Anton Christoforidis Explained

Anton Christoforidis
Realname:Antonios Christoforidis
Nationality:Greek
Weight:Light heavyweight
Height:5feet
Reach:720NaN0
Birth Date:26 May 1917
Birth Place:Mersin, Ottoman Empire
Death Place:Athens, Greece
Total:76
Wins:53
Ko:13
Losses:15
Draws:8

Anton Christoforidis (; 26 May 1917 – 19 October 1985) was a Greek professional light heavyweight boxer. He won the NBA Light Heavyweight Championship in 1941, making him the first Greek to become a world boxing champion.

Early life

Christoforidis was born in Mersin, Ottoman Empire, but lived his first years in Smyrna. In 1922 he came to Athens, Greece as a refugee with his mother and his two sisters. His father and seven other relatives were killed in Asia Minor. His mother died two years after the family came to Athens. He had a very poor childhood, and was working in a hotel when he realized that he was a very strong boy and didn't mind fighting. He started boxing lessons and soon became the Athens champion, although he was only 16 years old. Then he decided to go to Paris where he grew up very soon in the boxing arenas.[1]

He was a very competent boxer who possessed good skills and got the most out of his ability. Since he did not possess heavy hands, having only recorded thirteen knockouts in seventy-six fights (fifty-three wins), he relied on ring savvy and work-rate.[1]

Christoforidis and Joey Maxim were sparring partners.[2]

Professional career

Christoforidis had most of his early fights in Europe, particularly in France. From 1934 to late 1939, he had 46 fights in Europe, and then went to the United States. His first bout was against Theodore Korenyi in Athens, Greece, which he won by second-round knockout. His last fight in Europe prior to his departure for America was a points win over the legendary Canadian welterweight/middleweight Lou Brouillard in April 1939.[1]

On 8 November 1937, Christoforidis won both the Greek middleweight and Greek light heavyweight titles from Costas Vassis in Athens, Greece.[1]

Christofordis defeated EBU (European) middleweight champion Bep van Klaveren on 14 November 1938 in Rotterdam, Netherlands and won the EBU title. One of the spectators was Adolf Hitler.[1] [2]

His first title defense was against France's Edouard Tenet in Paris, France. Anton was ahead on points going into the eleventh round, but broke his left hand that round and was forced to finish the fight on the defensive. He lost via decision.[1]

He made his United States debut on 5 January 1940 in Madison Square Garden, defeating Willie Pavlovich by decision. At that point, Christoforidis settled in Geneva, Ohio. Anton next built up an eight fight winning streak, which was stopped when future Hall of Famer Jimmy Bivins bested him over 10 rounds. Anton once said, "I won that fight; it was strictly a hometown decision." In a rematch the next month, Christoforidis returned the favor and won a 10-round decision, handing Bivins the first defeat of his career.[1] [2] [3] The Bivins victory and successful results he had against other American opponents earned Christoforidis a bout with Melio Bettina for the vacant National Boxing Association world light heavyweight title. He won the light heavyweight crown on 13 January 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio, by defeating Melio Bettina in a unanimous decision of a fifteen-round bout. Bettina was winning slightly after twelve rounds, but Christofordis finished strong in the final three to win a decision popular with the spectators.[1] The world light heavyweight title was recently stripped from Billy Conn, who failed to defend the belt in six months due to moving up in weight to challenge heavyweight champion Joe Louis.

After knockout wins over Italo Colonello and Johnny 'Bandit' Romero in non-title bouts, Christofordis lost to Gus Lesnevich by unanimous decision on 22 May 1941. Although this was not an NBA title fight, Lesnevich was later awarded the title by the NBA regardless on 24 May 1941.[1]

On 12 January 1942, Christofordis suffered his first knockout loss at the hands of rising contender and future light heavyweight legend Ezzard Charles in Cincinnati, Ohio.[1] Christoforidis was down for "six" and "nine" before the fight was stopped.

Christoforidis fought his last bout on 18 February 1947 against Anton Raadik.[1] He retired with a record of 53 wins (13 by knockout), 15 losses and 8 draws.

Retirement, death and legacy

Christoforidis ran a bar-restaurant in Geneva, Ohio, for several years after retiring from boxing in 1947. He was also fond of the Cleveland area.[2]

In 1961, Christoforidis and his wife got divorced, and in 1968 he sold his interests in Geneva and moved to Florida to retire. In 1971, for the first time he took an extended trip back to Greece for an intended 45 days, but enjoyed it so much, he stayed for 15 years. Christoforidis was treated as a hero in Greece and enjoyed associating the rich and famous on the golf courses and, as he said, "being in shirt sleeves 12 months a year."[2]

Christoforidis died suddenly of a heart attack while being in his car, on 19 October 1985[4] in Athens, Greece at the age of 67.[2] He has made history by becoming the first Greek professional boxing world champion.[1] [5]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound,timeDateAgeLocationNotes
76Loss53–15–8Anton RaadikRTD7 (10)Feb 18, 1947
75Loss53–14–8Steve BelloiseTKO10 (10), Nov 22, 1946
74Win53–13–8Augie FleischauerTKO7 (10), Aug 19, 1946
73Win52–13–8Butch LynchKO3 (10), Jul 8, 1946
72Loss51–13–8Lloyd MarshallUD10Apr 21, 1943
71Loss51–12–8Jimmy BivinsUD15Feb 23, 1943
70Win51–11–8Nate BoldenUD10Dec 22, 1942
69Draw50–11–8Nate BoldenPTS10Aug 10, 1942
68Win50–11–7Mose BrownPTS10Jul 27, 1942
67Win49–11–7Johnny ColanPTS10Jun 23, 1942
66Win48–11–7Johnny ColanPTS10May 20, 1942
65Win47–11–7Paulie MahoneyKO9 (10)Apr 29, 1942
64Win46–11–7Jimmy ReevesPTS10Apr 17, 1942
63Loss45–11–7Ezzard CharlesTKO3 (10), Jan 12, 1942
62Win45–10–7George BurnettePTS10Jan 2, 1942
61Win44–10–7Ceferino GarciaPTS10Dec 1, 1941
60Loss43–10–7Gus LesnevichUD15May 22, 1941
59Win43–9–7Johnny "Bandit" RomeroKO2 (10), Apr 30, 1941
58Win42–9–7Italo ColonelloTKO5 (10)Apr 7, 1941
57Win41–9–7Melio BettinaUD15Jan 13, 1941
56Win40–9–7Jimmy BivinsMD10Dec 2, 1940
55Loss39–9–7Jimmy BivinsUD10Nov 15, 1940
54Win39–8–7Jimmy ReevesKO2 (10), Oct 22, 1940
53Win38–8–7Tony BrunoPTS10Aug 21, 1940
52Win37–8–7Joe SutkaPTS10Jul 9, 1940
51Win36–8–7Jimmy BurnsTKO6 (10)Jun 5, 1940
50Win35–8–7George BurnettePTS8Apr 5, 1940
49Win34–8–7Frank ZamarisPTS6Mar 29, 1940
48Win33–8–7Willie PavlovichPTS8Jan 5, 1940
47Win32–8–7Lou BrouillardPTS10Apr 5, 1939
46Loss31–8–7Edouard TenetPTS15Jan 14, 1939
45Win31–7–7Bep van KlaverenPTS15Nov 14, 1938
44Loss30–7–7Bep van KlaverenPTS10May 23, 1938
43Draw30–6–7Gustav EderPTS12May 6, 1938
42Win30–6–6Gustav EderPTS12Jan 14, 1938
41Win29–6–6Costas VassisPTS15Nov 8, 1937
40Win28–6–6Mielu DoculescuKO1 (10)Oct 30, 1937
39Draw27–6–6José Martínez Valero PTS10Aug 22, 1937
38Win27–6–5Victor JanasPTS10Aug 8, 1937
37Loss26–6–5Kid TuneroPTS10Jun 13, 1937
36Draw26–5–5José Martínez Valero PTS10Apr 3, 1937
35Draw26–5–4José Martínez Valero PTS10Mar 1, 1937
34Win26–5–3Victor JanasPTS10Feb 4, 1937
33Draw25–5–3Edouard TenetPTS10Jan 18, 1937
32Win25–5–2Mario CasadeiDQ10 (10)Dec 7, 1936
31Loss24–5–2Edouard TenetPTS10Nov 5, 1936
30Win24–4–2Carmelo CandelPTS10Aug 2, 1936
29Loss23–4–2Victor JanasMD10May 2, 1936
28Win23–3–2Carmelo CandelKO8 (10)Apr 19, 1936
27Win22–3–2Vilda JaksPTS12Apr 2, 1936
26Win21–3–2Adrien AnneetPTS10Mar 5, 1936
25Loss20–3–2Carmelo CandelPTS10Feb 7, 1936
24Loss20–2–2Kid TuneroPTS10Jan 6, 1936
23Win20–1–2Victor JanasPTS10Dec 9, 1935
22Win19–1–2Vilda JaksPTS10Nov 22, 1935
21Win18–1–2Julien FaesPTS10Oct 28, 1935
20Win17–1–2Marcel FoulonTKO6 (10)Oct 15, 1935
19Loss16–1–2Vilda JaksPTS10Sep 20, 1935
18Draw16–0–2Kid TuneroPTS10Sep 3, 1935
17Win16–0–1Andre Georges NiochePTS10Aug 20, 1935
16Win15–0–1Assane DioufPTS10Aug 6, 1935
15Win14–0–1Jany AmbreskiPTS10Jul 3, 1935
14Win13–0–1Paul JeancenellePTS6May 4, 1935
13Win12–0–1Andre Georges NiochePTS10Apr 6, 1935
12Win11–0–1Francisco Garcia LluchPTS10Feb 5, 1935
11Win10–0–1Andre Georges NiochePTS10Jan 30, 1935
10Win9–0–1MartinauxPTS6Jan 9, 1935
9Win8–0–1Lucien HallartPTS8Jan 4, 1935
8Win7–0–1Marcel BlaisePTS10Dec 19, 1934
7Win6–0–1Georges RiesPTS10Dec 6, 1934
6Win5–0–1Marcel ThouveninPTS6Nov 14, 1934
5Win4–0–1Guillaume TaddeiTKO4 (10)Nov 10, 1934
4Win3–0–1Roger DamagnezPTS10Oct 30, 1934
3Draw2–0–1Paul JeancenellePTS6Oct 17, 1934
2Win2–0Curzio SalaKO7 (10)Aug, 1934N/A
1Win1–0Theodore KorenyiKO2 (10)Jul, 1934N/A

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Anton Christoforidis: Unheralded but Undisputed Boxing Champion . The National Herald . 1 April 2016 . 1 April 2016.
  2. Web site: Anton "The Sheik" Greek . Fitch . Jerry . September 2006 . The Cyber Boxing Zone . 28 April 2012.
  3. Web site: Jimmy Bivins vs. Anton Christoforidis (3rd meeting) . 14 March 2009 . BoxRec . 28 April 2012.
  4. Ta Nea, Σήμερα η κηδεία του Αντώνη Χριστοφορίδη (translation: Antonis Christoforidis is laid to rest today), 22 October 1985, p. 51.
  5. Web site: Anton Christoforidis . The Cyber Boxing Zone . 28 April 2012.

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