26 Facts About Harry Jeffra

Harry Jeffra was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998.

Harry Jeffra's manager was Max Waxman and his trainer was Heinie Blaustein.

Harry Jeffra claimed to have changed his name from Ignatius Guiffie in the fourth grade, when his school principal said she couldn't pronounce it.

On December 9,1936, Harry Jeffra first met the reigning World Bantamweight champion Sixto Escobar.

Harry Jeffra captured the World Bantamweight title at age 23 by outpointing Puerto Rican great Sixto Escobar on September 23,1937 in a fifteen-round points decision in New York's Polo Grounds.

Harry Jeffra lost the title to Escobar in his home country in San Juan, Puerto, Rico, on February 20,1938 in another classic fifteen round points decision before a crowd of around 13,000.

At least one source considered the restrictive dieting and heavy work outs required by Harry Jeffra to make the 118 bantamweight limit, and the resulting lack of stamina, to be one of the causes of his loss to Escobar.

On September 17,1938, Harry Jeffra defeated Nicky Jerome in a sixth-round technical knockout at Ridgewood Grove in Brooklyn.

Harry Jeffra then moved up in weight to featherweight, where he fought several bouts against Joey Archibald.

On May 20,1940, Harry Jeffra outpointed Archibald to win the NYSAC version of the World Featherweight Championship in a fifteen rounds unanimous decision in his hometown of Baltimore.

Harry Jeffra won by a large margin before an impressive crowd of 4,500.

Harry Jeffra came close to knocking out Archibald in the second where he scored three knockdowns using strong rights, two for counts of nine.

Harry Jeffra lost in a ten-round somewhat close Unanimous Decision at the Kingston Armory in Kingston, Pennsylvania.

Harry Jeffra used a straight right and a less effective left to build a lead in points primarily in the last three rounds.

Harry Jeffra lost to Archibald in a NYSAC title bout on May 12,1941 in a fifteen-round split decision in Washington, DC, though according to most sources, it is not entirely clear if he subsequently lost the NYSAC World Featherweight Title.

On November 10,1941, Harry Jeffra again defeated great rival Joey Archibald gaining a ten-round Unanimous Decision in Providence, Rhode Island, taking the lead early and never losing it.

Jack Dempsey, who shared management with Harry Jeffra, acted as one of his corner men.

Harry Jeffra boxed at 128, quite close to the weight of Archibald.

Harry Jeffra lost a NYSAC World Featherweight Title bout to reigning champion Chalky Wright on June 19,1942, before a crowd of 6,000 at Oriole Park in Baltimore, in a ten-round technical knockout.

Harry Jeffra was down in the ninth, badly worn down from the blows of Wright.

Harry Jeffra returned for the tenth looking weak, and once he was down, the fight was immediately called.

On March 27,1944, Harry Jeffra fought an important non-title bout with former NBA World Bantamweight Champion Lou Salica, winning in a ten-round unanimous decision in his hometown of Baltimore.

On November 20,1944, Harry Jeffra scratched out an important but close victory in a non-title bout against former NBA World Featherweight Champion Phil Terranova in a ten-round split decision in Baltimore.

Harry Jeffra defeated such men as Lou Salica, "Pittsburgh" Jackie Wilson, Ruby Bradley, Joey Iannotti, Indian Quintana, and Bill Speary.

Harry Jeffra was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1982.

Harry Jeffra was married and had two boys and two girls, sending all to college.