52 Facts About Jackie Fields

Jackie Fields was an American professional boxer who won the Undisputed Welterweight Championship twice.

Jackie Fields was elected to the United Savings-Helms Hall of Boxing Fame in 1972, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1987, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.

Jackie Fields, who was Jewish, was born Jacob Finkelstein on Maxwell Street, in Chicago, Illinois, on February 9,1908.

Jackie Fields's father was a Jewish Russian immigrant who worked as a butcher.

Jackie Fields's younger brother was Sam Fields, who was a film editor.

When his family moved to Los Angeles in 1921, Jackie Fields continued boxing at Jack Dempsey's Gym.

Jackie Fields boxed as an exceptional amateur for the Los Angeles Sporting Club, under the instruction of George Blake, a master trainer who recognized Jackie's potential as early as the age of thirteen.

Jackie Fields won a gold medal in featherweight boxing at the age of only 16 in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, becoming the youngest boxer to ever receive such an honor.

Never having been down before, Jackie Fields unwisely rose immediately from his first knockdown, only to be knocked to the canvas again.

Jackie Fields suffered a rare early career loss to Jewish boxer, and former world featherweight champion Louis "Kid" Kaplan on June 15,1927, in a ten round points decision at New York's Polo Grounds.

Kaplan's two handed attack was unrelenting, and though the taller Jackie Fields scored with straight left jabs and a rapid right cross, they did not come frequently enough to gain a margin in points.

Kaplan poured far more blows into Jackie Fields, taking the decision.

Jackie Fields defeated Jewish boxing great, reigning world junior lightweight champion, Mushy Callahan in a non-title bout on November 22,1927.

Jackie Fields continually poured rights and lefts to the body and face, and was credited with six of the ten rounds.

Jackie Fields led the first few rounds with a strong body attack, but Mandell found his range in the third with long lunging lefts to Jackie Fields's left eye.

Jackie Fields's injury put him on the defensive, and in the late rounds he was forced to do more infighting and clinching.

Jackie Fields tried to turn the tables in the ninth, but it was too late to even the points differential.

Jackie Fields staggered Mandell in the sixth with an overhand right to the jaw.

The no-decision bout was not for a title and Jackie Fields was over the lightweight limit, letting Mandell walk away with his championship intact.

The San Francisco Examiner believed Mandell had won by the slightest of margins, but noted that the younger and less experienced Jackie Fields easily took the second and tenth rounds with harder punching, though he failed to follow up his advantage.

Jackie Fields won the world welterweight title in 1929 and 1932.

Jackie Fields defeated Young Jack Thompson before 9,000 fans on March 25,1929, in a ten round unanimous decision in Chicago for the vacant NBA welterweight title.

The Akron Beacon Journal wrote that Jackie Fields was "unstoppable in his offensive, unswerving in his determination, and completely the master of his foe".

Jackie Fields blocked a number of Thompson's blows with his gloves and forearms, and stopped a few in mid-air.

The tenth found Thompson trying to score a knockout but most of his blows were blocked by Jackie Fields, who kept the round even.

Jackie Fields won decisively and was awarded seven of the ten rounds with only one to Thompson and two even.

On July 25,1929, Jackie Fields faced Joe Dundee before a large crowd of 25,000 in a unifying match for the welterweight championship in Detroit.

Jackie Fields was awarded the fight in the second round after Dundee, having been knocked down four times, delivered a foul blow while still down which left Jackie Fields incapable of continuing the fight.

Jackie Fields stated he believed Dundee, but noted that it was the only bout he had ever won on a foul.

The win gave Jackie Fields unified recognition as world welterweight champion.

Jackie Fields defeated black boxer William "Guerilla" Jones, future world "Colored" welterweight champion, on October 21,1929, in San Francisco before a crowd of 10,000.

Jackie Fields's clearly took the ninth and tenth, and had a clear edge in five rounds, but could not defend against repeated rights from Jones throughout the bout.

Jackie Fields was awarded five rounds with only three for Dundee, and two even.

Jackie Fields had defeated Vince Dundee in three previous ten round points decisions in Chicago on October 2,1929, and in two meetings in Los Angeles on April 17, and February 14,1928.

Jackie Fields lost his first bout in two years on February 22,1930, against Young Corbett III in a ten round decision in San Francisco.

Since Corbett was two pounds over the welterweight limit, Jackie Fields's title was not at stake.

Jackie Fields recovered his form two months later with a fourth round TKO against future welterweight champion Tommy Freeman before 8000 fans in Cleveland.

Jackie Fields piled up a points lead in the early rounds, but Thompson came back with jabs and uppercuts in close fighting that badly wore down the reigning champion.

Jackie Fields's victory was considered an upset, as Fields had beaten him in two previous bouts.

Jackie Fields regained the NBA world welterweight championship before an enthusiastic crowd of 11,200, defeating Lou Brouillard in a ten round unanimous decision on January 28,1932, at Chicago Stadium.

Jackie Fields began to take a lead in points in the sixth with vicious lefts and strong sweeping rights that traveled from his hips.

Jackie Fields was involved in a car accident in 1932 outside Louisville, Kentucky, that resulted in a detached retina, a serious injury to his left eye.

Jackie Fields had lost most of his real estate fortune in the depression, and was reluctant to leave boxing despite the injury.

Jackie Fields lost his NBA welterweight title on February 22,1933, against Southpaw Young Corbett III before 15,000 fans in a ten round points decision at Seals Stadium in San Francisco.

Jackie Fields failed to box effectively in defense and remained flat footed most of the bout, possibly from fatigue.

The first five rounds belonged to Corbett, though Jackie Fields rallied in the sixth with shots to the face and body.

Three months after losing the welterweight title, Jackie Fields won a points decision against Young Peter Jackson in May 1933, and retired from boxing.

Jackie Fields coached the boxing scenes in 1934's Personality Kid, appeared in the TV movie Muhammad Ali vs Ron Lyle, as well as the TV programs, Wide World of Sports, and Fight of the Week.

In 1957, Jackie Fields moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and became part owner of the Tropicana Las Vegas.

Jackie Fields eventually sold his interest in the hotel, but stayed on as public relations director.

In 1965, Jackie Fields coached the US boxing team at the 1965 Maccabiah Games.

Jackie Fields died in 1987 at the age of 79 at a nursing home in Las Vegas, Nevada.