30 Facts About Pinky Silverberg

Pinky Silverberg was a Connecticut-based American boxer who briefly held the National Boxing Association World Flyweight title in late 1927.

Pinky Silverberg's managers were Johnny Herman, Lou Anger, and Joe Smith.

Pinky Silverberg was born into a Jewish family in the Bronx on April 5,1904.

Pinky Silverberg's father relocated to Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1920 to find work in one of the many factories in the Naugatuck Valley.

Pinky Silverberg began his career in 1920 when he was only 16 by adding two years to his age so he could begin boxing professionally.

Between September 1920, and June 1925, Pinky Silverberg fought twenty-seven bouts almost exclusively in the Connecticut area, losing only three, and winning fourteen, with three by knockout.

Pinky Silverberg took the Connecticut Flyweight Championship on October 17,1925, against Al Beuregard at the Opera House in Ansonia, Connecticut, in a ten-round points decision.

In what may well have been his only loss by knockout, on April 5,1926, Pinky Silverberg lost to accomplished boxer Willie LaMorte at Footguard Hall in Hartford, Connecticut, in a difficult bout lasting only three rounds.

Apparently LaMorte had Silverberg down cold, as Pinky lost to LaMorte again on June 25,1928, at Laurel Garden in Newark, New Jersey in a ten-round points decision.

On January 27,1926, Pinky Silverberg first met Ruby Bradley in Hartford, Connecticut losing in an eight-round points decision.

Pinky Silverberg won the NBA World Flyweight Championship vacated by Fidel LaBarba, who had recently retired, by defeating Ruby "Dark Cloud" Bradley in Bridgeport, Connecticut on October 22,1927, when Bradley was disqualified for delivering a low blow to Pinky Silverberg in the seventh round.

Pinky Silverberg was unable to continue the bout due to the injury.

Pinky Silverberg met Bradley again on December 3,1927, in a fateful match that was contested above the flyweight limit at the State Armory in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was therefore not a title bout.

At 116 pounds, on July 24,1928, Pinky Silverberg lost to Norwegian Pete Sanstol at Queensboro Stadium in Queens, in a six-round points decision.

Pinky Silverberg met fellow New England Jewish contender Archie Bell on September 22,1928, in a feature bout at the Ridgewood Grove in Bell's hometown of Brooklyn, losing in a six-round points decision.

At 118 pounds, on November 8,1928, Pinky Silverberg lost to Black boxer Kid Chocolate, then a sensational Cuban bantamweight, at New York's St Nicholas Arena, in a ten-round points decision.

Kid Chocolate is listed first among the boxers Pinky Silverberg fought in black print on the poster at right.

On May 25,1929, Pinky Silverberg lost to Petey Sarron, future NBA World Featherweight Champion, in an important fifteen round points decision in Melbourne, Australia.

The poster at right shows Pinky Silverberg announcing his status as a bantamweight contender, and noting his return from Australia in 1929.

At 122 pounds, on November 11,1929, Pinky Silverberg lost to exceptional English flyweight Nel Tarleton in a ten-round points decision at the Nicholas Arena in New York.

On January 25,1930, Pinky Silverberg lost to Panama Al Brown reigning NBA World Bantamweight Champion, in a non-title ten round points decision at the Arena Polar in Havana, Cuba.

Pinky Silverberg demonstrated he could remain on his feet with some of the best boxers of his era.

On March 9,1931, Pinky Silverberg met Midget Wolgast, for the last time, at the Park Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut losing in a ten-round points decision.

Pinky Silverberg clinched the title in May 1930 against Willie LeMorte.

Pinky Silverberg won his last known fight, a four rounder against Frankie Reese at Star Casino in New York.

Pinky Silverberg fought in the Connecticut area and lived in Ansonia during much of his early life and career.

Pinky Silverberg recovered from a heart attack in 1959, though it was not his first.

Pinky Silverberg died at his home in Ansonia on January 16,1964, after another heart attack at the age of 59.

Pinky Silverberg was survived by his wife and two children, Janis, and Ron.

Pinky Silverberg was inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame on November 30,2007.