Tommy Paul (4 March 1909 – 28 April 1991) was a world featherweight boxing champion from Buffalo, New York. He won the world featherweight championship in May 1932, defeating Johnny Pena in a boxing tournament in Detroit. He 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. He retired from the ring in 1935.NY Times Obituary https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE1D6173EF932A35756C0A967958260
Early life and amateur career Paul was born to Italian immigrant parents, Vito Antonio (aka Tony Paul) Papa, Sr. and Caterina "Katie" Tomasulo on March 4, 1909, on Seventh Street in Buffalo's old waterfront district. Both his father and mother were from San Fele, province of Potenza, Basilicata. The fifth of thirteen children, Paul and his brothers Bartolomeo "Al", Michele "Mickey", and Vito Antonio "Tony, Jr.", followed their brother Tommy into the ring.
At seventeen, Paul followed his brothers into Jack Singer's gym, hoping for a tryout. Singer recognized Paul's rough abilities, and after consenting to train him, entered him in a number of tournaments. 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 (AAU) Bantamweight Championship in April in Boston. Paul finished as an amateur with an impressive 31-2 record."Tommy Paul", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 17, 30 April 1991 After Paul completed his amateur career, Jack Singer began acting as his manager for professional bouts. In his later career, he was managed by George Blake.
Early professional career Paul was undefeated in his first 27 fights with a record of 23-0-4. He 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."Tommy Paul Beats Frankie Genaro", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 17, 19 January 1929
In an important early career win on July 31, 1928, Paul defeated Johnny McCoy in a six round decision in Buffalo. He defeated McCoy again in a unanimous decision in Buffalo on August 14.
On December 21, 1928, Paul defeated Ansel Bell in a first round knockout in Buffalo.
In a win that helped him gain a following, on July 12, 1929, Paul defeated former flyweight contender Emil Paluso in a six round unanimous decision in Buffalo. Paluso was a prolific fly and bantamweight who had faced several champions in his career, and was rated eighth in the world among bantamweights in 1929.Eighth in bantamweights in ""Al Brown Takes Lead As World's Best Bantam", The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 19, 17 December 1929 In a distinct victory, Paul had Paluso down in both the second and sixth rounds. Three months earlier on April 12, Paul had defeated Paluso in another six round unanimous decision in Buffalo.
Paul defeated Joey Scalfaro in a six round unanimous decision in Buffalo on October 11, 1929. Scalfaro was down in the second and sixth rounds, and suffered a cut over his eye in the second. Scalfaro was badly battered and outpunched, though twice he staggered Paul. Paul took four rounds with Scalfaro two, though neither boxer had time to box scientifically, each battering away throughout the bout."Tommy Paul Bests Scalfaro at Buffalo", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 18, 12 October 1929
Victory over Johhny Datto, 1930
Paul's first clear win over Filipino boxer Johnny Datto came in a six round unanimous decision at the Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo on January 1, 1930. 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. Datto lost the initiative after the third as well as the strength to mount much of an attack. With Paul taking the initiative in the last two rounds, Datto was merely the receiver of punches, though he attempted unsuccessfully to end the bout with a last haymaker."Paul's Fast Work Earns Flashy Win", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 23, 2 January 1930 Paul had drawn with Datto in six rounds in Buffalo in their previous bout on November 8, 1929. On May 9, 1930, Paul would defeat Datto again in a second round disqualification from a low blow by Datto. The bout may not have ended as quickly for Paul, as Datto had floored Paul in the same round with a right to the jaw for a count of nine."Tommy Paul Wins When Datto Hits Low in 2nd Round", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 17, 10 May 1930
On January 20, 1930, Paul defeated Eddie O'Dowd in a first round knockout at the Convention Hall in Rochester, New York. 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. Beginning with a stunning left hook, Paul threw lefts to the head of O'Dowd using foot work that had him bounding around with a spring in his step, finding new angles to continue to land his left. Two rapid lefts to the side of the head first put O'Dowd down for a count of nine, and when he rose, a studied left shot squarely to his chin ended the match."Buffalo Boxer's Worldwind Attack Sends Ohioan Down to Canvas in Short Order", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 19, 21 January 1930
Paul defeated Archie Bell on January 24, 1930, in an important early victory at Detroit's Olympia Stadium in a ten round points decision. The Buffalo fighter's win was decisive over the older known veteran, with the referee giving Paul seven rounds, Bell one, and two even.Ward, Charles, "Buffalo Boxer Much Too Fast for His Rival", Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan, pg. 13, 25 January 1930
Wins, Panama Al Brown, Bushy Graham and Phil Zwick
He 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.
Paul first defeated Bushy Graham, former NYSAC world bantamweight champion, on November 14, 1930, in a ten round unanimous decision in Buffalo. He was awarded six rounds and Graham three. Paul's better punching gave him the decision. Acting as the aggressor, Paul had his opponent retreating in several rounds. With solid left hooks to the head, Paul staggered Graham twice, and came out on top in most of the matches's intense, swinging mix-ups."Paul Beats Graham in Ten Round Bout", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 16, 15 November 1930
He fought 1941 world featherweight contender Phil Zwick in Philadelphia on April 6, 1931, winning in a ten round unanimous decision.
Paul defeated Maurice Holtzer on July 21, 1931, in a ten round unanimous decision in Philadelphia. He 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."Lightweight Champ Wins Decision Over Omaha Lad", The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 17, 24 March 1931
Bouts with Freddie Miller
A few of Paul's best known matches against a future champion came against Freddie Miller with whom he had six fights, earning a record of only 2-4. Paul's first, and only complete victory over Miller came on August 31, 1931, in a ten round unanimous decision in Buffalo. Paul had lost twice to Miller in previous bouts. In one of his most complete and skillfully planned victories, Paul continuously circled right around his southpaw opponent's deadly, accurate left hand. The Buffalo boxer continuously scored with accurate rights, staggering Miller, even though his blows were not delivered with great power. At the opening of the tenth, Miller attacked Paul with a two handed barrage of blows, but Paul counterattacked and battered Miller groggy."Miller Weak", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 11, 1 September 1931 On June 19, 1934, Paul defeated Miller due to a second round disqualification for a low-blow that dislocated Paul's hip. The late career injury may have influenced Paul to retire from boxing the following year.
On October 16, 1931, Paul defeated Andy Martin at Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo in a close, ten round unanimous decision. Two years earlier, Martin had been rated fifth in the world among bantamweights."Al Brown Takes Lead As World's Best Bantam", The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 19, 17 December 1929 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. As a result of Martin's strong finish, the decision was not widely popular with the crowd."Halaiko in KO Win in Bison Ring", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 19, 17 October 1931Paul took first three rounds in "Martin Wins Crowd But Loses Decision", The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 9, 17 October 1931
Featherweight tournament, Spring, 1932 After Battling Battalino vacated the title in March, 1932, a tournament was arranged to determine his successor. On February 6, 1932, Paul defeated Pete DeGrasse before 2,084 spectators in Detroit's Olympic Stadium in a ten round points decision. In the second round, Paul landed a left hook followed by a straight right that knocked DeGrasse to the floor for a count of five, but Degrasse tore into Paul after he arose with a left hook and right cross to the chin. DeGrasse then countered with a strong rally in the fourth that may have won the bout for him. In a late rally, Paul took the tenth convincingly with a two fisted attack that along with the second round knockdown turned the final points scoring in his favor."Tommy Paul Pounds Out Decision Win", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 24, 6 February 1932 Paul was credited with six of the ten rounds, with two to DeGrasse and two even. Scotty Montieth, the organizer of the NBA world featherweight tournament, used the outcome of the bout to move Paul along to the next round, but was also impressed with DeGrasse's performance."Detroit to Pick Ring Champion", "Detroit Free Press", Detroit, Michigan, pg. 43, 14 February 1932"DeGrasse Beaten By Tommy Paul", Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan, pg. 11, 6 February 1932
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 bout drew only a small depression era crowd of 2,645. Graham's speed, agile ducking, and elaborate footwork made him a difficult opponent on whom to land solid blows. The first six rounds were close, but 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. Graham won the eighth with his ability to dance away from Paul, and a couple of long range clouts to Paul's jaw. Paul clinched his victory by winning the ninth by a shade, and more clearly taking the last round. Graham, who was warned three times by the referee for avoiding and not actively engaging his opponent, danced and used his fancy footwork throughout the bout, but was booed my many for throwing far too few punches at Paul."Wallace Surprises Freddie Miller", The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa, pg. 13, 9 April 1932Graham warned three times by referee to fight in Edgar, W. W., "Small Crowd Sees Graham Take Beating", Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan, pg. 13, 9 April 1932"Featherweight Favorites Slip", Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, Michigan, pg. 9, 9 April 1932"Tommy Paul Scores Over Bushy Graham", The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, pg. 19, 9 April 1932