Fred Apostoli
# Fred Apostoli

Alfredo "Fred" Apostoli (February 2, 1913 – November 29, 1973) was a rugged, accomplished body punching middleweight, who was recognized as the world champion when he defeated Marcel Thil on September 23, 1937. Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Apostoli as the #8 ranked middleweight of all time. He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1978, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1988, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

## Early life

Freddie Apostoli was born in San Francisco and lived in North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf as a young child. His father worked as both a fisherman and laborer in the San Francisco area but had grown up in a farming community near Gibbstown, NJ in the late 19th century.

The Apostoli family immigrated to NYC in the 1880s from the city San Benedetto del Tronto in the Ascoli Piceno Province in the Marche region of Italy. Apostoli's mother died in child birth in the early 1920s and his father sent his other younger children back to live with relatives on the East coast and placed Freddy in the care of a Catholic orphanage in San Francisco. Apostoli attended grade school and high school in North Beach and was a lifelong friend of classmate Joe Dimaggio.

Apostoli's father was one of the workers killed in 1928 while working on a construction detail trying to access the damaged portion of a dam which had failed in Los Angeles County. During his time in the orphanage, Apostoli and the other teens were encouraged by the nuns of the parish to work their disputes out through boxing. Freddie quickly became a master of said technique and showed such promise that the parish arranged for him to receive more formal training. These lessons at a local YMCA gym were partially funded thru the donations the parish had received over the years from his family back East. Apostoli, who won the Pacific Coast Junior Welterweight championship, Golden Gloves Middleweight championship, and the National AAU middleweight championship in 1934, turned pro later that year.

## Pro career

### Middleweight contender

He quickly moved up the ladder and fought future middleweight champion Freddie Steele within his first seven months as a professional. Although the more experienced Steele stopped him in 10 rounds, Apostoli went on to defeat top fighters such as Swede Berglund, Babe Marino, Babe Risko, Solly Krieger and Lou Brouillard to become the leading contender for the world championship.

### World middleweight champion

Eventually, Apostoli was matched with title claimant Marcel Thil; he defeated the Frenchman via a 10th-round TKO. The New York Boxing Commission, however, still recognized Freddie Steele as champion. In 1938, Apostoli fought Steele in a non-title rematch and avenged his earlier defeat with a 9th-round KO. On November 18, 1938, Apostoli won by TKO in the 8th round against Young Corbett III and was officially recognized by the NYSAC as absolute middleweight world champion. Apostoli also fought as a light heavyweight. Although he dropped two close decisions to Hall of Famer Billy Conn, Conn always credited Apostoli as a great fighter who hurt him in both matches. On October 2, 1939, Apostoli's title reign ended when he lost the middleweight crown to Ceferino Garcia.

### World War II service and retirement

Apostoli served in the United States Navy during World War II as a gunner aboard the light cruiser USS Columbia (CL-56) in the Pacific theater. Wounded in battle, he received a Bronze Star and returned to San Francisco in 1946. He rehabilitated from injuries sustained in the Battle of Midway at Letterman Army Hospital located in the Presidio of San Francisco. He retired from the ring in 1948 and served as a member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

## Professional boxing record

| 72 fights | 61 wins | 10 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 31 | 4 |
| By decision | 30 | 6 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 72 | Loss | 61–10–1 | Earl Turner | UD | 10 | Dec 1, 1948 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 71 | Win | 61–9–1 | Georgie Abrams | MD | 10 | Nov 17, 1947 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 60–9–1 | Reuben Shank | UD | 10 | Aug 25, 1947 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 69 | Win | 59–9–1 | Reuben Shank | RTD | 8 (10) | Jul 14, 1947 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 68 | Win | 58–9–1 | Bobby Volk | SD | 10 | May 21, 1947 | Oaks Ballpark, Emeryville, California, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 57–9–1 | George Duke | PTS | 10 | May 2, 1947 | Los Banos, California, U.S. | |
| 66 | Win | 56–9–1 | Bobby Volk | KO | 3 (10) | Apr 7, 1947 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 65 | Loss | 55–9–1 | Bobby Volk | TKO | 1 (10) | Feb 28, 1947 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 55–8–1 | Paul Lewis | UD | 10 | Dec 11, 1946 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 54–8–1 | Frankie Angustain | MD | 10 | Nov 18, 1946 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 53–8–1 | Tommy Egan | PTS | 10 | Oct 21, 1946 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 52–8–1 | George Duke | KO | 9 (10) | Sep 20, 1946 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 51–8–1 | Sheik Rangel | PTS | 10 | Aug 27, 1946 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 50–8–1 | Dencio Cabanela Jr | TKO | 7 (10) | Sep 9, 1946 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 49–8–1 | Pedro Jimenez | TKO | 4 (10) | Aug 12, 1946 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 48–8–1 | Saverio Turiello | PTS | 10 | Aug 24, 1942 | Foreman Field, Naval Base, Norfolk, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 56 | Draw | 47–8–1 | Ken Overlin | PTS | 10 | Jun 26, 1942 | Foreman Field, Naval Base, Norfolk, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 47–8 | Joe Mulli | TKO | 2 (8) | Apr 4, 1942 | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 46–8 | Augie Arellano | TKO | 5 (8) | Mar 7, 1942 | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 45–8 | El Brookman | TKO | 6 (10) | Oct 14, 1941 | Uline Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 44–8 | Joey Spangler | TKO | 5 (10) | Sep 15, 1941 | Municipal Auditorium, Norfolk, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 43–8 | Bill McDowell | TKO | 2 (10) | Aug 21, 1941 | Foreman Field, Naval Base, Norfolk, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 42–8 | Tony Zale | PTS | 10 | Nov 19, 1940 | Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 42–7 | Bobby Pacho | PTS | 10 | Sep 16, 1940 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 41–7 | Big Boy Hogue | PTS | 10 | Aug 19, 1940 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 40–7 | Dale Sparr | KO | 5 (10) | Jul 22, 1940 | Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 39–7 | Melio Bettina | RTD | 12 (15) | Feb 2, 1940 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 39–6 | Melio Bettina | MD | 12 | Jan 5, 1940 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 44 | Loss | 38–6 | Ceferino Garcia | KO | 7 (15) | Oct 2, 1939 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost NYSAC middleweight title |
| 43 | Win | 38–5 | Glen Lee | MD | 10 | Aug 28, 1939 | Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 37–5 | Mohamed Fahmy | TKO | 3 (10) | Aug 7, 1939 | Eastern States Coliseum, West Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 36–5 | Eric Seelig | SD | 10 | May 1, 1939 | Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 35–5 | George Nichols | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 17, 1939 | Open-Air Arena, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 39 | Loss | 34–5 | Billy Conn | UD | 15 | Feb 10, 1939 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 38 | Loss | 34–4 | Billy Conn | UD | 10 | Jan 6, 1939 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 34–3 | Al Cocozza | TKO | 4 (10) | Dec 20, 1938 | Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–3 | Young Corbett III | TKO | 8 (15) | Nov 18, 1938 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won vacant NYSAC middleweight title |
| 35 | Win | 32–3 | Butch Lynch | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 16, 1938 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 31–3 | Mike Payan | KO | 2 (10) | Sep 6, 1938 | Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Glen Lee | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1938 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 29–3 | Young Corbett III | PTS | 10 | Feb 22, 1938 | Seals Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 29–2 | Glen Lee | SD | 12 | Feb 4, 1938 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Freddie Steele | TKO | 9 (12) | Jan 7, 1938 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Tony Celli | TKO | 2 (10) | Oct 25, 1937 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Marcel Thil | TKO | 10 (15) | Sep 23, 1937 | Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won IBU middleweight title |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Tommy Jones | KO | 2 (10) | Jun 22, 1937 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 24–2 | Dale Sparr | PTS | 10 | Jun 11, 1937 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 23–2 | Solly Krieger | TKO | 5 (12) | Apr 14, 1937 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 22–2 | Butch Lynch | TKO | 9 (10) | Mar 15, 1937 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 21–2 | Solly Krieger | UD | 10 | Feb 17, 1937 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 20–2 | Ken Overlin | MD | 10 | Jan 27, 1937 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Babe Marino | PTS | 10 | Dec 14, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Lou Brouillard | PTS | 10 | Oct 9, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Marty Simmons | PTS | 10 | Aug 21, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Eddie Babe Risko | PTS | 10 | May 8, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Young Stuhley | PTS | 10 | Apr 6, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Paul Pirrone | RTD | 7 (10) | Feb 28, 1936 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Frankie Britt | PTS | 10 | Jan 20, 1936 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Swede Berglund | PTS | 10 | Nov 27, 1935 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Babe Marino | PTS | 10 | Oct 25, 1935 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Young Stuhley | PTS | 10 | Oct 4, 1935 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Rudy Mendez | PTS | 8 | Aug 14, 1935 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Dick Foster | TKO | 6 (8) | Jul 31, 1935 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Eddie Schneider | KO | 1 (8) | Jul 17, 1935 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Mike Payan | PTS | 10 | May 31, 1935 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 7 | Loss | 6–1 | Freddie Steele | TKO | 10 (10) | Apr 1, 1935 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Newsboy Millich | TKO | 4 (6) | Feb 22, 1935 | Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Andy DiVodi | PTS | 6 | Jan 28, 1935 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Eddie Fox | TKO | 5 (6) | Jan 7, 1935 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Eddie Daniels | TKO | 2 (6) | Nov 30, 1934 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jack Riley | KO | 1 (6) | Nov 12, 1934 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Gilbert Attell | TKO | 3 (6) | Oct 8, 1934 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
