|
Anticipating world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik's upcoming boxing bout, there has to be more than just talk of Kelly Pavlik.
Like most boxing fans, I like going back to the past and bringing up names that I am sure many people have forgotten, and I am going to ink some facts about-One Elkin's Brothers.
Elkins Brothers
Elkins Brothers was a native of New Castle and was one of the hardest hitting heavyweights in this area and in the fight game in the 40's and 50's.
Born on July 27, 1925, Brothers was an excellent amateur before turning to the professional ranks. His amateur record can't be confirmed by yours truly, but his professional record which was 37 bouts, winning 26 (17 by KO), lost 10 and was held to one draw. It was also said, Brothers at one time was a sparring partner for the great heavyweight champion Joe Louis.
At approximately 5'11" and average weight 195 lbs. Brothers won 17 of his first 20 pro bouts, two losses and one draw. During that span, on of his most notable wins was over high ranking Freddie Schott, who hailed form Akron. Schott was 41-6-1 at the time. Another win came over AAU champion Willie Champion and a draw over national ranked Pat Comisky 66-10-1 and a win over Roy Taylor 30-6-2.
Brothers continued to fight top caliber opponents such as Arturo Godoy, a fight Brothers lost on points, and Godoy, remember fought Joe Louis twice. Godoy held a 79-20-9 record at the time. Following the Godoy fight, Brothers followed with a win over the Alabama Kid who was 166-54-17, bested highly touted Bill Weinberg 42-19-4. He then met one of the top contenders in the heavyweight division Abel Cestac 35-7-1 and lost. Brothers then venture overseas fighting in Germany and fared well. One of his opponents was Jean Kreitz 61-9-3 in which Brothers knocked him out in the second round. Brothers bested several other fighters on hi tour in Germany.
First Pro Bout
Starting with his first pro bout on Sept. 22, 1947, Brothers beat Eddie Roberts. However, Brothers last seven fights in his career, were against seven of the best in the fight game. All though opponents for any fighter. On Nov. 24, 1950, Brothers beat highly touted Amelio Agremonte 34-8-0 on points and in following order Brothers was TKO'd by hard hitting Bob Satterfield 26-20-2, lost to highly touted Bob Baker 19-0-0, then followed with a big win over Coley Wallace who was 11-0-0 at the time. Those of us who remember, Wallace bested Rocky Marciano as an amateur...He then faced the excellent Harold Johnson and lost, Johnson was 31-2-0 at the time and another loss to Aaron Wilson 18-4-0, and Brothers ended his career with a loss to upcoming Bert Whitehurst.
Belongs with the Area Best
There isn't any question that Elkins Brothers belongs with the best from this area and a great credit to the heavyweight division. His amateur career consisted of tough fights with Youngstown's Ricky Ronci, another area top light heavyweight.
|
|
