Paul Pender
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Paul Pender (June 20, 1930 – January 12, 2003) was an American middleweight boxer.
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[edit] Early life
He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna (Liecester) Pender. A 1949 graduate of Brookline High School, Pender was recruited as an all American football player at Michigan State University and Penn State, but chose instead to enter professional boxing, while attending Staley college. Although a champion, he regarded boxing as his second job and being a Brookline Fire Fighter his first. As an amateur, he won the New England welterweight championship.
[edit] Pro career
In 1959, the National Boxing Association withdrew its recognition of Sugar Ray Robinson as middleweight champion. Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basilio fought for the vacant NBA title, and Fullmer won. Pender beat Robinson the disputed middleweight championship.
He fought a set of three matches against English boxer Terry Downes, of which only the third (on April 7, 1962) went the full nine rounds. He won the first and the third bout, but the last would prove to be the only fight of that year for Pender. The New York Boxing Commission stripped Pender of his title for not defending it against Dick Tiger. Pender sued and won on appeal.
His career was hampered by his brittle hands. He retired May 7, 1963 as world middleweight champion, having never lost his title.
His career record was 40 wins (20 by KO), 6 losses, and 2 draws.
[edit] Life after boxing
He died in Bedford, Massachusetts on January 12, 2003, at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital [1].
[edit] External links
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