Charley Riley
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Charley Riley, alias Chillin' Charley, is an inductee of the Boxing Hall of Fame.
[edit] Personal Life
Riley was from St. Louis, Missouri.
[edit] Professional Career
Charley Riley was a top featherweight boxing contender in the 1940s and 1950s. He achieved nationalwide recognition in the United States with a trio of exciting fights with ex-NBA featherweight champ Phil Terranova. First he lost via a one-punch body shot knockout on February 22, 1946. On April 30, 1947 Riley evened the score with a 7th-round TKO of Terranova. Then on September 3, 1947 he further avenged himself with a first-round TKO. Reports were that the referee stopped the third fight on the advice of the ring doctor because Terranova was bleeding profusely.
Riley also fought Willie Pep for the featherweight championship in St Louis January 16, 1950 and was knocked out by Pep by a body punch in the fifth round.
Riley accepted a non-title bout with reigning featherweight champion Sandy Saddler November 1, 1950 and lost a decision. He put pressure on Saddler in the first part part of the fight and gave a good show, but faded in the later rounds.
Riley stated to this author he was hit hardest in his boxing career by Mexican Miguel Acevedo. In that fight he rallied and came on strong to decisively beat Acevedo.
Other greats who Riley faced during his career included Glen Flanagan, Corky Gonzalez, George Araujo, Juan Padilla, Redtop Davis, and Ray Famechon.
Riley retired in 1954 with a record of 67 wins (38 by knockout) 29 losses, and 1 draw. [1] Although he was never a world champion, Charley Riley was elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
Always a crowd pleaser because of his aggressive style, Riley drew big crowds in fights in his hometown of St Louis. He was also known as the "Finney Avenue Fashion Plate" for his attention to dress. (Finney Avenue is an address in St Louis.)
[edit] Notes
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