Johnny Buff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Johnny Buff | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | John Lesky |
| Nickname(s) | Johnny Buff |
| Rated at | Bantamweight |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Birth date | 12 June 1888 |
| Birth place | Perth Amboy, New Jersey USA |
| Death date | 14 January 1955 |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 88 |
| Wins | 35 |
| Wins by KO | 7 |
| Losses | 17 |
| Draws | 5 |
| No contests | 0 |
Johnny Buff (born 1888-06-12, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey; died January 14, 1955 in East Orange, New Jersey) was an American boxer. He was World Bantamweight Champion from 1921 to 1922.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Boxing career
In 1921, Buff won both the Bantamweight Championship of the World and the Flyweight Championship of the World. He became the flyweight champion by defeating Frankie Mason in New Orleans on February 11, 1921. Seven months later, on September 23, 1921, he won the bantamweight title by defeating Pete Herman in Madison Square Garden. He lost both titles in 1922.[1]
He held wins over Tommy Gorman, Willie LaMorte, Midget Smith, Eddie O'Dowd, Frankie Dailey, Abe Goldstein, "Young" Zulu Kid, Charles LeDoux, "Little" Jack Sharkey and Benny Schwartz during his career.
[edit] Outside the ring
Lesky enlisted into the United States Navy prior to World War I. When the war arrived, he waived the family exemption, and joined the Navy for a second time. After his professional boxing career, he enlisted for a third time in the Navy, becoming a gunner's mate on the USS Wyoming by 1928.
In the military he was known as "Gunner's Mate Spike Lisky.", serving aboard the USS California. It was said at the time that he was the only United States Navy sailor to have become a world champion. [2].
[edit] Personal
Lesky is the grandfather of modern-day boxing announcers Michael Buffer and Bruce Buffer. He married Elizabeth Lisky with whom he had three children: Jimmy, Johnny and Theresa. There were other grandchildren: Walter Palac, Cheryl Palac, and their cousins Jimmy, Mark and Jeannie Lisky.
[edit] Links
- History
- [ http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/buff-j.htm CBZ bio]
- Professional boxing record for Johnny Buff from Boxrec
[edit] References
- ^ a b "JOHNNY BUFF, HELD TWO BOXING TITLES", The New York Times, January 18, 1955, p. 27.
- ^ August 7, 1928 Daily News Searchlight newspaper of navy town Bremerton, WA
