By Steve Corbo
For those following the fight game today, it is hard to believe Chicago was once one of the world’s top locations for professional boxing. No offense to my Southern California fight fans, but in the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, during boxing’s golden era, it was Chicago and New York City that were at the top of the mountain.
Both places had multiple venues running regular pro shows, often on a weekly basis. The flagship arenas being The Chicago Stadium and Madison Square Garden. If you were on a card at either, you were in the Big Leagues.
Some of the most important fights in boxing history took place in Chicago.
In 1927 over 105,000 people packed Soldier Field, current home of the Chicago Bears, to see Dempsey- Tunney II, in what became known as “The Long Count”. With a gate of over $2,800,000 it was the first $2 Million gate, not just in boxing, but for any event! Tunney was the reigning and defending champion and received a record setting payday of $990,000 to put his title on the line against former world champion Dempsey.
In 1937 Joe Louis beat “The Cinderella Man” Jim Braddock at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox, to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. The estimated attendance was 65,000.
In 1947, Rocky Graziano knocked out reigning Middleweight Champ Tony Zale to capture the Middleweight Championship of the World in front of a sellout crowd of 19,000 people at the Chicago Stadium. This was chapter two in their three-fight trilogy. One of the greatest in boxing history.
In 1957, Sugar Ray Roboinson stopped Gene Fullmer in the 5th round to recapture the World Middle Weight Crown at the Chicago Stadium. Before the fight, the sports books had Fullmer as a 3½-1 favorite.
While the professional scene flourished, amateur boxing in the city exploded! Boxing was never more popular! The Golden Gloves Tournament was “invented” in Chicago, by sportswriter Arch Ward. The first tournament was held in 1923. And the premier event in amateur boxing, the National Tournament of Champions, took place annually at the Chicago Stadium. In 1959 a 17-year-old light heavyweight, from Louisville, Kentucky, won the Nationals in Chicago. His name was Cassius Clay, who would soon be known to the world as Muhammad Ali.
It was in this cradle of boxing mania that a young kid walked into St. Francis Mexican Youth Center, on Chicago’s near west side, put on a pair of boxing gloves, and went on to become one of the greatest, if not the greatest, amateur boxer to ever come out of Chicago. Quite a legacy considering many Chicago boxers have had dynamic amateur careers. Among their ranks have been multiple National Champions, World Amateur Champions, and several have been members of US Olympic Boxing Teams. But above them all, stands Richie Guerrero.
Unknown and unheralded today, Guerrero was a legend in his own time. He started boxing in 1945 and amassed an incredible amateur record of 343 Wins against only 2 Losses!
In the 1940s and 50’s Chicago had two premier amateur boxing tournaments, The CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) and the Golden Gloves. Winning either one was considered a major accomplishment. So many young men entered these tournaments, boxers often had to fight six or seven bouts, just to get to the finals. Fighting twice in one night was often the rule, rather than the exception! The competition was brutal, and the level of talent was topflight. Enter16 year old Richie Guerrero.
Starting out as a lightweight, Guerrero won the CYO Novice Championship in 1946. In 1947 he won the CYO Open Division Championship. And won it again in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951. While not a big puncher, he was a slick boxer who could seamlessly switch from southpaw to orthodox and back again, often confusing his opponents, while piling up points on the judges’ scorecards.
He also fought in the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament, winning the Open Division Championships in 1948,1949, and 1951. And he was a three- time National Golden Gloves Champion! As a welterweight in 1948 and 1949 and as a middleweight in 1951! It was in 1951, that he beat future World Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson.
About to embark upon a pro career, Uncle Sam had other ideas. On June 25, 1950, North Korea crossed the 38th Parallel, invaded the South, and the Korean War began. Guerrero found himself in the United States Marine Corps and in Korea. While serving in the Marines he participated in several boxing matches. Representing the 1st Marine Division, he won the I Corps, 8th Army, and All Korea Championships.
After returning to the States and being discharged from the Marines, he tried to resume his boxing career in the punch for pay ranks. But he could not recapture the fire and intensity he once possessed. It seems the War, the long layoffs between fights, and father time had taken their toll. “Boxrec” lists his professional record as 3 Wins and 1 Loss. He had his first pro fight in 1951, just before he entered the Marine Corps. Then he had a three-year layoff, with a second fight in 1954. Then another three-year layoff and a fight in early 1958. His last fight was a KO Loss to, Los Angeles based, Bobby Sands, at the Legion Stadium in Hollywood, on October 04, 1958.
After boxing, Guerrero worked for the Chicago Parlk District mentoring not just boxers, but young people throughout the city. He was a role model; often seen in the corners of young boxers he was training and at various events around the city.
Richard “Richie” Guerreo passed away July 24, 2008, one day after his 78th birthday. In the star studded past of Chicago boxing … Richie Guerreo was the brightest amateur star of them all.