Name: Gus Lesnevich Career Record: ?Human Id=010346&Cat=Boxer

Name: Gus Lesnevich Career Record: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php ?human_id=010346&cat=boxer Nationality: US American Birthplace: Cliffside Park, NJ, USA Hometown: Cliffside Park, New Jersey, USA Born: 1915-02-22 Died: 1964-02-28 Age at Death: 49 Stance: Orthodox Height: 5′ 9″ Gustav (Gus) George Lesnevich (February 22, 1915 - February 28, 1964) was an American boxer. Lesnevich was born and raised in Cliffside Park, NJ. Lesnevich turned pro in 1934 and in 1940 took on National Boxing Association World Light Heavyweight Title holder Billy Conn, but lost a decision. In 1941 he took on Anton Christoforidis, winning the title by decision. Later that year he defended the title twice against Tami Mauriello, winning both decisions. In 1948 he lost a decision to Freddie Mills along with his title recognition. In 1949 he took on Ezzard Charles, but was TKO'd in the 7th, and retired after the bout. In addition to his various accolades, Lesnevich was named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1947.Lesnevich served in the United States Coast Guard from 1943 to 1945. The Clearfield Progress PA 15 November 1939 Comrade Lesnevich Has Punchers Chance Against Billy Conn NEW YORK ,Nov, 14— Who is this Gus Lesnevich who fights William Conn at the Garden, Nov. 17, and What chance has he, if any? Billy Conn; much the taller, should successfully defend his World light- heavyweight. leadership by outspearing Gustav George Lesnevich in 15 rounds. Comrade Lesnevich is, however, the hardest hitter the handsome Pittsburgh kid has tackled. The Russian is a two-fisted swatter . has flattened opponents with both fists. It was only last June in Nutley, in his native New Jersey, that Comrade Lesnevich put a lily in the hand of skinny Dave Clark,, whom Joe Louis and his handlers were booming as the 175- pound foreman. Get-Up-and- Go Gus starched Clark in Round One with a right to the whiskers. Louis worked in Clark's corner. Smoky Joe's only remark was: "Boy, that Lesnevich looked like me in the second Schmelling fight!". Comrade 'Lesnevich pitched a left to halt Young Stuhley on the coast. Comrade Lesnevich has a pip of a straight right to the body, a punch which few warriors throw effectively. Because of Conn's defensive style, in which the Irishman keeps his left very high to protect what Will Gibson used to call the old potato, Comrade Lesnevich figures to have ample opportunity to land this blow, which is parked under the heart. CLEVER CONN CANT AFFORD TO LET DOWN Comrade Lesnevich long has been the No. 1 man of the National Boxing Association and, is. accepted by the New York Commission and most other fistic bodies as the leading contender. Conn will have to be as good as he ever was . a little, bit better than he was in his second scrap with Melio Bettina . to top Comrade Lesnevich. In addition to the authority in his Dukes, Comrade Lesnevich is strong, fast -and thoroughly courageous he can travel 15 rounds at full speed ...has a roomful of stamina. Comrade Lesnevich, once worked in a sugar refinery and later in a cooper shop, hammering iron hoops on barrel staves. He also toiled in an ice plant, stacking and loading cakes of the stuff. ' , He played end and halfback with a semi-professional football team, was a third baseman and a catcher in baseball, competed as a swimmer in amateur meets and at one time served as a triple- threat in his mother's restaurant; He was chef, waiter and bouncer. FIRST GLOVES CAME WITH SOAP COUPONS Comrade Lesnevich was born at Cliff side Park, N. J., just a few steps from Joe Schenck's Palisades Park, across the Hudson from New York, which is where his mother ran the restaurant. The date of his birth is Feb. 22, 1915. He attended grade school at Cliff side Park and for a while attended Cliffside Park High School. Get-Up-and-Go Gus started boxing in back of his mothers restaurant with gloves obtained by his brother, Walter, ( with several thousand soap coupons. ) Comrade Lesnevich had his first amateur fight in 1932 when he was 17 and weighed 153. A fractured wrist suffered when he slipped off a trapeze in the high school gymnasium forced him to abandon his simon-pure .swatting .proclivities for.a spell, but he returned to wind up his- amateur career by winning in a New York Golden Gloves inter-city tournament. He has fought professionally in Florida, California and Australia. He has just one bad habit. He is a motorcycle speed demon. His manager, Joe Vella, took the machine away from Comrade Lesnevich after the battler crashed into a trolley. The trolley crashed into him, says Comrade Lesnevich. But. Comrade Lesnevich -tells the Cockeyed world that he'll crash into Billy Conn; on Nov.17. .

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