#midgetwolgast

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Midget "Will O' the Wisp" Wolgast In an October bout in 1927, Wolgast took on Young Chappie of Kensington, Philadelphia. Scrappy Chappie came out popping but was met with a stream of suppressive fire from Wolgast's ever-working left. The Kensington boy kept wailing away, however, shooting many "viperish wallops" in Wolgast's direction but the Midget-man was too slippery, 'hopping and bounding' his way out of danger. Wolgast moved on to "Wee" WIllie Davies nearly a month later in what may have been their first real meeting. #midgetwolgast #boxingfanatik #boxer #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxing #pugilism #pugilist #philly #philadelphia #pennsylvania #southphilly #history #boxinghistory #legend #flyweight #jeremiahpreisser #usa #america #unitedstates #youngchappie (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BdIc0lb4n/?igshid=1unkok2kei11s

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Two Cuban stablemates in Kid Chocolate and Black Bill enjoying some fried chicken from Chef George Lenhart before their bouts at Madison Square Garden in 1930. Chocolate, or Eligio Sardinias Montalvo, headlined the card, while Bill, Eladio Valdes, took on Midget Wolgast. #cuba #boxer #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxingjunky #boxinglegend #boxingislife #midgetwolgast #blackbill #kidchocolate #newyorkcity #newyork #madisonsquaregarden #eladiovaldes #jeremiahpreisser #boxing👊 #legend (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_3Kwh6FRyc/?igshid=1788izn3g4vgt

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Midget Wolgast sporting what appears to be a bandage on his right eye and some training gloves. The South Philadelphia was ranked the 4th greatest flyweight ever by Matt McGrain, and #8 by IBRO, Cliff Rold, and Fight City. #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxinglegend #boxingislife #midgetwolgast #flyweight #pennsylvania #philly #pugilism #philadelphia #pugilist #jeremiahpreisser #italian #boxer #boxing👊 #legend #alltime (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_lHsAslgHu/?igshid=mui9rcb10824

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Midget Meets Kelly In preparation for his first state title crack against Billy Kelly at Scranton, Pennsylvania's Town Hall, Midget Wolgast poses for a picture. #boxing #boxinghistory #boxingfanatik #boxingjunky #boxinglegend #boxingislife #midgetwolgast #flyweight #pennsylvania #philly #pugilism #philadelphia #pugilist #scranton #jeremiahpreisser #italian #billykelly (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_V1avXF5h0/?igshid=v3af5gi803eb

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People often wonder at the participation rate of pugilists in eras past. This article from the Shamokin News-Dispatch in early January of 1928 paints a picture of what one year was like in Pennsylvania. There were an estimated 2,000 professional prizefighters, 1,500 seconds, and 300 managers. The state had put on 390 shows with 1,905 contests in all, with roughly 500,000 fans attending. Included is 150 judges, 58 announcers, 50 referees, 40 inspectors, and 58 different boxing clubs. Also added in was a selection of the best fighters in every division from the state in no particular order. All three flyweights--Billy Kelly, Midget Wolgast, and Willie Davies--were viewed as viable world championship material and all would break into the top-10. Please go to my Facebook page for full viewing of the article. #philly #philadelphia #pennsylvania #boxingfanatik #boxer #boxinglegend #boxer #boxing👊 #boxing #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #pugilism #pugilist #jeremiahpreisser #midgetwolgast #sports #sport #fighter #italian #history #historical #fight (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GWo7xFJqA/?igshid=1wd55vzl11sns

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Izzy Schwartz, the Flyweight Champion? During the post-LaBarba days there was a lot of confusion about who "the man" was at 112. Different states/organizations/publications couldn't seem to make a uniform decision and attempts at reconciling them never seemed to bare the fruit they desired. Izzy was embraced by the NYSAC and The Ring temporarily, while Frenchy Belanger had the NBA's endorsement, and Johnny McCoy was backed by California for a time. Newspapermen had no problem highlighting the absurdity of it, however, as you can see in this sketch. Wolgast was willing to battle whoever and ended up competing in a tournament to add clarity to the ordeal later on. #boxingfanatik #boxer #boxing #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #history #historical #midgetwolgast #legend #jeremiahpreisser #newyork #california #canada #izzyschwartz #flyweight #champion #newspaper https://www.instagram.com/p/B_DpDPdljSO/?igshid=1icrpe0vig4yd

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"Sixty-one leading newspaper boxing experts in the nation's leading boxing centers contributed to the 1927 census" Taken in December of that year, Midget Wolgast was rated #6 at 112 by the experts a little two years after turning pro. By that time he already held victories over #3 and #4 and would eventually fight everyone on the 1927 side, minus Frenchy Belanger. Not bad for a 17-year-old. #boxing #boxing👊 #boxingfanatik #boxinghistory #history #historical #midgetwolgast #flyweight #philly #philadelphia #pugilism #Pennsylvania #pennsylvania #southphilly #pugilist #jeremiahpreisser #legend #sports #sport (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8O-2blTbG/?igshid=1cxx0970tz9yh

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Midget Wolgast: The Pussy's Lipstick Even when Midget was a 15 year-old, 14-fight novice, observers were astonished by his speed and couldn't help but tell the Philadelphia Inquirer about it when they went to cover his bout with local boy Billy Squires. Writer Gordon Mackay was bombarded with compliments to the point he insinuated that South Philadelphia must have "assembled its Midget Wolgast Marching Club, and had decided to descend on us, one by one." Over and over, independent or not, the reports were the same, "that for sheer speed, quickness of hand and deftness of foot, this wee kid was the pussy's lipstick." Wolgast ended up dominating Squires, throwing "punches of every description." #boxer #boxingfanatik #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxing #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #midgetwolgast #philly #philadelphia #Pennsylvania #southphilly #midgetwolgast #jeremiahpreisser #history #historical #flyweight #legend #champion (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-23kApFgiQ/?igshid=1i8dzdir7nes9

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Midget Wolgast's second attempt at the Pennsylvania State Flyweight Title was successful, as he outboxed "Wee" Willie Davies for the third time in what would become a legendary series. The bout started out summarized by their abnormal swiftness and defensive polish, but Wolgast, as with anyone he fought in those days, was the swifter. Davies made the mistake of leading continuously and eating counter right hands for his trouble. Near the end of the 2nd Davies twisted his ankle, which swelled up almost immediately. In the 3rd and 4th, with Davies deprived of most of his mobility, Wolgast unleashed a "blizzard of leather", showing "more downright speed than we have ever seen any other boxer crowd into ten rounds." Midget was so fast "the eye could scarcely follow." Davies continued to last, however, gamely trying to close the distance and stoically powering through his injury. At one point in the 7th Willie's ankle gave out, sending him to both knees for respite. Wolgast, in the act of a "gentleman sportsman," reached down and lifted Davies to his feet. Wolgast won the bout and the belt. Both won over more fans. #boxing #thegruelingtruth #boxer #jeremiahpreisser #pugilism #pugilist #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #philly #philadelphia #midgetwolgast #Pennsylvania #boxing👊 #boxingfanatik #williedavies #flyweight (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-slyvJFNfH/?igshid=dyjo45f8b0f2

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Midget Wolgast's first attempt at the Pennsylvania State Title was a fruitless one, losing a clear but competitive 6-2-2 decision to Billy Kelly. In defeat it was written that Wolgast "is one of the classiest flyweights to ever hit Scranton," and that he was "a colorful fighter," "as shifty a boxer as local fans have seen in a long time." Kelly, "pride of Lackawanan valley," figured out early that he would be a decent scrapper after whipping two boys harassing a blind man on his stroll home (story below). Wolgast wasn't the only notable boxer Kelly would defeat, either. In a rock-solid run from late 1926 to early 1928, Billy would out-battle Black Bill, Frankie Genaro, Blas Rodriguez, and Ty Coleman. During that run he would also draw with Ernie Jarvis and lose to Willie Davies (2x, once via split decision), Corporal Izzy Schwartz, and Ruby Bradley. #boxing #thegruelingtruth #boxer #jeremiahpreisser #pugilism #pugilist #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #history #billykelly #midgetwolgast #scranton #pennsylvania #philadelphia #flyweight #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxingworld (at Scranton, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-kwxg_lxEh/?igshid=1rcjq1bjux753

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When Midget Wolgast was making his way to world level, he had to take the natural steps to get there. That is, overcoming state and regional-level boxers who had similar aspirations. Sammy Tucker was one of those tests. Tucker, a scrappy, decent-hitting New Jerseyan flyweight/bantamweight, gave Wolgast a tough tussle in their first fight, knocking Midget down in the 6th. Midget outboxed him most of the way, however, and earned the newspaper decision. Tucker was apparently substituting for Black Bill, who Wolgast would meet in the NYSAC tournament later on. The rematch was another "hard-fought affair" that Wolgast edged. Tukcer finished his career at 49-17-6, 28 KOs. #boxing #pugilism #pugilist #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #jeremiahpreisser #newjersey #history #midgetwolgast #sammytucker #flyweight #bantamweight #usa #usa🇺🇸 #east #eastcoast #newark #newarknj (at Newark, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-iMyVWFNGQ/?igshid=ie90rrlbf6wv

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On This Day: Joseph Robert Loscalzo aka Midget Wolgast was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here he is sporting the Pennsylvania Flyweight Title that he won from "Wee" Willie Davies on May 28th, 1928. Wolgast was one of the most creative stylists ever and certainly one of history's quickest. Stay tuned for far more, as my next piece details his ring exploits. #boxing #boxinglegend #boxing👊 #boxinglegend #legend #sport #sports #philly #philadelphia #pennsylvania #flyweight #thegruelingtruth #jeremiahpreisser #boxingjunky #boxinghistory #midget #midgetwolgast #boxer #fight #fighter #fist (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Er-N9lef-/?igshid=16u9ocdgsdjzi