33 Facts About Charley White

Charley White lost a comeback match in 1930 against Henry Perlick, where he threw his famous left hook but Perlick countered with a right cross, knocking him down.

Charley White had ten championship opponents in the welterweight division: Abe Attell, Johnny Kilbane, and Johnny Dundee in the featherweight division; Ad Wolgast, Willie Ritchie, Freddie Welsh, Benny Leonard and Rocky Kansas in the lightweight division; and Jack Britton, and Ted Kid Lewis.

At fifteen, Charley Anchowitz changed his last name to White and began his professional boxing career.

Charley White's first fight against a World Champion came when he was eighteen against the legendary Jewish world featherweight champion Abe Attell on 6 December 1909 in Memphis.

Charley White landed rights and lefts to the champion's head and body, but Attell surpassed Charley White in his use of short jabs in the infighting.

Charley White lost to Attell again on 16 September 1910 at the Hippodrome in Milwaukee, but got in several potent blows against a far more experienced fighter.

Attell danced around the ring to gain an angle of advantage, but Charley White showed a solid defense.

Charley White lost to future champion Johnny Kilbane in a twelve round bout before 2,200 at Grey's Armory in Cleveland on 23 December 1911.

On 4 July 1913, Charley White valiantly lost to future Welterweight Champion Jack Britton in an eighteen round technical knockout in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The injury was acquired when Charley White dealt a strong blow to Britton's face.

On 19 December 1913, Charley White defeated Ad Wolgast former world lightweight champion in a ten round newspaper decision at Dreamland Park in Milwaukee.

Charley White dominated the bout with his left hook, but Wolgast was not quite the boxer who earlier held the championship and his punches lacked steam.

Charley White had taken the world lightweight championship against Mexican Joe Rivers in July 1912, but lost it in November 1912 to Willie Ritchie.

Charley White was said to look far fresher at the end than Ritchie who had both eyes nearly closed, and suffered from serious damage to his face and nose.

Charley White lost a ten round decision to exceptional New York Jewish boxing phenomenon Leach Cross on 25 March 1915, at the shrine of East coast boxing, Madison Square Garden.

Cross's trademark crouch, and ability to bore in regardless of the cost, had Charley White baffled at times during the bout, which included constant action throughout.

On 21 July 1915, Charley White lost to fellow British and Jewish lightweight Ted "Kid" Lewis, in a newspaper decision at St Nicholas Rink in New York.

Lewis, with his dancing attack common to many English boxers of the time, landed more blows, but Charley White's left hooks, though few in number, landed with more force and affected Lewis more.

Charley White made a better showing in the two final rounds.

Charley White unsuccessfully challenged reigning lightweight champion Freddie Welsh for his title.

Charley White possessed a lethal left hook, but seemed to lack the killer instinct.

Charley White appeared to have Welsh ready for a knockout in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth rounds of their 1916 match, but failed to follow up his advantage.

Welsh backpedaled against the aggressive attack of Charley White, who scored with hooks to the head and body, when the two were not clinching.

The extremely unpopular 20-round decision was awarded to Welsh, though Charley White appeared to land more blows, causing a small riot to break out in the crowd.

In 1916 a challenger to the lightweight crown had to knockout the title holder, and Charley White did not, losing his chance to be remembered as one of boxing's best.

On 5 July 1920, Charley White lost to Jewish boxer and exceptional lightweight champion, Benny Leonard, in a ninth round knockout before an audience of 12,000 at Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Charley White showed better speed and agility, and used footwork to gain advantages in the angle of his attack.

The hard punching Charley White knocked Leonard out of the ring in the fifth round with his left hook, but failed to follow up.

Ken Blady wrote that Leonard was helped up by his brother Charley White, and did not arise til the count of nine.

Charley White paid for his hesitation when Leonard KOed him in the 9th round.

Charley White subsequently relocated to Los Angeles, and trained movie actors.

Charley White died on 24 July 1959 near Los Angeles at the California State Hospital, where he had been placed three years earlier.

Charley White was named to the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, probably for his noted skill with the left hook.