Virgil Akins
# Virgil Akins

Virgil Akins (March 10, 1928 – January 22, 2011) was an American boxer who won the Welterweight Championship of the World in 1958. Nicknamed ‘Honeybear’, Akins was the first World Champion boxer from St. Louis.

## Career

Akins was born and died in St. Louis, Missouri.

Akins was considered lanky, but proved nevertheless to be a powerful hitter with either hand. He began his career as a Lightweight in 1948, continuing to fight in that division for 6 years before finally growing into the Welterweight class. He was long considered to be an effective operator and boasted wins over future World Champions Joe Brown and Wallace ‘Bud’ Smith, as well as ending the incredible forty-seven fight winning streak of Ronnie Delaney, by way of knock-out in 1955.

Akins had powered his way up the rankings in both divisions and finally got his chance of a World title once Carmen Basilio relinquished the Welterweight Championship to concentrate on defending his new Middleweight crown. An elimination tournament including six of the World's top-rated Welterweights was swiftly established in an effort to find Basilio's successor. Akins emerged the victor and new World Champion on June 6, 1958, by pounding favourite Vince Martinez to a fourth round destruction. All told, Martinez went down nine times, having never seriously recovered from a shattering right delivered early in the First.

Akins's reign would not last long however. Six months later, he lost his title to Don Jordan by way of unanimous decision and in only his first defense. Akins disputed the result but fared no better in the return, held the following Spring. From that moment on, it was downhill all the way for the former champion, who would win just ten of his last twenty-three fights before hanging up his gloves in 1962.

Akins's contract was "owned" under the table by the notorious Frank "Blinky" Palermo, a member of the Philadelphia crime family. Palermo was imprisoned in 1961 for conspiracy and extortion for the covert ownership of prizefighters.

Akins died at the age of 82 on January 22, 2011.

## Professional boxing record

| 93 fights | 60 wins | 31 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 34 | 2 |
| By decision | 26 | 29 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 93 | Loss | 60–31–2 | Rip Randall | UD | 10 | Mar 20, 1962 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 92 | Loss | 60–30–2 | Ralph Dupas | UD | 10 | Dec 27, 1961 | Bayfront Park Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 91 | Win | 60–29–2 | Vince Bonomo | TKO | 4 (10) | Dec 13, 1961 | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 90 | Draw | 59–29–2 | Stefan Redl | TKO | 10 (?) | Nov 17, 1961 | Gladiators' Arena, Totowa, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 89 | Win | 59–29–1 | Jose Antonio Burgos | TKO | 10 (?) | Oct 16, 1961 | Caracas, Venezuela | |
| 88 | Loss | 58–29–1 | Kenny Lane | UD | 10 | Sep 22, 1961 | Navy-Marine Corps Mem. Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 87 | Loss | 58–28–1 | Henry White | MD | 10 | Sep 5, 1961 | Vogue Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 86 | Win | 58–27–1 | Cecil Shorts | TKO | 8 (10) | Jul 10, 1961 | Vogue Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 85 | Win | 57–27–1 | Billy Collins | UD | 10 | May 15, 1961 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 84 | Win | 56–27–1 | Gerald Gray | MD | 10 | Mar 4, 1961 | Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica | |
| 83 | Win | 55–27–1 | TJ Jones | TKO | 9 (10) | Jan 16, 1961 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 82 | Loss | 54–27–1 | Candy McFarland | SD | 10 | Dec 6, 1960 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| 81 | Win | 54–26–1 | Carl Hubbard | KO | 5 (10) | Nov 21, 1960 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 80 | Loss | 53–26–1 | Luis Manuel Rodriguez | UD | 10 | Jul 6, 1960 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 79 | Win | 53–25–1 | Charley Scott | UD | 10 | May 20, 1960 | Chase Hotel, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 78 | Win | 52–25–1 | Fernando Barreto | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1960 | Ginásio Estadual do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| 77 | Loss | 51–25–1 | Wally Swift | PTS | 10 | Mar 8, 1960 | Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England, U.K. | |
| 76 | Loss | 51–24–1 | Don Fullmer | UD | 10 | Jan 28, 1960 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 75 | Loss | 51–23–1 | Denny Moyer | SD | 10 | Dec 10, 1959 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 74 | Loss | 51–22–1 | Kenny Lane | MD | 10 | Oct 28, 1959 | Capitol Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 73 | Win | 51–21–1 | Stan Harrington | MD | 10 | Aug 14, 1959 | Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. | |
| 72 | Loss | 50–21–1 | Luis Manuel Rodriguez | UD | 10 | Jun 17, 1959 | Exhibition Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 71 | Loss | 50–20–1 | Don Jordan | UD | 15 | Apr 24, 1959 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 70 | Loss | 50–19–1 | Don Jordan | UD | 15 | Dec 5, 1958 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 69 | Loss | 50–18–1 | Del Flanagan | UD | 10 | Sep 18, 1958 | Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 68 | Win | 50–17–1 | Charley Tombstone Smith | TKO | 10 (10) | Aug 20, 1958 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 49–17–1 | Vince Martinez | TKO | 4 (15) | Jun 6, 1958 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | Won vacant NYSAC, NBA and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 66 | Win | 48–17–1 | Issac Logart | TKO | 6 (12) | Mar 21, 1958 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 47–17–1 | Tony DeMarco | TKO | 12 (15) | Jan 21, 1958 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | Retained Massachusetts world welterweight title |
| 64 | Win | 46–17–1 | Tony DeMarco | KO | 14 (15) | Oct 29, 1957 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | Won vacant Massachusetts world welterweight title |
| 63 | Loss | 45–17–1 | Gil Turner | PTS | 10 | Sep 18, 1957 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 45–16–1 | Garnet Hart | TKO | 8 (10) | Aug 9, 1957 | Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 61 | Loss | 44–16–1 | Franz Szuzina | UD | 10 | Jul 8, 1957 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 44–15–1 | Walter Byars | UD | 10 | Jun 12, 1957 | Arena, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 43–15–1 | Jimmy Beecham | TKO | 3 (10) | May 24, 1957 | Capitol Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 42–15–1 | Franz Szuzina | UD | 10 | Mar 4, 1957 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 41–15–1 | Al Andrews | TKO | 6 (10) | Jan 31, 1957 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 40–15–1 | Sammy Walker | UD | 10 | Jan 8, 1957 | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 39–15–1 | Pat Lowry | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 22, 1956 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 54 | Loss | 38–15–1 | Charlie Sawyer | UD | 10 | Sep 15, 1956 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 38–14–1 | Don Jose | TKO | 4 (10) | Jun 21, 1956 | Kallio's Arena, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 37–14–1 | Hector Constance | UD | 10 | Mar 21, 1956 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 36–14–1 | Andy Watkins | TKO | 2 (10) | Mar 8, 1956 | Alnad Temple, East Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 35–14–1 | Mel Barker | TKO | 8 (10) | Jan 26, 1956 | Alnad Temple, East Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 34–14–1 | Clarence Cook | KO | 4 (10) | Jan 19, 1956 | Sportatorium, Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 33–14–1 | Rudolph Bent | TKO | 5 (10) | Jan 3, 1956 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 47 | Loss | 32–14–1 | Issac Logart | UD | 10 | Dec 2, 1955 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 32–13–1 | Harold Jones | UD | 10 | Sep 13, 1955 | Victory Field, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 31–13–1 | Issac Logart | SD | 10 | Aug 8, 1955 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 30–13–1 | Bill Sudduth | TKO | 8 (10) | Jun 21, 1955 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 29–13–1 | Joe Miceli | TKO | 1 (10) | May 23, 1955 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 28–13–1 | Ronnie Delaney | KO | 8 (10) | May 2, 1955 | St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Draw | 27–13–1 | Johnny Brown | PTS | 8 | Apr 8, 1955 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 27–13 | Tommy Maddox | TKO | 4 (10) | Mar 15, 1955 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 26–13 | Johnny Brown | TKO | 10 (10) | Mar 2, 1955 | Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 25–13 | Henry Hank | UD | 8 | Oct 26, 1954 | Motor City Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 24–13 | Andrew Brown | SD | 10 | Oct 16, 1954 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 24–12 | Joey Greenwood | TKO | 8 (10) | Jun 2, 1954 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 23–12 | Philip Kim | TKO | 10 (10) | Aug 29, 1953 | Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 23–11 | Johnny Gonsalves | MD | 10 | Apr 4, 1953 | Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 33 | Loss | 23–10 | Joe Miceli | UD | 10 | Sep 30, 1952 | Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 23–9 | Johnny Saxton | UD | 10 | Jul 30, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 23–8 | Jay Watkins | TKO | 2 (10) | May 8, 1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 22–8 | Henry Davis | TKO | 9 (10) | Feb 29, 1952 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 21–8 | Joe Gilmer | TKO | 9 (10) | Feb 19, 1952 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 20–8 | Baby LeRoy | TKO | 4 (10) | Feb 8, 1952 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 27 | Loss | 19–8 | Luther Rawlings | PTS | 8 | Dec 24, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 19–7 | Joe Brown | UD | 10 | Dec 6, 1951 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 18–7 | Luther Rawlings | SD | 10 | Oct 17, 1951 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 17–7 | Freddie Dawson | SD | 10 | Sep 26, 1951 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 23 | Loss | 16–7 | Joe Brown | PTS | 10 | Jul 6, 1951 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 16–6 | Tommy Campbell | PTS | 10 | Jun 8, 1951 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 21 | Loss | 15–6 | Joe Brown | PTS | 10 | May 25, 1951 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 15–5 | Wallace Bud Smith | PTS | 10 | Apr 17, 1951 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 14–5 | Wallace Bud Smith | PTS | 10 | Apr 4, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 13–5 | Gene Parker | TKO | 6 (6) | Mar 9, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 17 | Loss | 12–5 | Gene Parker | UD | 6 | Jan 18, 1951 | Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 12–4 | Joe Sgro | UD | 10 | Dec 6, 1950 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 11–4 | Rudy Zadell | TKO | 3 (8) | Nov 1, 1950 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 10–4 | Nelson Levering | KO | 2 (8) | Oct 24, 1950 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 9–4 | Art Edmundson | PTS | 8 | Oct 5, 1950 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 12 | Loss | 8–4 | Joe Fisher | PTS | 8 | Jul 15, 1950 | Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 11 | Loss | 8–3 | Nelson Levering | PTS | 6 | Jul 6, 1950 | Warren Bowl, Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S. | |
| 10 | Loss | 8–2 | Arthur Persley | PTS | 6 | Sep 29, 1949 | Sunnyside Garden, Sunnyside, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Clem Custer | PTS | 8 | Mar 30, 1949 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Willie Cheatum | PTS | 8 | Mar 8, 1949 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Russ Moore | KO | 2 (6) | Feb 15, 1949 | Forum, Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Joe Henderson | KO | 3 (6) | Jan 17, 1949 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Danny Robinson | PTS | 6 | Nov 23, 1948 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Ollie Cobbins | PTS | 6 | Jul 12, 1948 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Charlie Baxter | PTS | 6 | Apr 21, 1948 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 2 | Loss | 1–1 | Charlie Baxter | TKO | 3 (6) | Apr 5, 1948 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Albert Adams | PTS | 6 | Mar 10, 1948 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |

## Honors

* Named The Ring magazine Progress of the Year fighter for 1958.
* Elected to the Gateway Classic Walk of Fame
