Jeremiah Preisser

Editor-in-Chief, Writer, Co-Host, Publisher, Recruiter for thegruelingtruth.com/Member at Transnational Boxing Rankings Board/Member at International Boxing Research Organization

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Pancho Villa: Mussed Up and in Fighting Mood The Filipino legend poses before his Flyweight Championship battle with Jimmy Wilde. It may be the most significant passing of the torch moment in the division's history. #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxingjunky #boxinglegend #boxingislife #history #philippines #legend #boxing👊 #flyweight #champion #jeremiahpreisser #asia (at Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAG1ypal2Pd/?igshid=1aasea5pcjo66

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“In the case of this story, I am concerned with a species of very special men who put on gloves as children, telescope the years into a frenzied few moments, taste of a glory that is ephemeral and fleeting, and then spend the rest of their lives looking for an errant ghost in the wreckage of dreams and recollections.” - Rod Serling on "Requiem for a Heavyweight" #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxing👊 #boxingjunky #rodserling #requiemforaheavyweight #movie #jeremiahpreisser #cinema #writing https://www.instagram.com/p/B_8LN3bFjVB/?igshid=9zrztirxfjr6

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Two Cuban stablemates in Kid Chocolate and Black Bill enjoying some fried chicken from Chef George Lenhart before their bouts at Madison Square Garden in 1930. Chocolate, or Eligio Sardinias Montalvo, headlined the card, while Bill, Eladio Valdes, took on Midget Wolgast. #cuba #boxer #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxingjunky #boxinglegend #boxingislife #midgetwolgast #blackbill #kidchocolate #newyorkcity #newyork #madisonsquaregarden #eladiovaldes #jeremiahpreisser #boxing👊 #legend (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_3Kwh6FRyc/?igshid=1788izn3g4vgt

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Midget Wolgast sporting what appears to be a bandage on his right eye and some training gloves. The South Philadelphia was ranked the 4th greatest flyweight ever by Matt McGrain, and #8 by IBRO, Cliff Rold, and Fight City. #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxinglegend #boxingislife #midgetwolgast #flyweight #pennsylvania #philly #pugilism #philadelphia #pugilist #jeremiahpreisser #italian #boxer #boxing👊 #legend #alltime (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_lHsAslgHu/?igshid=mui9rcb10824

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Thomas Hearns was chosen as "Fighter of the Year" in 1980 over Salvador Sanchez by the BWAA and The Ring. Here is a comparison of who they beat: Thomas Hearns: Fighting Jim (10-3), Angel Espada (43-10-4)*, Santiago Valdez (14-4), Eddie Gazo (39-5-2), Pipino Cuevas (27-6)*, Luis Primera (15-0) Salvador Sanchez: Danny Lopez (42-3)***, Ruben Castillo (45-1)*, Danny Lopez (42-4)*, Pat Ford (16-0), Juan Laporte (15-1) * Indicates top-10 rated at the time ** Champion at the time (not titlist) - Luis Primera would rank in the top-10 the year after, but had no business being there. - Ford and Laporte would crack the top-10 the next year. #boxing #boxingfanatik #boxing👊 #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #history #mexico #thomashearns #salvadorsanchez #bwaa #ringmagazine #featherweight #welterweight https://www.instagram.com/p/B_YQEByFAD7/?igshid=1orjb8baolpg6

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Midget Meets Kelly In preparation for his first state title crack against Billy Kelly at Scranton, Pennsylvania's Town Hall, Midget Wolgast poses for a picture. #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxingjunky #boxinglegend #boxingislife #midgetwolgast #flyweight #pennsylvania #philly #pugilism #philadelphia #pugilist #scranton #jeremiahpreisser #italian #billykelly (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_V1avXF5h0/?igshid=v3af5gi803eb

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Idleness Is the Worst Foeman of the Ring Gladiator Writer Ed Hughes from "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle" sketches a picture detailing those who have apparently fallen into the trap of inactivity, with a special emphasis on former heavyweight king Jack Dempsey, who was rumored to be eyeing a bout with Paulino Uzcudun on July 9th, 1927, in Yankee Stadium. Dempsey ended up fighting Jack Sharkey, future Heavyweight Champion and then #3 in the world (I believe), at the same venue, in the same month, but on the 21st. #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxingjunky #boxinglegend #colorado #boxing👊 #boxingislife #jackdempsey #heavyweight #champion #manassa #jeremiahpreisser #newyorkcity #newyork #yankeestadium (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_TF7yIlWNe/?igshid=4imqp0jlckbg

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Why do people keep pushing this nonsense? No one should want the IBO as major player in boxing (nor the WBA, WBC, or WBA, for that matter). Handing out 17 more "world titles" in a sport that already has roughly 68 is madness. It only exacerbates the mass confusion we already have and dilutes the term "world champion" even more. I don't want to hear about their alleged track record or computerized rankings, either. The sport should strive to be better than all of these organizations. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_I4ZXUloku/?igshid=1rv3dmi1vmtqr

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People often wonder at the participation rate of pugilists in eras past. This article from the Shamokin News-Dispatch in early January of 1928 paints a picture of what one year was like in Pennsylvania. There were an estimated 2,000 professional prizefighters, 1,500 seconds, and 300 managers. The state had put on 390 shows with 1,905 contests in all, with roughly 500,000 fans attending. Included is 150 judges, 58 announcers, 50 referees, 40 inspectors, and 58 different boxing clubs. Also added in was a selection of the best fighters in every division from the state in no particular order. All three flyweights--Billy Kelly, Midget Wolgast, and Willie Davies--were viewed as viable world championship material and all would break into the top-10. Please go to my Facebook page for full viewing of the article. #philly #philadelphia #pennsylvania #boxingfanatik #boxer #boxinglegend #boxer #boxing👊 #boxing #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #pugilism #pugilist #jeremiahpreisser #midgetwolgast #sports #sport #fighter #italian #history #historical #fight (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GWo7xFJqA/?igshid=1wd55vzl11sns

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Izzy Schwartz, the Flyweight Champion? During the post-LaBarba days there was a lot of confusion about who "the man" was at 112. Different states/organizations/publications couldn't seem to make a uniform decision and attempts at reconciling them never seemed to bare the fruit they desired. Izzy was embraced by the NYSAC and The Ring temporarily, while Frenchy Belanger had the NBA's endorsement, and Johnny McCoy was backed by California for a time. Newspapermen had no problem highlighting the absurdity of it, however, as you can see in this sketch. Wolgast was willing to battle whoever and ended up competing in a tournament to add clarity to the ordeal later on. #boxingfanatik #boxer #boxing #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #history #historical #midgetwolgast #legend #jeremiahpreisser #newyork #california #canada #izzyschwartz #flyweight #champion #newspaper https://www.instagram.com/p/B_DpDPdljSO/?igshid=1icrpe0vig4yd

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Midget "Will O' the Wisp" Wolgast In an October bout in 1927, Wolgast took on Young Chappie of Kensington, Philadelphia. Scrappy Chappie came out popping but was met with a stream of suppressive fire from Wolgast's ever-working left. The Kensington boy kept wailing away, however, shooting many "viperish wallops" in Wolgast's direction but the Midget-man was too slippery, 'hopping and bounding' his way out of danger. Wolgast moved on to "Wee" WIllie Davies nearly a month later in what may have been their first real meeting. #midgetwolgast #boxingfanatik #boxer #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxing #pugilism #pugilist #philly #philadelphia #pennsylvania #southphilly #history #boxinghistory #legend #flyweight #jeremiahpreisser #usa #america #unitedstates #youngchappie (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BdIc0lb4n/?igshid=1unkok2kei11s

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TGT Fight of the Day: Victor Galindez vs. Richie Kates 2 - The Grueling Truth

Galindez rematches Kates in Italy.

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"Sixty-one leading newspaper boxing experts in the nation's leading boxing centers contributed to the 1927 census" Taken in December of that year, Midget Wolgast was rated #6 at 112 by the experts a little two years after turning pro. By that time he already held victories over #3 and #4 and would eventually fight everyone on the 1927 side, minus Frenchy Belanger. Not bad for a 17-year-old. #boxing #boxing👊 #boxingfanatik #boxinghistory #history #historical #midgetwolgast #flyweight #philly #philadelphia #pugilism #Pennsylvania #pennsylvania #southphilly #pugilist #jeremiahpreisser #legend #sports #sport (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8O-2blTbG/?igshid=1cxx0970tz9yh

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Charley Retzlaff, "The Duluth Dynamiter" Retzlaff was from Leonard, North Dakota but made his home in Duluth, Minnesota. He was apparently a good hitter at 61-8-3, 54 KOs, who broke rank at heavyweight in 1935-36, placing as high as #4. He had some notable wins against Jim Braddock, Johnny Risko (2x), Al Ettore, Ford Smith, Art Lasky, and a few others. #duluth #duluthmn #minnesota #boxing #boxing👊 #boxingfanatik #boxinghistory #boxer #boxingjunky #jeremiahpreisser #boxingislife #history #historical #heavyweight #charleyretzlaff (at Duluth, Minnesota) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-5Z8FPFDzg/?igshid=1wg58nc7pult5

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Midget Wolgast: The Pussy's Lipstick Even when Midget was a 15 year-old, 14-fight novice, observers were astonished by his speed and couldn't help but tell the Philadelphia Inquirer about it when they went to cover his bout with local boy Billy Squires. Writer Gordon Mackay was bombarded with compliments to the point he insinuated that South Philadelphia must have "assembled its Midget Wolgast Marching Club, and had decided to descend on us, one by one." Over and over, independent or not, the reports were the same, "that for sheer speed, quickness of hand and deftness of foot, this wee kid was the pussy's lipstick." Wolgast ended up dominating Squires, throwing "punches of every description." #boxer #boxingfanatik #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxing #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #midgetwolgast #philly #philadelphia #Pennsylvania #southphilly #midgetwolgast #jeremiahpreisser #history #historical #flyweight #legend #champion (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-23kApFgiQ/?igshid=1i8dzdir7nes9

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Another formerly ranked fighter Midget Wolgast fought was Ernie Peters, a Chippewa Indian from Chicago, Illinois. Peters was described as "a hustling, aggressive, and fast-punching scrapper" by Minneapolis' "Star Tribune". He fought some rousing battles with a few notables, like Newsboy Brown and Speedy Dado. In his first bout with Wolgast, Peters was competitive, though he was out-sped and dropped 6 of the contest's 10 rounds, with the other 4 being even. In the rematch, a large crowd saw a one-sided mismatch. Peters apparently had a "world of speed," but was toyed with from start to finish. It was said that at times the New York State Champ Wolgast made "the Chicago boy look very ridiculous indeed." During the course of the bout, Wolgast managed to side-step one of Peters' rushes so quickly that Ernie fell through the ropes and out of the ring. #boxer #boxingfanatik #boxing #boxing👊 #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #history #jeremiahpreisser #chicago #illinois #erniepeters #chippewa #historical #pugilist #pugilism (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-xsKk2l__K/?igshid=171pqio7myhf5

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Midget Wolgast's second attempt at the Pennsylvania State Flyweight Title was successful, as he outboxed "Wee" Willie Davies for the third time in what would become a legendary series. The bout started out summarized by their abnormal swiftness and defensive polish, but Wolgast, as with anyone he fought in those days, was the swifter. Davies made the mistake of leading continuously and eating counter right hands for his trouble. Near the end of the 2nd Davies twisted his ankle, which swelled up almost immediately. In the 3rd and 4th, with Davies deprived of most of his mobility, Wolgast unleashed a "blizzard of leather", showing "more downright speed than we have ever seen any other boxer crowd into ten rounds." Midget was so fast "the eye could scarcely follow." Davies continued to last, however, gamely trying to close the distance and stoically powering through his injury. At one point in the 7th Willie's ankle gave out, sending him to both knees for respite. Wolgast, in the act of a "gentleman sportsman," reached down and lifted Davies to his feet. Wolgast won the bout and the belt. Both won over more fans. #boxing #thegruelingtruth #boxer #jeremiahpreisser #pugilism #pugilist #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #philly #philadelphia #midgetwolgast #Pennsylvania #boxing👊 #boxingfanatik #williedavies #flyweight (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-slyvJFNfH/?igshid=dyjo45f8b0f2