Billy Soose
Encyclopedia
Billy Soose was an American boxer who won the world middleweight championship in 1941.
After a collegiate boxing career, Soose became a professional boxer in 1938. That same year he met Charley Burley
, defeated Soose by a unanimous decision. In 1940 Soose defeated two future middleweight champions, Ken Overlin
and Tony Zale
. He began 1941 by defeating future heavyweight and light heavyweight title challenger Tami Mauriello and then, in May of that year, beat old foe Overlin for Overlin's middleweight title. He never defended the title and retired in 1942 after losing a bout to Jimmy Bivins
.
Soose was featured on the cover of the June 1941 Ring magazine and is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame
. He is also the subject of a book, Billy Soose - The Champion Time Forgot.
Soose is set to be posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
in 2009.
After a collegiate boxing career, Soose became a professional boxer in 1938. That same year he met Charley Burley
Charley Burley
Charley Burley was a boxer of the 1940s, compiling a record of 83 wins , 12 losses, and 2 draws with 1 "no contest"...
, defeated Soose by a unanimous decision. In 1940 Soose defeated two future middleweight champions, Ken Overlin
Ken Overlin
Ken Overlin , was an American-born middleweight boxer who fought professionally from 1931 to 1944, compiling a record of 131 wins , 18 losses, and 9 draws....
and Tony Zale
Tony Zale
Anthony Florian Zaleski was an American boxer. Zale was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, a steel town, which gave him his nickname, "Man of Steel." In addition, he had the reputation of being able to take fearsome punishment and still rally to win, reinforcing that nickname...
. He began 1941 by defeating future heavyweight and light heavyweight title challenger Tami Mauriello and then, in May of that year, beat old foe Overlin for Overlin's middleweight title. He never defended the title and retired in 1942 after losing a bout to Jimmy Bivins
Jimmy Bivins
James Louis Bivins, is a former American heavyweight boxer whose professional career ran from 1940 to 1955. He was born in Dry Branch, Georgia...
.
Soose was featured on the cover of the June 1941 Ring magazine and is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame
World Boxing Hall of Fame
The World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
. He is also the subject of a book, Billy Soose - The Champion Time Forgot.
Soose is set to be posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 2009.