László Papp
Encyclopedia
László Papp was a Hungarian boxer, born in Budapest
. A southpaw, he won gold medals in the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London, the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
, and the 1956 Summer Olympics
held in Melbourne
, Australia. In his final Olympic competition, he beat José Torres
for the gold medal, to become the first boxer in Olympic history to win three successive gold medals.
Papp also was the European middleweight champion as a middleweight in 1949 at Oslo and at light middleweight at Milan 1951. He scored 55 first round knockouts as an amateur.
1952 Helsinki (Finland)
1956 Melbourne (Australia)
ranks. However, Hungary was a Communist country at the time and professional boxing was not permitted. Papp had to travel to Vienna
, in Austria, for training and for his fights. In spite of this disadvantage, he beat several top-ranking contenders for the European Middleweight
title, including veteran Tiger Jones, French champion Hippolyte Annex
and Chris Christensen. After Christensen, Papp defeated Randy Sandy of the United States. In 1964, after Papp had already signed up for the world championship title bout, Hungary's Communist leadership brought his professional career to an end by denying him an exit visa. The reason for this was that professional boxing was not permitted in Communist Hungary and the government resented Papp's successful by-passing of the restriction by staging his fights abroad.
Papp was undefeated in the ring. His fighting record was 27 wins, 2 draws, and no losses. 15 of his wins were by way of knockout
.
in 2001.
In 1989 WBC President José Sulaimán
gave Papp an award for 'Best amateur and professional boxer of all time' and granted him honorary champion status of the World Boxing Council
.
Budapest's Papp László Sportaréna, a multipurpose building best known as a concert venue and the home ice of the Hungarian national hockey team, is named in his honor.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. A southpaw, he won gold medals in the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London, the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, and the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
held in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia. In his final Olympic competition, he beat José Torres
José Torres
José Torres , was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur boxer, he won a silver medal in the junior middleweight at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. In 1965, he defeated Willie Pastrano to win the WBC and WBA light heavyweight championships...
for the gold medal, to become the first boxer in Olympic history to win three successive gold medals.
Amateur career
Papp was an Olympic gold medalist three times, at middleweight in London in 1948, then as a light middleweight in Helsinki in 1952 and in Melbourne in 1956.Papp also was the European middleweight champion as a middleweight in 1949 at Oslo and at light middleweight at Milan 1951. He scored 55 first round knockouts as an amateur.
Olympic results
1948 London (England)- Defeated Valfrid Resko (Finland) KO 2
- Defeated Jean WelterJean WelterJean Welter was a Luxembourgian boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics and in the 1928 Summer Olympics....
(Luxembourg) KO 1 - Defeated Auguste Cavignac (Belgium) KO 1
- Defeated Ivano FontanaIvano FontanaIvano Fontana is a former Italian boxer. He won a bronze medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, losing to gold medal winner Laszlo Papp.-Professional career:...
(Italy) 3-0 - Defeated John WrightJohn Wright (boxer)John "Johnny" Alan Wright was a British amateur boxer who won a silver medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.He lost in the final to László Papp of Hungary.-External links:*...
(England) 3-0
1952 Helsinki (Finland)
- Defeated Spider Webb (United States) KO 2
- Defeated Charlie ChaseCharlie ChaseCharlie Chase is a radio and television host best known for his work on The Nashville Network program Crook & Chase.-Childhood:Charlie Chase was born October 19, 1952 in Rogersville, Tennessee...
(Canada) KO 2 - Defeated Petar Stankoff Spassoff (Bulgaria) 3-0
- Defeated Eladio Oscar Herrera (Argentina) 3-0
- Defeated Theunis Jacobus van Schalkwyk (South Africa) 3-0
1956 Melbourne (Australia)
- Defeated Alberto Saenz (Argentina) KO 3
- Defeated Zbigniew PietrzykowskiZbigniew PietrzykowskiZbigniew Pietrzykowski is a retired Polish boxer.Three times he took part in the Olympic Games, every time winning a medal. He won a bronze medal at Melbourne 1956 in the Light middleweight division, after losing in the semi-final to Hungarian László Papp...
(Poland) 3-0 - Defeated José TorresJosé TorresJosé Torres , was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur boxer, he won a silver medal in the junior middleweight at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. In 1965, he defeated Willie Pastrano to win the WBC and WBA light heavyweight championships...
(USA) 2-1
Pro career
Papp, despite having hand trouble, turned professional in 1957, and immediately began rising in the MiddleweightMiddleweight
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...
ranks. However, Hungary was a Communist country at the time and professional boxing was not permitted. Papp had to travel to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, in Austria, for training and for his fights. In spite of this disadvantage, he beat several top-ranking contenders for the European 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...
title, including veteran Tiger Jones, French champion Hippolyte Annex
Hippolyte Annex
Hippolyte Annex is a former French professional boxer. He was four time French champion, holding the French welterweight title from 1960 to 1961 and the middleweight title from 1961 to 1963...
and Chris Christensen. After Christensen, Papp defeated Randy Sandy of the United States. In 1964, after Papp had already signed up for the world championship title bout, Hungary's Communist leadership brought his professional career to an end by denying him an exit visa. The reason for this was that professional boxing was not permitted in Communist Hungary and the government resented Papp's successful by-passing of the restriction by staging his fights abroad.
Papp was undefeated in the ring. His fighting record was 27 wins, 2 draws, and no losses. 15 of his wins were by way of knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
.
Honors
Papp was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of FameInternational 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 2001.
In 1989 WBC President José Sulaimán
José Sulaimán
José Sulaimán Chagnón is a Mexican boxing official of Lebanese-descent. He is the president of the World Boxing Council....
gave Papp an award for 'Best amateur and professional boxer of all time' and granted him honorary champion status of the World Boxing Council
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
.
Budapest's Papp László Sportaréna, a multipurpose building best known as a concert venue and the home ice of the Hungarian national hockey team, is named in his honor.