| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Boxing | ||
| Bronze | 1936 Berlin | flyweight |
Louis "Lou" Daniel Laurie (November 19, 1917 – December 26, 2002) was an American boxer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
In 1936 he won the bronze medal in the flyweight class after winning the third place fight against Alfredo Carlomagno.
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Laurie was born to an Italian father and a Slovak mother in Cleveland, Ohio. Lou graduated from East Technical High School and went to work as a service station attendant. He was acrobatic champion of Cleveland for two years.
Although he competed in only 22 amateur bouts, Laurie accomplished a great deal during that time. He went to Berlin with the Olympic team where he won three out of his four bouts, earning the bronze medal. So impressive was Laurie's boxing style that he was requested to give an exhibition. He remained in Germany two months and was presented with the Val Barker trophy for being the most scientific boxer in all classes that year.
From Berlin, Lou travelled to Hamburg. Then he went to Le Havre, France. Then to Cobb, Ireland, Plymoth, England and parts of Holland.
When Laurie came back home in 1937, he turned pro under the care of Sam Barber, who had started Paul Perrone. Under Sam, Lou fought eight battles, losing two of them.
He went to Chicago where he had six bouts under Jack Hurley's banner. After defeating Eddie Lander, he returned home, got his old job back pumping gas and gave up boxing for one year. Then, heeding the advice of his friend, Max Minnich, once a promising heavyweight, Lou Laurie re-entered the boxing game - and won a six-round decision at the Ridgewood Grove.
Jack Bluman, manager of Julie Kogan, was then handling the affairs of the clever battler. He continued as a featherweight though his ambitions were to compete in the bantamweight division.
He retired in 1941 after a relatively unsuccessful career, having won 5, lost 8, and drawn 1.
Laurie returned to Europe and re-entered the ring briefly while serving in the Army during World War II.
After the war, Laurie worked as a machinist.
He was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. Four years later, the Ohio State Former Boxers and Associates gave him a similar honor.
Laurie, 85, died December 26, 2002, at Beachwood Nursing and Health Care Center. Survivors included one son, Joseph.
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