| Freddie Steele | |
| Realname: | Frederick Earl Burgett |
| Nickname: | Tacoma Assassin |
| Weight: | Middleweight |
| Height: | 5feet |
| Reach: | 720NaN0 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Birth Date: | December 18, 1912 |
| Birth Place: | Seattle, Washington |
| Death Place: | Aberdeen, Washington |
| Style: | orthodox |
| Total: | 142 |
| Wins: | 125 |
| Ko: | 60 |
| Losses: | 5 |
| Draws: | 11 |
| No Contests: | 1 |
Freddie Steele (December 18, 1912 - August 22, 1984) was a boxer and film actor born Frederick Earle Burgett in Seattle, Washington. He was recognized as the National Boxing Association (NBA) Middleweight Champion of the World between 1936 and 1938. Steele was nicknamed "The Tacoma Assassin" and was trained by Jack Connor, Johnny Babnick; and Ray Arcel while in New York. His managers included George McAllister, Dave Miller, Eddie Miller, and Pete Reilly. He appeared as an actor in a number of Hollywood films in the 1940s, including Preston Sturges's Hail the Conquering Hero.[1] [2] [3]
Steele was born on December 18, 1912, in Seattle, Washington, to Virgie and Charles E. Steele. As a youth, he played baseball, but in high school in Tacoma participated in basketball, soccer, football, golf, and swimming.[2]
A good boxer and a hard hitter, Steele lost only two fights during his first ten years in the ring. Among those he defeated were Ceferino Garcia, Ralph Chong, Leonard Bennett, Joe Glick, Bucky Lawless, Andy Divodi, "Baby" Joe Gans, Vince Dundee, Gorilla Jones, Swede Berglund, Young Stuhley, Meyer Grace, Henry Firpo, Eddie "Babe" Risko, Jackie Aldare, Gus Lesnevich, Paul Pirrone, Frank Battaglia, Ken Overlin, Carmen Barth, and Solly Krieger.[2]
On July 11, 1936, he defeated Babe Risko to take the Middleweight Boxing Championship of the World in a unanimous fifteen round decision at the Civic Stadium in Seattle. [1] Steele floored Risko for seven seconds in the first round. Steele took seven of the fifteen rounds with good margins, with only four going to Risko.[4] Steele damaged both of Risko's eyes during the bout which hampered the reigning champion's ability to defend himself. The Associated Press gave Risko only three rounds of the well attended bout of around 27,000.[5]
On January 1, 1937, Steele defended his NBA World Middleweight Championship against William "Gorilla" Jones, a former champion, in a unanimous ten round decision in Wisconsin. Steele had Jones down for a count of three in the seventh, and won all but one round in his decisive victory before a disappointing crowd of only 3,700.[6]
On February 19, 1937, Risko attempted another shot at the title against Steele at Madison Square Garden but lost in a fifteen-round unanimous decision. The Associated Press gave Steele nine rounds, with five to Risko, and one even. The bout, fought before a crowd of 11,600, was described as tedious by many reporters.[7]
On May 11, 1937, Steele made his third defense of the NBA World Middleweight Title against Frank Battaglia in Seattle, Washington, winning in a third-round knockout. Steele scored knockdowns in both the first and second rounds, before flooring Battaglia with a crushing left 34 seconds into the third round.[8]
He fought two memorable bouts with Fred Apostoli, winning the first, but suffering a TKO in a subsequent non-title match.
He lost the middleweight crown to Al Hostak in his next to last fight, in a first round knockout of a scheduled fifteen round contest at the Seattle Civic Arena on July 26, 1938. After two light taps from Steele in the first round, Hostak floored his opponent briefly for the first time, and again shortly after for a count of five. Celebrity referee Jack Dempsey, the former heavyweight champion, stopped the fight after Steele arose after his third fall to the mat before a record Seattle crowd of 35,000. After his third fall, Dempsey sent Steele to a neutral corner, and reached a count of seven before stopping the fight after Hostak tried to resume the fight.[9]
After having been knocked down four times, being counted out at by Referee Dempsey, some ringside observers had accused Steele of coming out against Hostak with his hands down, thus getting KO'd in the first round. But Steele had been hampered by a cracked breastbone, which prevented him from lifting his gloves high to where they belonged--according to his chief sparring partner, Davey Ward.[10]
Steele's career had declined after the death of his manager, Dave Miller in 1938 after surgery. Steele lost his next and last fight to Jimmy Casino in 1941. His final record included 125 wins (60 KOs), 5 losses, 11 draws and 1 No Contest. [1] [2]
Freddie Steele was also known for his footwork, and waist-down shots of his footwork can be seen in the 1942 film Gentleman Jim in which he performed as boxing double for star Errol Flynn.
Steele went on to appear in a number of Hollywood films as an actor throughout the 1940s, notably as "Bugsy", one of the six Marines central to the plot of the Oscar-nominated Hail the Conquering Hero (1944), directed by Preston Sturges. He also appeared as Sergeant Steve Warnicki in The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) and in Whiplash and I Walk Alone (both 1948). He appeared in nearly 30 films, although he was usually uncredited.[11]
He left Hollywood in the 1950s, and returned to the Pacific Northwest. He owned and operated Freddie Steele's Restaurant in Westport, Washington, with his wife, Helen, for over 20 years until illness forced his retirement.[2]
Steele died at a nursing home in Aberdeen, Washington, on August 22, 1984; he had suffered a stroke in 1980. He is interred in the Fern Hill Cemetery, Aberdeen, WA.[2]
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | Loss | 123–5–11 | Jimmy Casino | TKO | 5 (10) | May 23, 1941 | ||
| 139 | Loss | 123–4–11 | Al Hostak | KO | 1 (15) | Jul 26, 1938 | ||
| 138 | Win | 123–3–11 | Solly Krieger | UD | 10 | Jun 14, 1938 | ||
| 137 | Win | 122–3–11 | Carmen Barth | TKO | 7 (15) | Feb 19, 1938 | ||
| 136 | Win | 121–3–11 | Bob Turner | KO | 1 (10) | Feb 8, 1938 | ||
| 135 | Loss | 120–3–11 | Fred Apostoli | TKO | 9 (12) | Jan 7, 1938 | ||
| 134 | Win | 120–2–11 | Ken Overlin | KO | 4 (15) | Sep 11, 1937 | ||
| 133 | Win | 119–2–11 | Charley Williams | TKO | 8 (10) | Jul 21, 1937 | ||
| 132 | Win | 118–2–11 | Frank Battaglia | KO | 3 (15) | May 11, 1937 | ||
| 131 | Win | 117–2–11 | Paul Pirrone | TKO | 1 (10) | Mar 2, 1937 | ||
| 130 | Win | 116–2–11 | Eddie Babe Risko | UD | 15 | Feb 19, 1937 | ||
| 129 | Win | 115–2–11 | Gorilla Jones | UD | 10 | Jan 1, 1937 | ||
| 128 | Win | 114–2–11 | Young Stuhley | PTS | 10 | Dec 8, 1936 | ||
| 127 | Win | 113–2–11 | Al Rossi | KO | 1 (10) | Nov 27, 1936 | ||
| 126 | Win | 112–2–11 | Gus Lesnevich | TKO | 2 (10) | Nov 17, 1936 | ||
| 125 | Win | 111–2–11 | Allen Matthews | UD | 10 | Oct 21, 1936 | ||
| 124 | Win | 110–2–11 | Young Stuhley | PTS | 10 | Sep 3, 1936 | ||
| 123 | Win | 109–2–11 | Jackie Aldare | KO | 2 (10) | Aug 20, 1936 | ||
| 122 | Win | 108–2–11 | Eddie Babe Risko | UD | 15 | Jul 11, 1936 | ||
| 121 | Win | 107–2–11 | Tony Fisher | UD | 10 | Apr 28, 1936 | ||
| 120 | Win | 106–2–11 | Eddie Babe Risko | UD | 10 | Mar 24, 1936 | ||
| 119 | Win | 105–2–11 | Young Stuhley | PTS | 10 | Feb 25, 1936 | ||
| 118 | Win | 104–2–11 | Henry Firpo | KO | 2 (10) | Feb 4, 1936 | ||
| 117 | Win | 103–2–11 | Meyer Grace | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 23, 1936 | ||
| 116 | Win | 102–2–11 | Young Stuhley | PTS | 10 | Nov 19, 1935 | ||
| 115 | Win | 101–2–11 | Mike Payan | TKO | 5 (10) | Oct 25, 1935 | ||
| 114 | Win | 100–2–11 | Swede Berglund | TKO | 6 (10) | Oct 18, 1935 | ||
| 113 | Win | 99–2–11 | Gorilla Jones | UD | 10 | Sep 17, 1935 | ||
| 112 | Win | 98–2–11 | Vince Dundee | TKO | 3 (10) | Jul 30, 1935 | ||
| 111 | Win | 97–2–11 | Al Rossi | TKO | 2 (10) | Jun 11, 1935 | ||
| 110 | Win | 96–2–11 | Mike Payan | PTS | 10 | May 16, 1935 | ||
| 109 | Win | 95–2–11 | Sammy O'Dell | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 23, 1935 | ||
| 108 | Win | 94–2–11 | Fred Apostoli | TKO | 10 (10) | Apr 1, 1935 | ||
| 107 | Win | 93–2–11 | Indian Jimmy Rivers | KO | 9 (10) | Feb 21, 1935 | ||
| 106 | Win | 92–2–11 | Indian Jimmy Rivers | TKO | 5 (10) | Feb 12, 1935 | ||
| 105 | Win | 91–2–11 | Baby Joe Gans | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 24, 1935 | ||
| 104 | Win | 90–2–11 | Tommy Rios | PTS | 10 | Jan 10, 1935 | ||
| 103 | Win | 89–2–11 | Andy DiVodi | KO | 6 (10) | Dec 20, 1934 | ||
| 102 | Win | 88–2–11 | Jack Hibbard | TKO | 4 (10) | Dec 5, 1934 | ||
| 101 | Win | 87–2–11 | Jimmy Evans | TKO | 4 (10) | Nov 13, 1934 | ||
| 100 | Win | 86–2–11 | Andy DiVodi | PTS | 10 | Nov 1, 1934 | ||
| 99 | Win | 85–2–11 | Joe Glick | KO | 1 (10) | Oct 26, 1934 | ||
| 98 | Win | 84–2–11 | Bucky Lawless | TKO | 2 (10) | Jun 29, 1934 | ||
| 97 | 83–2–11 | Sammy Slaughter | NC | 1 (10) | Jun 22, 1934 | |||
| 96 | Win | 83–2–11 | Babe Marino | PTS | 10 | Jun 8, 1934 | ||
| 95 | Draw | 82–2–11 | Gorilla Jones | PTS | 10 | May 22, 1934 | ||
| 94 | Win | 82–2–10 | Joe Cardoza | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 26, 1934 | ||
| 93 | Win | 81–2–10 | Eddie Murdock | KO | 4 (10) | Apr 10, 1934 | ||
| 92 | Win | 80–2–10 | Vivencio Alicante | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 8, 1934 | ||
| 91 | Win | 79–2–10 | Johnny Romero | KO | 2 (8) | Feb 27, 1934 | ||
| 90 | Win | 78–2–10 | Leonard Bennett | PTS | 8 | Feb 15, 1934 | ||
| 89 | Win | 77–2–10 | Petey Mike | PTS | 10 | Oct 12, 1933 | ||
| 88 | Win | 76–2–10 | Frankie Petrolle | KO | 3 (10) | Aug 8, 1933 | ||
| 87 | Win | 75–2–10 | Eddie Ran | PTS | 6 | Jun 27, 1933 | ||
| 86 | Win | 74–2–10 | Joe Glick | PTS | 8 | Jun 22, 1933 | ||
| 85 | Win | 73–2–10 | Alvin Lewis | KO | 3 (6) | Jun 6, 1933 | ||
| 84 | Win | 72–2–10 | Tiger Lee Paige | PTS | 6 | Jun 1, 1933 | ||
| 83 | Win | 71–2–10 | Gilbert Attell | KO | 3 (6) | May 18, 1933 | ||
| 82 | Win | 70–2–10 | Leonard Bennett | PTS | 6 | Jan 17, 1933 | ||
| 81 | Win | 69–2–10 | Battling Dozier | PTS | 6 | Nov 17, 1932 | ||
| 80 | Win | 68–2–10 | Millio Millitti | PTS | 6 | Nov 3, 1932 | ||
| 79 | Win | 67–2–10 | Tommy Herman | PTS | 6 | Oct 26, 1932 | ||
| 78 | Loss | 66–2–10 | Tommy Herman | PTS | 4 | Sep 27, 1932 | ||
| 77 | Win | 66–1–10 | Ceferino Garcia | KO | 2 (4) | Sep 20, 1932 | ||
| 76 | Win | 65–1–10 | David Velasco | PTS | 6 | Sep 7, 1932 | ||
| 75 | Win | 64–1–10 | Billy Townsend | PTS | 6 | Aug 26, 1932 | ||
| 74 | Win | 63–1–10 | Alfonso Gonzales | PTS | 6 | Aug 11, 1932 | ||
| 73 | Win | 62–1–10 | Tiger Lee Paige | PTS | 6 | Aug 3, 1932 | ||
| 72 | Win | 61–1–10 | Ralph Chong | TKO | 6 (6) | Jul 20, 1932 | ||
| 71 | Win | 60–1–10 | Larry Murphy | PTS | 6 | Jun 30, 1932 | ||
| 70 | Win | 59–1–10 | Alfonso Gonzales | PTS | 6 | Jun 1, 1932 | ||
| 69 | Win | 58–1–10 | Frankie Stetson | PTS | 6 | May 24, 1932 | ||
| 68 | Win | 57–1–10 | Ceferino Garcia | KO | 2 (6) | May 18, 1932 | ||
| 67 | Win | 56–1–10 | Tony Portillo | PTS | 6 | Apr 27, 1932 | ||
| 66 | Win | 55–1–10 | Bobby Vincent | PTS | 6 | Apr 7, 1932 | ||
| 65 | Win | 54–1–10 | Matt Calo | PTS | 6 | Mar 24, 1932 | ||
| 64 | Win | 53–1–10 | Tiger Lee Paige | PTS | 6 | Mar 16, 1932 | ||
| 63 | Win | 52–1–10 | Freddie Goldstein | PTS | 6 | Mar 3, 1932 | ||
| 62 | Win | 51–1–10 | Matt Calo | PTS | 6 | Nov 30, 1931 | ||
| 61 | Win | 50–1–10 | Cowboy Sammy Evans | PTS | 6 | Sep 23, 1931 | ||
| 60 | Win | 49–1–10 | Johnny Woods | TKO | 3 (6) | Aug 20, 1931 | ||
| 59 | Win | 48–1–10 | Don Fraser | PTS | 6 | Jul 30, 1931 | ||
| 58 | Win | 47–1–10 | Al Gracio | TKO | 3 (6) | Jul 16, 1931 | ||
| 57 | Win | 46–1–10 | Jimmy Owens | UD | 6 | Jun 10, 1931 | ||
| 56 | Win | 45–1–10 | Jimmy Owens | UD | 6 | May 27, 1931 | ||
| 55 | Win | 44–1–10 | Joe Townsend | KO | 2 (6) | May 13, 1931 | ||
| 54 | Win | 43–1–10 | Esten Hunter | PTS | 6 | May 7, 1931 | ||
| 53 | Win | 42–1–10 | Teddy Palacios | KO | 1 (6) | Apr 22, 1931 | ||
| 52 | Win | 41–1–10 | Ritchie King | KO | 1 (6) | Apr 16, 1931 | ||
| 51 | Win | 40–1–10 | Nels Ferguson | TKO | 2 (6) | Apr 8, 1931 | ||
| 50 | Win | 39–1–10 | Nels Ferguson | PTS | 6 | Mar 26, 1931 | ||
| 49 | Win | 38–1–10 | Mickey Cochrane | KO | 2 (6) | Mar 6, 1931 | ||
| 48 | Draw | 37–1–10 | Joe Townsend | PTS | 6 | Feb 18, 1931 | ||
| 47 | Win | 37–1–9 | Mickey Trad | PTS | 6 | Feb 12, 1931 | ||
| 46 | Win | 36–1–9 | Tony Portillo | PTS | 6 | Jan 1, 1931 | ||
| 45 | Loss | 35–1–9 | Tony Portillo | PTS | 6 | Dec 17, 1930 | ||
| 44 | Draw | 35–0–9 | Tony Portillo | PTS | 6 | Dec 11, 1930 | ||
| 43 | Win | 35–0–8 | Joey Coffman | PTS | 6 | Oct 30, 1930 | ||
| 42 | Win | 34–0–8 | Al Gracio | TKO | 1 (6) | Oct 16, 1930 | ||
| 41 | Win | 33–0–8 | Leslie Carter | TKO | 5 (6) | Oct 2, 1930 | ||
| 40 | Win | 32–0–8 | Jimmy Farrar | TKO | 3 (6) | Sep 11, 1930 | ||
| 39 | Win | 31–0–8 | Tommy Fielding | PTS | 6 | Jul 10, 1930 | ||
| 38 | Win | 30–0–8 | Tommy Fielding | PTS | 6 | Jun 26, 1930 | ||
| 37 | Win | 29–0–8 | Joe Townsend | PTS | 6 | May 22, 1930 | ||
| 36 | Win | 28–0–8 | Joe Townsend | PTS | 6 | May 8, 1930 | ||
| 35 | Draw | 27–0–8 | Joe Townsend | PTS | 6 | Apr 25, 1930 | ||
| 34 | Draw | 27–0–7 | Jimmy Britt | PTS | 6 | Mar 6, 1930 | ||
| 33 | Win | 27–0–6 | Jack Red Rondeaux | KO | 4 (6) | Feb 27, 1930 | ||
| 32 | Win | 26–0–6 | Jack Nash | KO | 2 (6) | Jan 23, 1930 | ||
| 31 | Win | 25–0–6 | Frankie Monroe | PTS | 6 | Jan 9, 1930 | ||
| 30 | Win | 24–0–6 | Jimmy Pavolic | PTS | 6 | Dec 19, 1929 | ||
| 29 | Win | 23–0–6 | Paddy Ryan | KO | 1 (4) | Nov 21, 1929 | ||
| 28 | Win | 22–0–6 | Harry Davis | TKO | 2 (4) | Nov 14, 1929 | ||
| 27 | Win | 21–0–6 | Johnny Lussier | PTS | 4 | Oct 8, 1929 | ||
| 26 | Win | 20–0–6 | Honey Melody | KO | 3 (?) | Oct 1, 1929 | ||
| 25 | Win | 19–0–6 | Arnold Smith | KO | 1 (4) | Aug 5, 1929 | ||
| 24 | Win | 18–0–6 | Ralph Smith | PTS | 4 | Jun 27, 1929 | ||
| 23 | Win | 17–0–6 | Eddie Foster | KO | 2 (4) | May 9, 1929 | ||
| 22 | Win | 16–0–6 | Floyd Soldier Brown | PTS | 4 | Apr 1, 1929 | ||
| 21 | Win | 15–0–6 | Len Lockren | PTS | 4 | Mar 15, 1929 | ||
| 20 | Draw | 14–0–6 | Len Lockren | PTS | 4 | Mar 1, 1929 | ||
| 19 | Draw | 14–0–5 | Jimmy Pavolic | PTS | 4 | Jan 1, 1929 | ||
| 18 | Win | 14–0–4 | Johnny Leonard | PTS | 4 | Nov 22, 1928 | ||
| 17 | Win | 13–0–4 | Eddie Harmon | KO | 2 (?) | Oct 1, 1928 | ||
| 16 | Win | 12–0–4 | Ralph Smith | PTS | 4 | Sep 20, 1928 | ||
| 15 | Win | 11–0–4 | Jimmy Warfield | KO | 1 (?) | Sep 1, 1928 | ||
| 14 | Draw | 10–0–4 | Larry Hannon | PTS | 4 | Aug 10, 1928 | ||
| 13 | Win | 10–0–3 | Harry Ketchel | KO | 2 (?) | Jul 4, 1928 | ||
| 12 | Draw | 9–0–3 | Eddie Harmon | PTS | 4 | Jun 12, 1928 | ||
| 11 | Win | 9–0–2 | Young Tex Vernon | PTS | 6 | May 18, 1928 | ||
| 10 | Win | 8–0–2 | Billy Quilter | KO | 2 (4) | May 3, 1928 | ||
| 9 | Win | 7–0–2 | Bud Weaver | TKO | 4 (4) | Mar 15, 1928 | ||
| 8 | Win | 6–0–2 | Billy Edwards | KO | 4 (4) | Mar 1, 1928 | ||
| 7 | Win | 5–0–2 | Hermosa Villa | PTS | 4 | Jan 12, 1928 | ||
| 6 | Win | 4–0–2 | Nick Vonda | PTS | 4 | Apr 27, 1927 | ||
| 5 | Draw | 3–0–2 | Jimmy Britt | PTS | 4 | Mar 16, 1927 | ||
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | George Wilson | PTS | 4 | Jan 5, 1927 | ||
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Mocus Canning | PTS | 4 | Dec 8, 1926 | ||
| 2 | Draw | 1–0–1 | Jimmy Britt | PTS | 4 | Nov 24, 1926 | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jimmy Britt | PTS | 4 | Nov 10, 1926 | ||
|-|-|-
Freddie Steele is an honored member of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame (1999) and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He was one of the three original inductees into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame when it opened in 1957.
