20 Facts About Lavern Roach

Raymond "Lavern" Roach was a boxer from the small Texas town of Plainview, who was Ring Magazine's Rookie-of-the-Year in 1947.

Lavern Roach sustained a fatal head injury during a boxing match and died the next day due to a subdural hemorrhage.

Lavern Roach was a high school football star and an outstanding golfer.

Lavern Roach first laced on a pair of gloves at the age of 10.

At the age of 13, Lavern Roach answered the challenge at a county fair in Memphis, Texas, stepping into a makeshift ring against another youngster billed as an outstanding fighter.

Lavern Roach tangled his way to a hard-fought, and very unofficial, draw, and his career path seemed all but set.

Lavern Roach became a proficient boxer in high school and turned professional while still serving in the United States Marines.

Twice Lavern Roach reached the state Golden Gloves title match, falling short of a crown, but went on to win a national Golden Gloves title after joining the Marines in 1943.

In November 1945 Lavern Roach turned pro under the management of John Abood.

Lavern Roach then hit the big time when he defeated Tony Janiro in the main event at Madison Square Garden on January 16,1948.

Lavern Roach was given little chance against the more experienced Janiro but Lavern Roach was in impeccable shape and picked apart Janiro in a lopsided victory by winning 9 of 10 rounds.

Lavern Roach suffered his first loss in nearly two years which put an end to his 18-fight winning streak.

Lavern Roach then retired from boxing for some 18 months before launching an ill-fated comeback.

Lavern Roach was so far ahead on points that he could not help winning, but in the eighth round Small let go a desperation right and it crashed flush on Lavern Roach's jaw.

Lavern Roach's legs buckled; staggering, slack-jawed and glassy-eyed, he hung on.

The referee had a quick look at Lavern Roach and resumed the fight but after just one quick jab to the face by Small, Lavern Roach was down for the count.

Subconsciously, Lavern Roach seemed to know what was happening, saying "I'm all right," but then quickly lapsed into a coma.

Fourteen hours later, in nearby St Clare's Hospital, Lavern Roach, 25, died of a brain hemorrhage at 12:50 pm.

Lavern Roach's body was then transported back to his home town of Plainview, Texas, by military escort where his closest friends and family laid him to rest in the Lavern Roach family plot at Plainview Cemetery.

Lavern Roach was recognized as one of the top 100 athletes of the century in the South Plains.