By Peter Silkov
Willi Besmanoff was a tough and game heavyweight boxer, who fought many of the division's top fighters during the 1950s and 60s. Born William David Besmanoff, on October, 4, 1932, in Munich, Bayen, Germany. Besmanoff was of Jewish heritage, and at the age of 11 years old, he was imprisoned in a concentration camp in Buchenwald, Germany. His salvation was that his mother renounced her Jewish faith and converted to protestant. At 13 years old, Willi worked at a bakery, where his boss suggested he take up boxing.
Besmanoff’s
final fight came on August 1, 1967, when he was stopped in 3 rounds
by Dave Zyglewicz. Besmanoff retired with a final record of
(51-34-8, 19koes).
Besmanoff,
who learned to bake when he apprenticed at a bakery, would go on and
open several bakeries around the U.S.
Willie
Besmanoff died on October 20, 2010, aged 78 years old.
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Many people come and many of them die, but they always remain in heart. This post was really needed for recalling such a legendary boxer!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 8 Willi stayed in our home while getting ready for a fight that my father was promoting in Miami. He was a great playmate who encouraged me to become the winner of the citywide boxing match in 1965, which gave me lifelong courage.
ReplyDeleteI was Willie's third wife and the mother of his only biological child. Willie was 51 and I was 35 when our child was born in 1983. Willie's correct date of birth is 09/21/1932. We divorced in 1995. I never remarried and reared our daughter alone. I have a wonderful daughter, son-n-law and grand daughter who fill my life. Willie or as I called him William or Bill was a man of many different sides to himself. He was a very excellent baker as well as a boxer. Even though we had a rocky and difficult marriage, I only wished him the best. Our daughter was with him when he passed away in Oct. of 2010. I have chosen to remain Anonymous on this post for my own privacy.
ReplyDelete