37 Facts About Benny Bass

Benny Bass was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, with his family emigrating to the United States in 1906; choosing to settle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Benny Bass was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002.

Strongly built with muscular shoulders, Benny Bass's signature punch was a powerful left hook to the midsection, and he enjoyed fighting on the inside, a frequent requirement from his relative lack of reach.

Benny Bass was born in Kyiv, Russian Empire on December 4,1904, the second son to Jewish parents Jacob and Pauline and was brought to America three years later.

From age twelve to sixteen, Benny Bass won 95 of 100 bouts as an amateur.

On January 11,1926, Benny Bass defeated Leo Roy, in a ten-round points decision in Philadelphia.

Benny Bass's opponent threw several looping rights, but Bass was usually able to come inside of them as an effective defense.

Several times Herman's right did connect with jaw and body at close quarters, but Benny Bass weathered the blows quickly.

Herman threw a right in the second, followed almost instantaneously from a left from Benny Bass that sent both boxers to the canvas, though Benny Bass recovered more quickly and was on his feet.

Early in his career on June 27,1927, Benny Bass defeated Jewish New York boxer Joe Glick in a ten-round points decision at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

Benny Bass sent Glick to the canvas twice in the fifth, once for a count of eight.

On September 12,1927, Benny Bass defeated Jewish boxer Red Chapman before an extraordinary crowd of 30,000 in Philadelphia for the NBA world featherweight championship in a ten-round unanimous decision.

Benny Bass led a two fisted slugging attack in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, that gained him a points margin and won him the decision of all three judges.

Benny Bass recovered more quickly, but Chapman took a count of eight before resuming the bout.

Benny Bass lost the world featherweight title to Tony Canzoneri on February 10,1928 at Madison Square Garden in a fifteen-round split decision, with Benny Bass sustaining a break to his right collarbone from a left to the jaw at the end of the third round that landed him hard on the canvas, causing the collarbone damage.

Benny Bass inflicted some severe body punishment during the fight, but Canzoneri eased ahead on points after Benny Bass's knockdown in the third that resulted in his injury.

Benny Bass defeated Jewish Philadelphian boxer Harry Blitman before a crowd of 24,000 on September 10,1928 in a sixth-round knockout at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

Benny Bass put Bitman to the canvas in the sixth with a series of hard rights, and had scored a knockdown for a count of seven in the second round.

Benny Bass defeated former Junior Lightweight Champion Mike Ballerino, in a fast ten round points decision on October 17,1927.

Benny Bass first defended the title on February 3,1930, against Davey Abad in a fourth-round technical knockout in St Louis.

Benny Bass later defeated Shea in a second-round knockout in Atlantic City on August 31,1934, that became one of Shea's last bouts before boxing retirement.

Benny Bass put Shea to the canvas in the second round with a right to the chin that put Shea down for the count, and left him unable to rise immediately afterwards.

Benny Bass defeated future world light welterweight champion, Johnny Jadick on December 8,1930 in a ten-round unanimous decision in Philadelphia.

The referee called the third, fourth, and fifth even, but gave the other seven rounds to Benny Bass who came close to knocking out his opponent.

Benny Bass defeated Lew Massey on January 5,1931 before a near capacity crowd of 10,000 in a ten-round newspaper decision for the world junior lightweight title at the Arena in Philadelphia.

Benny Bass landed a fusillade of punches to the body that weakened his opponent, who had to use his best defenses to avoid a knockout in the closing rounds.

Benny Bass defeated Bud Taylor in Philadelphia in a second-round technical knockout on February 16,1931 in what would have been a ten-round bout.

Benny Bass appeared to take the first round with sheer aggressiveness.

Taylor was winning the second round with smashes to head and body, before Benny Bass fought back and landed what appeared by many to be a low blow to the midruff.

Benny Bass defeated Eddie Mack on May 4,1931 at the arena in Philadelphia by knockout with a crushing right to the right side of the chin that broke Mack's lower right jaw in the third round.

Benny Bass lost the world junior lightweight title on July 15,1931 before a large crowd of 15,000, to black Cuban boxer Kid Chocolate in a technical knockout, 2:58 into the seventh round in Philadelphia.

Doyle was first down from a right to the jaw for a count of nine, and then when Doyle resumed the match, Benny Bass ended it for good.

At 32, Benny Bass was no match for Armstrong, though he managed to stay on his feet until the fourth.

On June 25,1975, Benny Bass died at 70 at Rolling Hills hospital in Philadelphia where he had been a patient for several months.

Benny Bass left a wife, daughter, three children, and a great grandchild.

Benny Bass had been married a total of three times.

Benny Bass is enshrined in the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame.