31 Facts About Teddy Yarosz

Teddy Yarosz held the world middleweight boxing championship from 1934 to 1935.

Teddy Yarosz's father died when he was only sixteen, putting economic pressure on him and his brothers.

Teddy Yarosz ultimately became known as a strong defensive boxer; although he never recorded many knockouts, he lost only one bout by knockout against Babe Risko in January 1935.

Teddy Yarosz defended the Pennsylvania version of the middleweight title against Jimmy Smith on February 12,1934, winning in a fifteen-round unanimous decision before a crowd of 5,000 in Pittsburgh.

Teddy Yarosz took the offense through most of the long bout, and there were no knockdowns by either competitor.

Teddy Yarosz took the NYSAC World Middleweight Title and National Boxing Association World Middleweight Title with a fifteen-round decision over Vince Dundee before a crowd of 28,000 at Forbes Field, on 11 September 1934 in his native Pittsburgh.

The bout was close but somewhat dull due to too much wrestling and clinching, though Teddy Yarosz seemed to hold the lead in all but the late rounds when he looked visibly exhausted.

Teddy Yarosz was awarded eight rounds to Dundee's four, with three even.

Teddy Yarosz scored well with long range blows to the head of Dundee, who seemed to focus more on Yarosz's midsection.

Teddy Yarosz defended the Pennsylvania version of the middleweight title on April 6,1934, against former world middleweight champion Ben Jeby, winning in a twelve-round points decision in Pittsburgh.

Teddy Yarosz was most effective with right hand smashes to the jaw and body of Jeby, who was never given the chance to fight inside where he usually excelled.

Teddy Yarosz lost both the NBA and NYSAC middleweight title to Eddie Babe Risko who defeated him on September 19,1935, in Pittsburgh in fifteen rounds before a crowd of 25,000.

Teddy Yarosz made his best showing in the eighth but did not appear to win any other round on points.

Teddy Yarosz injured his right knee in the fourth round or possibly earlier, and had surgery two months later to repair it.

On September 21,1936, Teddy Yarosz defeated Risko for the first time in a close ten round split decision, demonstrating the skills of his trainer and the depths of his recovery from his knee injury.

Teddy Yarosz showed a definite advantage from the first round, scoring with roundhouse swings, and shining in the seventh where he pummeled the slower moving Risko.

Unfazed by his loss of the title, Teddy Yarosz scored an impressive victory over future world middleweight champion Solly Krieger on January 13,1937, in a ten-round unanimous decision in New York.

Teddy Yarosz defeated former world welter and middleweight champion Lou Brouillard on May 7,1937, in a ten-round points decision before 2,438 in Boston.

Teddy Yarosz lost to the skilled, youthful opponent Billy Conn, another boxer trained by Ray Arcel, on June 30,1937, in a close twelve round split decision before 13,874 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Teddy Yarosz started the first three rounds on offense, scoring heavily with hooks, jabs, and right crosses.

On September 30,1937, Teddy Yarosz lost again to Conn in an equally close fifteen round split decision before 9,000 at Duquesne Gardens in Pittsburgh.

Teddy Yarosz boxed a smart fight in the first seven rounds, building up a significant points margin.

Teddy Yarosz defeated Conn only once on July 25,1938, in a twelve-round unanimous decision before a crowd of 10,800 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Teddy Yarosz outboxed Conn in the last few rounds and Conn was unable to find a remedy or an adequate defense.

Teddy Yarosz was awarded seven rounds, with just one to Conn, with the seventh even.

Teddy Yarosz defeated Archie Moore, future light heavyweight champion, on April 20,1939, in a ten-round unanimous decision in St Louis.

Teddy Yarosz used his always present left to deliver and ward off blows, and took the close with the help of a low blow penalty that cost Moore a round.

Teddy Yarosz married Eugenia Lesniak of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania in 1940.

Teddy Yarosz died after a six-month battle with cancer on March 29,1974, at Beaver Medical Center in Rochester, Pennsylvania, a mile and a half North of his home in Monica, where he had been a member of St John's Church.

Teddy Yarosz was buried in nearby St John's Cemetery and was survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.

Teddy Yarosz was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for the Class of 2006.