 with 1 NC, 2-Draws & 13 ND. Then, the great featherweight champion, Lewis "Kid" Kaplan, resigned the featherweight title due to weight problems leaving a small group of contenders to vie for the vacant crown.
The N. B. A. matched Benny with a leading contender, Morris Kaplan, whose nom de guerre was Red Chapman. Chapman was a mauling bruising in-fighter who had previously lost to Bass (WF-1). Benny and Chapman squared off for the vacant N. B. A. featherweight title on September 19, 1927, in Philadelphia. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Upon winning a well-deserved decision Benny Bass became the featherweight champion of the world. Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of Boxing and Wrestling (Greco-Roman
On February 10th, 1928, he faced Tony Canzoneri in New York City for the undisputed world title. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Tony Canzoneri ( November 6 1908 &mdash December 9, 1959) was an American boxer who was born in the town of Slidell Even though he lost a 15-round decision along with his title, Bass covered himself with fistic glory in a display of courage & stamina. During the third round of the encounter Bass somehow got his collarbone broken in five places. This kind of injury is excruciatingly painful making even something as simple as clenching your fists & holding them up agonizing. He somehow not only mustered the will too fight on for another 12 rounds; but from the 10th round on, he mounted a furious rally & almost pulled out of an extremely close 15 round split decision loss.
He then successfully challenged Todd Morgan for the junior lightweight title in 1929. Super Featherweight (also known as Junior Lightweight) is a weight division in professional Boxing. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Following a successful title defense, he lost the crown to Kid Chocolate on July 15, 1931. Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo ( January 6, 1910 &ndash August 8, 1988) better known as Kid Chocolate, was a Cuban Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
He retired after two consecutive 10 round losses in 1940.
During a career that lasted until 1940, Bass registered over 200 fights, and wins over such notables as Red Cochrane, Joe Glick, Harry Forbes, Bud Taylor, and Johnny Jadick. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Red Cochrane may refer to Freddie 'Red' Cochrane, boxer Kenneth Cochrane, college football coach
After all the years of blood and effort Benny was dead broke. As Benny put it: "Everybody who needed money got it from me. "Cyber Boxing Zone bio
Benny was no dummy, however, and even though he lacked much formal scholastic training he had a sharp mind, as evinced by his fluency in five languages. Applying himself with the same resolve he had displayed in the ring, Benny passed a Civil Service exam and worked a desk job for the Philadelphia traffic courts for many years.
Hall of Fame
Bass was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. [2]
Bass, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) [3]
He is enshrined in the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall Of Fame.
Links
- IBHOF bio
- Cyber Boxing Zone bio
- Jewish Sports bio
- Jews in Sports bio
- World Boxing Forums bio
- Professional boxing record for Benny Bass from Boxrec
- Boxing Records stats
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