Solly Krieger
| Solly Krieger | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Solly Krieger |
| Nickname(s) | Danny Auerback, Brooklyn Bomber |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm) |
| Nationality | American 
|
| Born |
March 28, 1909 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | September 24, 1964 (aged 55) Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 113 |
| Wins | 82 |
| Wins by KO | 54 |
| Losses | 25 |
| Draws | 6 |
Solly Krieger (March 28, 1909 – September 24, 1964) was an American middleweight boxer who fought from 1928–41.
Krieger was born on March 28, 1909 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. He attended Eastern District High School, and was active in baseball, football, basketball, and soccer, but preferred boxing to his other sports. His father, who was born in Poland and was initially a tailor, was religiously observant, and had strong opposition to his son Solly's youthful desire to pursue boxing as a career.
Krieger was a Golden Gloves champion in his amateur career. In 1928, turning professional, he was mentored by the legendary Hymie Caplan, who had also coached Syd Terris, Ruby Goldstein, and Al Singer.
Between 1928–31, he won eighteen four to six round bouts in clubs with an impressive nine by knockout. He lost only twice to Jose Rodriguez on August 15, 1929, and Joey LeGrey, on May 26, 1930.
Very early in his career he was known as a cautious boxer with strong defensive skills. After surgery for an injured left elbow, the result of a handball accident, he lost his ability to jab with his left hand, and found the need to develop more powerful blows. As a result, he became a more free wheeling heavy hitter with a very strong left hook. As he was relatively short armed but powerful for a middleweight, he preferred to box on the inside and from clinches where his reach was not a disadvantage.
In June 1931, after Mickey Walker relinquished the title, there was no universally recognized World Champion to fill his shoes.
On October 16, 1931, Krieger was knocked out for the first time in his career by future 1933 Middleweight Champion Vince Dundee in Madison Square Garden in eight of ten rounds.
In 1934, again having problems with his arm he fought only twice. The surgery he had to correct the problem removed calcium deposits, but left him with a left arm slightly shorter than his right. He adopted a style that allowed him to have his best years in 1935–36 winning with great frequency and utilizing his strength, counterpunching, and defensive skills. On October 22, 1936, he won an exciting twelve round thriller against Oscar Rankins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Describing how he could appear to be taking a beating in a fight like the one with Rankins, while actually avoiding or blocking most of the blows coming his way, he once said, "I started walking in on my opponents but I countered. People used to think I was taking a beating, but I could weave while standing still...I'd walk in and look like I was a punching bag half the time, but I'd never get hit. That operation (on left arm) was the turning point of my life." The Pittsburgh Press noted how Krieger appeared to be taking serious punishment in the Rankin fight, but came back stronger. It wrote "From a mile behind to a mile in front came Krieger after the Coast colored boy (Rankin) tired, principally from rocking right hands off Solly's chin and sinking both hands deep in his body. And when he came there was no stopping. Unmarked, despite being a perfect target in the early rounds..." Many newspapers considered the fight one of the greatest middleweight bouts of all time.
...
Wikipedia