Anton Raadik
Encyclopedia
Anton "Rampaging Estonian" Raadik (January 15, 1917 – March 13, 1999) was the most famous Estonia
n born Middleweight
boxer
of the 1940s and 50s fighting out of Chicago, Illinois.
in 1939. On May 13, 1939, he lost a 3-round decision to middleweight Jimmy Reeves at Chicago in the International Golden Gloves. In all, he had a reported 130 amateur fights, winning 118.
In 1940 and 1941 he had his first three professional fights in Moscow
. In 1943 he won three more fights in Scandinavia
, losing only to Oiva Purho in Goteborg in 1944. He was inactive in 1945, before moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1946.
In the USA, Raadik made quick progress and in December 1946 fought the formidable Jake LaMotta
. In 1947 he lost to two famous and experienced opponents, Georgie Abrams
and Al Hostak
.
On October 31, 1947, he had his most famous fight, with future middleweight champion Marcel Cerdan
, in Chicago. Cerdan was far ahead on points going into the tenth round, but then Raadik floored him three times and came close to stopping him, only to lose the decision.
Raadik boxed until 1952, winning some fights and losing more often than he won. He fought such highly regarded opponents as Carl (Bobo) Olson, Robert Villemain
, Steve Belloise
, and Harry (Kid) Matthews, but his greatest opportunity was in the past.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n born Middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
of the 1940s and 50s fighting out of Chicago, Illinois.
Professional Boxing Career
Anton Raadik was European Middleweight Champion1939 European Amateur Boxing Championships
The 1939 European Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Dublin, Ireland from 18 to 22 April. It was the 6th edition of the bi-annual competition was organised by the European governing body for amateur boxing, EABA. There were 71 fighters from 12 countries participating.- Medal winners :-Medal...
in 1939. On May 13, 1939, he lost a 3-round decision to middleweight Jimmy Reeves at Chicago in the International Golden Gloves. In all, he had a reported 130 amateur fights, winning 118.
In 1940 and 1941 he had his first three professional fights in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. In 1943 he won three more fights in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, losing only to Oiva Purho in Goteborg in 1944. He was inactive in 1945, before moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1946.
In the USA, Raadik made quick progress and in December 1946 fought the formidable Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
. In 1947 he lost to two famous and experienced opponents, Georgie Abrams
Georgie Abrams
Georgie Abrams was an American boxer who once fought for the middleweight championship.Turning professional in 1937, Abrams won his first 17 fights as a professional. He earned a shot at middleweight champion Tony Zale by defeating such contenders as Billy Soose, Teddy Yarosz, and Lou Brouillard....
and Al Hostak
Al Hostak
Albert Paul Hostak , nicknamed "the Savage Slav," was an American-born middleweight boxer who fought from 1932-1949. Hostak twice held the National Boxing Association Middleweight title between 1938 and 1940...
.
On October 31, 1947, he had his most famous fight, with future middleweight champion Marcel Cerdan
Marcel Cerdan
Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan was a French pied noir world boxing champion who was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to have learned his craft in Africa...
, in Chicago. Cerdan was far ahead on points going into the tenth round, but then Raadik floored him three times and came close to stopping him, only to lose the decision.
Raadik boxed until 1952, winning some fights and losing more often than he won. He fought such highly regarded opponents as Carl (Bobo) Olson, Robert Villemain
Robert Villemain
Robert Villemain was a French boxer. Villemain defeated Hall of Famers Kid Gavilan and Jake LaMotta during his career, and lost his Pennsylvania middleweight title to Sugar Ray Robinson in 1950....
, Steve Belloise
Steve Belloise
Steve "Gink" Belloise was an American boxer.Belloise was a talented fighter who lost only 13 of 111 bouts and scored 59 knockouts during his career; He was a top contender for the Middleweight Championship during the early 1940s and a brother of Mike and Sal, boxersSteve defeated such men as Anton...
, and Harry (Kid) Matthews, but his greatest opportunity was in the past.
Books
- Mis juhtus Anton Raadikuga? by Jaan Sepp, Juhan Maidlo - 1997. ISBN 9985-57-147-9