1. Julie Kogon was an American lightweight boxer and world title contender from New Haven, Connecticut.
30 Facts About Julie Kogon
1. 2.
Julie Kogon came extremely close to becoming the New York State Boxing Commission's World Featherweight Championship when he defeated reigning champion Petey Scalzo in October 1940, placing him as one of the top ten or better contenders for two weight classes in a seven-year period.
3.
Julie Kogon was born to Jewish parents on April 4,1918, to what would become a struggling family of five boys and five girls.
4.
Julie Kogon grew up on New Haven, Connecticut's Portsea Street.
5.
Julie Kogon quickly earned an enthusiastic following in New Haven, and at one time appeared in 70 fights in the city, many to packed or full houses.
6.
Julie Kogon went undefeated in his first 22 fights, with 17 wins, with 0 losses, 4 draws, and 1 no contest.
7.
In Marteliano's first 37 fights, often with top competitors, Julie Kogon was the first to achieve a knockout or even win a decision.
8.
On January 21,1941, Julie Kogon lost to the 1938 European lightweight champion, Italian boxer Aldo Spoldi, in an exciting and hard fought contest, at the arena in New Haven in a ten-round points decision.
9.
On July 20,1944, Julie Kogon faced the great black 1946 NBA New York world lightweight champion Ike Williams before a sizable crowd of 6,500 at Madison Square Garden, and lost in a ten-round unanimous decision.
10.
Some boxing analysts faulted Julie Kogon for gaining an advantage over an injured Williams in the sixth and seventh but not adequately following up.
11.
When Julie Kogon landed a right on Williams in the sixth after breaking from a clutch, he stepped back instead of following his advantage and in the seventh when he again landed some effective rights, he again stepped back.
12.
On January 6,1947, Julie Kogon captured the New England lightweight title when he won a twelve-round points decision from Pat Demers at the Arena in New Haven before his loyal hometown audience who were thrilled with the decision.
13.
Julie Kogon won with effective counter-punching, giving him nine of the ten rounds according to the referee's scoring.
14.
Julie Kogon had an exceptional night and capped his fifth consecutive victory.
15.
Julie Kogon won the eight and ninth rounds with sharp, well-placed rights.
16.
Julie Kogon dominated in his boxing skills, speed, endurance and punching ability, but the courage of Stato made the fight.
17.
On June 2,1947, in New Haven, Julie Kogon met the accomplished Bob Montgomery, reigning New York Boxing Commission's world lightweight champion, and fought a close, skillful, well paced match.
18.
In perhaps his most significant late career bouts, Julie Kogon appeared to lead through the first eight rounds, but his championship opponent pulled ahead with a furious body attack in the last two rounds to win on points.
19.
At least five of the rounds were judged as close with Julie Kogon taking the lead in three.
20.
Once again, Julie Kogon performed well against the best in his weight class but failed to close at the end.
21.
Julie Kogon had met Montgomery twice in 1941, in Chicago and Brooklyn, losing both times on points.
22.
Julie Kogon fought with quality defensive skill winning three rounds in the contest.
23.
On September 8,1947, Julie Kogon drew with Minelli at New Haven in 10 rounds.
24.
On July 26,1948, Julie Kogon met future three time world lightweight champion Jimmy Carter as the main feature at Century Stadium in Springfield, Massachusetts, and lost by technical knockout in the seventh of ten rounds.
25.
Julie Kogon was down briefly in the fourth, and for a count of nine in the fifth.
26.
Julie Kogon announced his retirement shortly after the bout, but boxed on through 1950.
27.
An aging Julie Kogon tried to show aggressiveness in the ring, but retreated or clinched after most of his best rights or few punching flurries.
28.
Shortly before his boxing retirement, Julie Kogon bought a New Haven lunch restaurant on Norton Street.
29.
Julie Kogon died on December 20,1986, in Pampano Beach, Florida, at the age of 68, leaving two children and four grandchildren.
30.
Julie Kogon was inducted into The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame on November 21,2009.