Pete Rademacher
Pete Rademacher | ||||||||||||
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![]() Rademacher in 1961 | ||||||||||||
Born | Thomas Peter Rademacher November 20, 1928 Tieton, Washington, U.S.[2] | |||||||||||
Died | June 4, 2020 Sandusky, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 91)|||||||||||
Nationality | American | |||||||||||
Statistics | ||||||||||||
Weight(s) | Heavyweight | |||||||||||
Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1] | |||||||||||
Reach | 196 cm (77 in)[1] | |||||||||||
Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||
Boxing record | ||||||||||||
Total fights | 23 | |||||||||||
Wins | 15 | |||||||||||
Wins by KO | 8 | |||||||||||
Losses | 7 | |||||||||||
Draws | 1 | |||||||||||
Medal record
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Thomas Peter Rademacher (November 20, 1928 – June 4, 2020) was an American heavyweight boxer.[3] As an amateur, he was a gold medalist at the 1956 Olympics.[4] Rademacher became the only person to challenge for the world heavyweight championship in his first professional bout when he faced Floyd Patterson in Seattle on August 22, 1957.[5][6] He compiled a 15-7-1 record over 23 professional bouts.
A former college football player at Washington State,[4][5] Rademacher took up boxing as a form of rehabilitation during his recovery from rheumatic fever, which he contracted in military school.[7]
Amateur career
[edit]In his amateur career, Rademacher won 72 bouts and lost 7. He won a series of tournaments, including the 1949 and 1951–1953 Seattle Golden Gloves (he lost in 1950 to Zora Folley, who was his frequent opponent throughout his boxing career), and the US Amateur Championship as a heavyweight in 1953—avenging his earlier loss to Folley.
He captured the Chicago Golden Gloves, the All-Army championship, and the Service championship in 1956, before qualifying for the Olympic team. At the Olympics, he captured a gold medal in the heavyweight division and served as the U.S. flag bearer at the closing ceremony.[2]
1956 Olympic results
[edit]- Round of 16: bye
- Quarterfinal: Defeated Josef Němec (Czechoslovakia) KO 2
- Semifinal: Defeated Daan Bekker (South Africa) KO 3
- Final: Defeated Lev Mukhin (Soviet Union) KO 1 (won gold medal)
Rademacher also attended college, playing offensive line on the football team for Washington State.
Professional career
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Pete_Rademacher_and_Zora_Folley_1958.jpg/220px-Pete_Rademacher_and_Zora_Folley_1958.jpg)
After winning the gold medal, Rademacher started saying that he would be able to become world heavyweight champion in his first professional fight. He made his belief public and was able to lure world Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson into defending his crown against him in his professional debut. It is the only time to date that a fighter making his professional debut has challenged for the world heavyweight title.
The bout, at Sick's Stadium in Seattle, was refereed by former light-heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, who himself had contended for the heavy crown once, vs. Primo Carnera, in 1934. Rademacher dropped Patterson in round two, but Patterson recovered and knocked Rademacher down seven times, defeating him by a knockout in round six.[1][2][6] Legendary boxing promoter Jack Hurley promoted the match.
Rademacher fought Zora Folley, Brian London, George Chuvalo, Buddy Turman, and the former world light heavyweight champion, Archie Moore. He lost to Moore, Folley and London but beat Chuvalo, LaMar Clark, and Turman, among others. His last bout was with former world middleweight champion Carl "Bobo" Olson, whom he beat by decision.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Rademacher had Finnish ancestry; his maternal grandparents were immigrants from Finland.[8] He was married to Margaret and had a daughter Susan (born c. 1954–1955).[9] In addition to boxing, he was a salesman and inventor. He was president of the company Kiefer-McNeil which was founded by fellow Olympian, Adolph Kiefer.[2] Rademacher died in Sandusky, Ohio on June 4, 2020, at the age of 91.[10][11] His brain was donated for medical research.[10]
Professional boxing record
[edit]23 fights | 15 wins | 7 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 8 | 6 |
By decision | 7 | 1 |
Draws | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Win | 15–7–1 | ![]() | UD | 10 | Apr 3, 1962 | ![]() | |
22 | Loss | 14–7–1 | ![]() | PTS | 10 | Jan 20, 1962 | ![]() | |
21 | Win | 14–6–1 | ![]() | TKO | 9 (10) | Nov 30, 1961 | ![]() | |
20 | Loss | 13–6–1 | ![]() | TKO | 6 (10), 2:10 | Oct 23, 1961 | ![]() | |
19 | Loss | 13–5–1 | ![]() | KO | 2 (10), 2:40 | Aug 17, 1961 | ![]() | |
18 | Loss | 13–4–1 | ![]() | KO | 5 (10), 0:54 | Apr 29, 1961 | ![]() | |
17 | Win | 13–3–1 | ![]() | KO | 1 (10), 2:17 | Apr 14, 1961 | ![]() | |
16 | Win | 12–3–1 | ![]() | KO | 1 (10), 2:47 | Feb 22, 1961 | ![]() | |
15 | Win | 11–3–1 | ![]() | UD | 10 | Jan 23, 1961 | ![]() | |
14 | Win | 10–3–1 | ![]() | UD | 10 | Dec 13, 1960 | ![]() | |
13 | Win | 9–3–1 | ![]() | SD | 10 | Dec 8, 1960 | ![]() | |
12 | Win | 8–3–1 | ![]() | UD | 10 | Jul 19, 1960 | ![]() | |
11 | Win | 7–3–1 | ![]() | TKO | 10 (10), 2:27 | Jun 29, 1960 | ![]() | |
10 | Loss | 6–3–1 | ![]() | KO | 7 (10), 0:15 | Apr 26, 1960 | ![]() | |
9 | Draw | 6–2–1 | ![]() | PTS | 10 | Apr 8, 1960 | ![]() | |
8 | Win | 6–2 | ![]() | KO | 7 (10) | Feb 6, 1960 | ![]() | |
7 | Win | 5–2 | ![]() | PTS | 8 | Dec 9, 1959 | ![]() | |
6 | Win | 4–2 | ![]() | KO | 1 (10), 2:52 | Nov 12, 1959 | ![]() | |
5 | Win | 3–2 | ![]() | UD | 10 | Sep 29, 1959 | ![]() | |
4 | Win | 2–2 | ![]() | TKO | 3 (10) | Sep 17, 1959 | ![]() | |
3 | Win | 1–2 | ![]() | RTD | 5 (10) | Aug 23, 1959 | ![]() | |
2 | Loss | 0–2 | ![]() | KO | 4 (10), 1:15 | Jul 25, 1958 | ![]() | |
1 | Loss | 0–1 | ![]() | KO | 6 (15), 2:57 | Aug 22, 1957 | ![]() | For NYSAC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Pete Rademacher. Boxrec.
- ^ a b c d Pete Rademacher. sports-reference.com
- ^ "Pete Rademacher, 1956 Olympic boxing champion, dies at 91". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "Former WSC boxer takes Olympic title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 2, 1956. p. 13.
- ^ a b Boni, Bill (August 22, 1957). "Patterson gains four pounds; Pete eager for longer fight". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 18.
- ^ a b Boni, Bill (August 23, 1957). "Patterson pounds Pete; all over in 6th round". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1.
- ^ Borrone, Bert (July 31, 1957). "Suspicion Grows That Marciano Is Using Role As Coach Of Rademacher As Stepping Stone To Comeback Try". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. p. 13.
- ^ "Rademacher, Thomas Peter (b. 1928)". www.historylink.org. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- ^ File:Wife and daughter of Pete Rademacher 1957.jpg
- ^ a b "Pete Rademacher". Kenosha News. Kenosha, WI. June 6, 2020. p. C2. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Goul, Matt (June 6, 2020) Olympic boxing champion Pete Rademacher, 91, dies. cleveland.com
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Pete Rademacher at BoxRec (registration required)
- Pete Rademacher at Olympics.com
- Pete Rademacher at Olympedia
- Alternate record site