Rocky Kansas
Encyclopedia
Rocky Kansas was a tough, short (5'2 tall) former lightweight
champion of the world. He was born Rocco Tozzo on April 21, 1893 in Italy and came to America in 1898. He died on January 10, 1954.
Champion Johnny Kilbane
in a non-title match, but lost the Newspaper Decision.
During his career Kansas faced the cream of the featherweight and lightweight divisions. On February 28, 1916, Kansas fought the all-time great Benny Leonard
. Although, Kansas managed to last the full 10 rounds for a No-Decision, he received a boxing lesson from Leonard.
In 1921 he met Richie Mitchell, a highly regarded Lightweight out of Milwaukee. In the first round Kansas pinned Mitchell against the ropes and knocked him out. Kansas then landed a non-title shot against Benny Leonard, but was again handily out boxed.
Kansas then came up with another upset victory, this time over southpaw Lew Tendler
in a close 10 round decision. The victory landed him a title shot at Leonard's lightweight crown. In an exciting fight, Leonard was awarded the unanimous decision.
The two fought yet again. This time Leonard TKOed him in the eleventh round.
Leonard retired and Kansas was given his third title shot against Jimmy Goodrich, who claimed the title after Leonard's retirement. Kansas was able to get inside on Goodrich and won all but one of the first 13 rounds. Kansas was awarded the 15 round decision, and after over 14 years of professional fighting, Rocky Kansas was finally a champion.
His glory was short lived. On July 3, 1926 he defended against 22-year-old Sammy Mandell. Mandell outboxed Kansas to win the title.
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
champion of the world. He was born Rocco Tozzo on April 21, 1893 in Italy and came to America in 1898. He died on January 10, 1954.
Background
Rocky was the younger brother of Joe "Kid" Kansas (Tozzo), and older brother of boxer Tony Tozzo. Kansas and his two brothers combined to defeat 189 opponents in the Buffalo, NY area from 1909-1937. Father to Vincent Tozzo. Husband to Jessie Tozzo.Pro career
Kansas turned pro in 1911 and lost just two official decisions in his first 75 fights. In 1914, he faced his first contender, Johnny Dundee, losing a Newspaper Decision. Kansas also faced featherweightFeatherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
Champion Johnny Kilbane
Johnny Kilbane
John "Johnny" Patrick Kilbane was a featherweight boxer in the early part of the 20th century. He held the featherweight title from 1912 to 1923, the longest period in the division's history...
in a non-title match, but lost the Newspaper Decision.
During his career Kansas faced the cream of the featherweight and lightweight divisions. On February 28, 1916, Kansas fought the all-time great Benny Leonard
Benny Leonard
Benny Leonard was an American lightweight boxer. He was named as number 8 on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years and number 7 on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time....
. Although, Kansas managed to last the full 10 rounds for a No-Decision, he received a boxing lesson from Leonard.
In 1921 he met Richie Mitchell, a highly regarded Lightweight out of Milwaukee. In the first round Kansas pinned Mitchell against the ropes and knocked him out. Kansas then landed a non-title shot against Benny Leonard, but was again handily out boxed.
Kansas then came up with another upset victory, this time over southpaw Lew Tendler
Lew Tendler
"Lefty" Lew Tendler was an American boxer. He is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.-External links:******...
in a close 10 round decision. The victory landed him a title shot at Leonard's lightweight crown. In an exciting fight, Leonard was awarded the unanimous decision.
The two fought yet again. This time Leonard TKOed him in the eleventh round.
Leonard retired and Kansas was given his third title shot against Jimmy Goodrich, who claimed the title after Leonard's retirement. Kansas was able to get inside on Goodrich and won all but one of the first 13 rounds. Kansas was awarded the 15 round decision, and after over 14 years of professional fighting, Rocky Kansas was finally a champion.
His glory was short lived. On July 3, 1926 he defended against 22-year-old Sammy Mandell. Mandell outboxed Kansas to win the title.
Retirement
Kansas retired after the loss. Like many others, he was wiped out in the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Kansas worked for the city of Buffalo. (He did not end with being a taxi driver)External links
- Cyber Boxing Zone page