| Rudell Stitch | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Rated at | welterweight |
| Nationality | United States |
| Born | January 7, 1933 Louisville, Kentucky |
| Died | June 5, 1960 Louisville, Kentucky |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 34 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Wins by KO | 13 |
| Losses | 7 |
Rudell Stitch (January 7, 1933 - June 5, 1960) was a professional boxer from Louisville, Kentucky. Stitch was ranked second in the world as a welterweight and fought numerous contenders, including Isaac Logart, Yama Bahama, Chico Vejar, Gasper Ortega, Luis Manuel Rodríguez, Ralph Dupas, Holly Mims, and Stan Harrington. He died while trying to save a friend from drowning in the Ohio River.
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Boxing as a lightweight and welterweight, Stitch won 45 of 57 amateur bouts. He won Kentucky state titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. Stitch reached the semifinals of the Chicago Golden Gloves and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.
With Bud Bruner as his manager and trainer, Stitch started his professional boxing career as a welterweight in 1956. He won his first three professional fights, then lost a four-round split decision to Art Glass. He followed his first pro loss with two knockout victories, then lost a six-round decision in a rematch with Glass. After two more wins, Stitch lost an eight-round split decision to middleweight Pedro Bradley.
To make ends meet, Stitch worked a full-time job at a meat packing plant while pursuing his boxing career. He had a wife, a daughter, and five sons to support.[1]
After six consecutive wins, Stitch fought Isaac Logart, the second-ranked welterweight in the world. The fight took place at the Jefferson County Armory in Louisville, Kentucky on August 27, 1958. Stitch defeated Logart by a ten-round unanimous decision.[2] On October 6, 1958, they had a rematch at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City. It was a close battle all the way. Logart had a strong finish and won by a close ten-round unanimous decision.[3]
On November 26, 1958, Stitch faced Yama Bahama, a veteran with fifty-two professional victories. Stitch won by a ten-round unanimous decision.[4] On December 28, 1958, Stitch defeated middleweight Chico Vejar by a ten-round unanimous decision. He gave away 11½ pounds to Vejar, a winner of eighty-three professional fights.[5]
Stitch's first fight with Gasper Ortega, which took place at Madison Square Garden on February 6, 1959, illustrated his character. In the third round, there was an accidental clash of heads. Stitch wasn't hurt, but Ortega was staggering around. Stitch backed away and let Ortega's head clear: he didn't believe in taking advantage of an opponent in such a situation. Ortega went on to win by a ten-round split decision, but Stitch's sportsmanship earned him much respect. On May 8, 1959, they had a rematch in Syracuse, New York, and Stitch won by a ten-round unanimous decision.[6]
On the day of the Ortega rematch, Stitch was awarded the Carnegie Hero Fund medal for rescuing a man from drowning in the Ohio River.[7]
On July 1, 1959, Stitch knocked out Rudy Sawyer in the first round. In his previous fight, Sawyer lost a ten-round unanimous decision to future World Welterweight Champion Benny Paret. The knockout loss to Stitch was the only time Sawyer was stopped in his entire career.[8]
On August 26, 1959, Stitch faced future World Welterweight Champion Luis Manuel Rodriguez at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Louisville, Kentucky. Stitch was ranked second in the world at welterweight, while Rodriguez was ranked seventh. Rodriguez won by a ten-round split decision, advancing his record to 23-0.[9]
In his next fight, Stitch, now ranked eighth in the world, fought Ralph Dupas at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky on October 7, 1959. Dupas, the future World Junior Middleweight Champion, was ranked third and had seventy-seven professional wins. Stitch won by a ten-round unanimous decision.[10]
Stitch followed the Dupas win with a fight against Holy Mims, a top ten ranked middleweight contender. The fight took place in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 23, 1959. Stitch won by a ten-round split decision.[11]
Stitch was scheduled to fight Carl Hubbard in Chicago, Illinois in January 1960, but the Illinois State Athletic Commission discovered that he had a cataract on his left eye and barred him from fighting.[12] Stitch returned home and was examined by two Louisville eye specialists who determined that the cataract wasn't serious enough to halt his career. Stitch returned to the ring on February 17, 1960 and stopped Charley "Tombstone" Smith in four rounds.[13]
Stitch, once again ranked second in the world, had a rematch with Ralph Dupas in Sydney, Australia on May 2, 1960. They fought before a crowd of 11,000. Dupas came on strong after a sluggish start, using his speed and boxing skill to pile up points. Dupas won by a twelve-round unanimous decision.[14]
Stitch fought Stan Harrington in Honolulu, Hawaii on May 24, 1960. Stitch, behind on points midway thorough the fight, picked up the pace in the second half and won by a ten-round unanimous decision. The win advanced his record to 27-7 with 13 knockouts.[15].
On June 5, 1960, Stitch went fishing with Bud Bruner, Bruner's son, and Charles Oliver, a friend. They were fishing on a rock shelf below the McAlpine Locks and Dam when Oliver slipped. He grabbed Stitch, and they both went into the Ohio River. As he was swimming back to shore, Stitch heard Oliver yelling and went back to get him. Stitch and Oliver, both weighed downed by heavy waders and coats, disappeared in the turbulent water. Their bodies were found by the Coast Guard hours later.
Stitch died the day before he was to sign for a rematch with Luis Manuel Rodriguez.[16] The fight would have taken place on July 24, 1960.
Rodriguez fought former World Welterweight Champion Virgil Akins in Louisville, Kentucky on July 6, 1960, with 35% of the gross going to Stitch's window and six children. Bud Bruner accepted an invitation to act as one of Akins' seconds.[17]
The month following Stitch's death, the National Boxing Association announced the creation of the Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award, which would be presented annually to the professional boxer who displayed the most sportsmanship in and out of the ring.[18]
For his tremendous sacrifice, Stitch posthumously received another medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund. Only three other people have received two Carnegie Hero Fund medals.[19]