Toxey Hall
Encyclopedia
Toxey Hall or Toxie Hall (1927 – October 25 2007) grew up helping his father on their 180 acre (0.7284348 km²) farm. Good at football and baseball, he had no particular interest in boxing until he joined the army in 1946 and had several bouts. When he was discharged, Hall decided to settle in Chicago
,and began working in a cardboard box factory. On the second floor of the building was the CYO Gym, whose director was Tony Zale
the 1940s Middleweight champion. Hall began working out under Zale's tutelage.
Hall won the Joe Louis Sportman Trophy in the National Golden Glove Tournament in 1950 and started getting calls to turn pro he had no intention of doing anything in boxing but was finally talked in to going pro.
His Manager was Ike Bernstein, who also had hard-punching Chicago Light Heavyweight contender Bob Satterfield
. Hall turned pro in 1952 with a knockout in the first round of Pedro Bradley.
Hall had sensitive facial tissue. after fights, he sometimes had difficulty seeing out of his swollen eyes. Hall was told by a doctor his vision might eventually become impaired if he fought more than once or twice a year.
In 1953 at the Midwest Gym, Chicago. Hall was trying to stay in shape when his life was changed for ever when the Heavyweight Champion of the world appeared Rocky Marciano
.
Rocky Marciano had just won the title from Jersey Joe Walcott
in 1952 and was in Chicago for rematch, the champion brought three sparring partners with him to the gym, but one by one they crumbled so looking for more sparring partners Marciano trainer Charley Goldman
spotted the 5`11, 195-pound Hall and asked if he would be interested in sparring the champ, Hall didn't hesitate.
Marciano loved the way he worked and ask him to come to training camp, for the next three years Hall was paid at least $100 a week to help prepare Marciano for fights.
In addition to his sparring duties, Hall fought on the undercards of Marciano's title defenses.
Hall met some of boxing's best names such as Archie Moore
, Harold Johnson
, John Holman and top contender Bob Baker, but his biggest victory came in 1955 when he won a decision over Ezzard Charles
.
Hall became a police officer
in Chicago
in 1956, and retired from boxing in 1959, continuing to work as a police officer until 1987. He died in 2007 as a result of complications from prostate cancer
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
,and began working in a cardboard box factory. On the second floor of the building was the CYO Gym, whose director was 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...
the 1940s Middleweight champion. Hall began working out under Zale's tutelage.
Hall won the Joe Louis Sportman Trophy in the National Golden Glove Tournament in 1950 and started getting calls to turn pro he had no intention of doing anything in boxing but was finally talked in to going pro.
His Manager was Ike Bernstein, who also had hard-punching Chicago Light Heavyweight contender Bob Satterfield
Bob Satterfield
Bob "Bombardier" Satterfield , was a heavyweight boxer who fought from 1945-1957. Satterfield, who never fought for the title, retired with a record of 50 wins , 25 losses and 4 draws. He is in Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time at number 58...
. Hall turned pro in 1952 with a knockout in the first round of Pedro Bradley.
Hall had sensitive facial tissue. after fights, he sometimes had difficulty seeing out of his swollen eyes. Hall was told by a doctor his vision might eventually become impaired if he fought more than once or twice a year.
In 1953 at the Midwest Gym, Chicago. Hall was trying to stay in shape when his life was changed for ever when the Heavyweight Champion of the world appeared Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
.
Rocky Marciano had just won the title from Jersey Joe Walcott
Jersey Joe Walcott
Arnold Raymond Cream , better known as Jersey Joe Walcott, was a world heavyweight boxing champion. He broke the world's record for the oldest man to win the world's Heavyweight title when he earned it at the age of , a record that would be broken on November 5, 1994, by George Foreman, who...
in 1952 and was in Chicago for rematch, the champion brought three sparring partners with him to the gym, but one by one they crumbled so looking for more sparring partners Marciano trainer Charley Goldman
Charley Goldman
Charley Goldman was a famed boxing trainer who trained five world champions. Goldman's most famous pupil was the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, Rocky Marciano....
spotted the 5`11, 195-pound Hall and asked if he would be interested in sparring the champ, Hall didn't hesitate.
Marciano loved the way he worked and ask him to come to training camp, for the next three years Hall was paid at least $100 a week to help prepare Marciano for fights.
In addition to his sparring duties, Hall fought on the undercards of Marciano's title defenses.
Hall met some of boxing's best names such as Archie Moore
Archie Moore
Archie Moore, born Archibald Lee Wright , was light heavyweight world boxing champion who had one of the longest professional careers in the history of that sport....
, Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson (boxer)
Harold Johnson , is a former professional boxer.Johnson was born in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He won his first twenty-four fights before losing a ten round decision to Archie Moore, who would be Johnson's biggest career rival...
, John Holman and top contender Bob Baker, but his biggest victory came in 1955 when he won a decision over Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Mack Charles was an African-American professional boxer and former world heavyweight champion. He holds wins over numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Charles retired with a record of 93 wins, 25 losses and 1 draw.-Career:He was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia,...
.
Hall became a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1956, and retired from boxing in 1959, continuing to work as a police officer until 1987. He died in 2007 as a result of complications from prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
.