40 Facts About Tommy Paul

Tommy Paul was a world featherweight boxing champion from Buffalo, New York.

Tommy Paul won the world featherweight championship in May 1932, defeating Johnny Pena in a boxing tournament in Detroit.

Tommy Paul was inducted into the first class of Buffalo's Ring No 44 Boxing Hall of Fame and in 2003 to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

At seventeen, Tommy Paul followed his brothers into Jack Singer's gym, hoping for a tryout.

Tommy Paul began boxing as an amateur in 1926, and in 1927 won the Niagara District Amateur Bantamweight Championship in March, the Empire State Amateur Bantamweight Championship in May at Madison Square Garden, and the National Amateur Athletic Union Bantamweight Championship in April in Boston.

Tommy Paul defeated future Hall of Famer and reigning NBA world flyweight champion Frankie Genaro on January 18,1929, in Buffalo, New York, winning in a six round unanimous decision in Paul's home town of Buffalo, New York.

On December 21,1928, Tommy Paul defeated Ansel Bell in a first round knockout in Buffalo.

Tommy Paul defeated Joey Scalfaro in a six round unanimous decision in Buffalo on October 11,1929.

Tommy Paul took four rounds with Scalfaro two, though neither boxer had time to box scientifically, each battering away throughout the bout.

Tommy Paul dominated Datto with a two handed attack in the third round which included vicious left hooks to the mid-section and punches to the chin.

Tommy Paul had drawn with Datto in six rounds in Buffalo in their previous bout on November 8,1929.

On January 20,1930, Tommy Paul defeated Eddie O'Dowd in a first round knockout at the Convention Hall in Rochester, New York.

Tommy Paul commenced a furious hurricane of an attack in the opening minutes of the first round, and knocked out O'Dowd only 1:52 into the first round.

Tommy Paul defeated Archie Bell on January 24,1930, in an important early victory at Detroit's Olympia Stadium in a ten round points decision.

Tommy Paul faced the legendary reigning bantamweight champion Panama Al Brown in Buffalo, New York on March 14,1930, with the bout ending in a six round draw.

Tommy Paul first defeated Bushy Graham, former NYSAC world bantamweight champion, on November 14,1930, in a ten round unanimous decision in Buffalo.

Tommy Paul fought 1941 world featherweight contender Phil Zwick in Philadelphia on April 6,1931, winning in a ten round unanimous decision.

Tommy Paul defeated Maurice Holtzer on July 21,1931, in a ten round unanimous decision in Philadelphia.

Tommy Paul won an easy decision against the talented Frenchman outboxing him throughout the bout, and dominating when the two men mixed it up in close fighting.

In one of his most complete and skillfully planned victories, Tommy Paul continuously circled right around his southpaw opponent's deadly, accurate left hand.

On June 19,1934, Tommy Paul defeated Miller due to a second round disqualification for a low-blow that dislocated Tommy Paul's hip.

On October 16,1931, Tommy Paul defeated Andy Martin at Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo in a close, ten round unanimous decision.

Tommy Paul had a good early start, showing more aggression and speed in the first three rounds, but Martin battered him in the seventh and the ninth.

On February 6,1932, Tommy Paul defeated Pete DeGrasse before 2,084 spectators in Detroit's Olympic Stadium in a ten round points decision.

Tommy Paul was credited with six of the ten rounds, with two to DeGrasse and two even.

Tommy Paul defeated Bushy Graham on April 8,1932, in a ten round points decision at Detroits's Olympia Stadium, in his first bout of the NBA world featherweight elimination tournament.

The first six rounds were close, but Tommy Paul took the lead in the seventh when he opened a cut over Graham's right eye in a rapid exchange of hard punches, winning the round by a wide margin.

Tommy Paul clinched his victory by winning the ninth by a shade, and more clearly taking the last round.

Tommy Paul defeated Frankie Wallace on April 29,1932, by a ten round decision in the last semi-final bout of the NBA world featherweight elimination tournament in Detroit.

Tommy Paul was able to take the lead for most of the remaining rounds.

LaBarba's strong left hooks connected too frequently, and by later rounds, Tommy Paul was occasionally dropping his guard leaving LaBarba easier access to land blows.

Tommy Paul lost a ten round decision to Baby Arizmendi in a non-title fight in Mexico City on September 16,1932.

Tommy Paul defeated George Hansford on November 10,1933, at Hollywood's Legion Stadium in a ten round points decision.

Tommy Paul managed to take the third after being down twice in the second.

On May 22,1934, Tommy Paul drew with former world junior lightweight champion, Cuban boxer Kid Chocolate in a ten round points decision before a modest crowd of 4,500 at Los Angeles's Olympic Stadium.

Tommy Paul was credited with three rounds, with three even and four for The Kid.

The Kid appeared ahead going into the final round, but a fast rally by Tommy Paul stemmed the tide, and the referee declared a draw decision.

Tommy Paul retired from boxing in 1935 and continued work as a boxing trainer.

Tommy Paul was married to Edith Bucco and had one son and three daughters.

Tommy Paul died after a long illness of congestive heart failure in North Buffalo, New York on April 28,1991, and was buried in Buffalo's Mount Olivet Cemetery.