William Michael Petrolle (January 10, 1905 – May 14, 1983) was a world lightweight boxing title contender. Boxing ran in the Petrolle family as his brothers Pete and Frank also shared his occupation.BoxRec Biography - Billy Petrolle BoxRec.com Retrieved on 2014-04-30 Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Petrolle as the #18 ranked lightweight of all-time.All-Time Lightweight Rankings BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-11. Petrolle is member of the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame, the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame - Billy Petrolle MNBHOF.org Retrieved on 2014-04-30International Boxing Hall of Fame - Billy Petrolle IBHOF.com Retrieved on 2014-04-05

Professional career Nicknamed "The Fargo Express", Petrolle is perhaps best known for challenging World Lightweight Title holder Tony Canzoneri. In 1932 the two met for the World Lightweight Title, and Canzoneri was "squarely at his peak: a Canzoneri so magnificently conditioned, so beautifully attuned that even the old-timers at the ringside admitted he was worthy to stand alongside the lightweight giants of the past." (United Press). Petrolle dropped a decision in the bout at Madison Square Garden.

Petrolle was managed by promoter Jack Hurley.(18 November 1972). Jack Hurley Dies; Boxing Manager, The New York Times

Life after boxing

Petrolle retired during the Great Depression with $200,000 and an iron foundry in Duluth, Minnesota. He later owned a religious goods and gift shop in Duluth, and was the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pioneer National Bank.

Honors Petrolle has graced the covers of The Ring Magazine in May 1927, March 1931, and May 1932. An article on him appeared in the July 2008 issue.

Petrolle is mentioned in the novel Catch-22 during the trial of Clevinger. The quote reads "In sixty days you'll be fighting Billy Petrolle," the colonel with the big fat mustache roared. "And you think it's a big fat joke." In this context "fighting Billy Petrolle" was a metaphor for facing combat in World War II.

Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes164Loss Barney RossUD10Jan 24, 1934163Win89–20–10 Stanislaus LoayzaTKO6 (10)Dec 12, 1933162Win88–20–10 Sammy FullerUD10Oct 21, 1933161Draw87–20–10 Sammy FullerPTS10Sep 8, 1933160Win87–20–9 Bep van KlaverenRTD4 (10)Jul 12, 1933159Loss86–20–9 Barney RossUD10Mar 22, 1933158Loss86–19–9 Tony CanzoneriUD15Nov 4, 1932157Win86–18–9 Tommy GroganUD10Jun 15, 1932156Win85–18–9 Christopher BattalinoUD10May 20, 1932155Win84–18–9 Christopher BattalinoTKO12 (12), Mar 24, 1932154Win83–18–9 Eddie RanKO6 (10)Jan 22, 1932153Win82–18–9 Billy TownsendKO7 (10)Dec 30, 1931152Win81–18–9 Iowa Joe RiversPTS4Nov 18, 1931151Loss80–18–9 Jimmy McLarninUD10Aug 20, 1931150Win80–17–9 Justo SuárezKO9 (10), Jun 25, 1931149Loss79–17–9 Jimmy McLarninUD10May 27, 1931148Win79–16–9 Lope TenorioNWS10Apr 10, 1931147Win79–16–9 King TutKO4 (10)Feb 27, 1931146Win78–16–9 Jackie MooreKO1 (10)Feb 6, 1931145Loss77–16–9 King TutKO1 (10), Feb 2, 1931144Win77–15–9 Billy LightNWS6Jan 1, 1931143Win77–15–9 Jimmy McLarninUD10Nov 21, 1930142Win76–15–9 Spug MyersNWS6Nov 7, 1930141Loss76–15–9 Jack 'Kid' BergUD10Oct 10, 1930140Win76–14–9 Tony CanzoneriPTS10Sep 11, 1930139Win75–14–9 Doty TurnerKO3 (10)Sep 1, 1930138Win74–14–9 Frankie LaFayTKO3 (12)Aug 25, 1930137Win73–14–9 Paddy WalthierKO4 (10)Aug 12, 1930136Win72–14–9 Johnny CurtinKO5 (10)Jul 28, 1930135Win71–14–9 Johnny MeltonPTS10Jul 25, 1930134Win70–14–9 Izzy KlineKO2 (10)Jul 11, 1930133Win69–14–9 Red FryTKO1 (10)May 29, 1930132Win68–14–9 Tony SandersKO1 (6)Apr 26, 1930131Win67–14–9 Joe AzzarellaKO3 (10)Apr 1, 1930130Win66–14–9 Jackie KaneKO9 (10)Mar 11, 1930129Win65–14–9 Joey BrooksKO3 (10)Feb 17, 1930128Loss64–14–9 Jackie PurvisNWS10Jan 28, 1930127Loss64–14–9 King TutPTS10Sep 12, 1929126Win64–13–9 Jimmy GoodrichNWS10Jul 26, 1929125Win64–13–9 Harry KahnDQ3 (10)Jul 22, 1929124Win63–13–9 Ray MillerPTS10Jun 6, 1929123Loss62–13–9 Ray MillerPTS10May 1, 1929122Win62–12–9 Norman BrownTKO4 (10)Apr 9, 1929121Win61–12–9 Bulldog GonzalezKO2 (10)Mar 20, 1929120Win60–12–9 Jimmy BordeNWS10Mar 15, 1929119Win60–12–9 Tony RossTKO4 (10)Mar 1, 1929118Loss59–12–9 King TutNWS10Oct 16, 1928117Win59–12–9 Stanislaus LoayzaTKO2 (10)Sep 21, 1928116Win58–12–9 Jack 'Kid' BergTKO5 (10)Aug 24, 1928115Win57–12–9 Jackie KaneNWS10Aug 17, 1928114Draw57–12–9 Jack 'Kid' BergPTS10Jul 26, 1928113Win57–12–8 Billy EngmanKO3 (10)Jul 12, 1928112Win56–12–8 Al RammyKO2 (?)Jul 9, 1928111Draw55–12–8 Doc SnellPTS6Jun 29, 1928110Win55–12–7 Bruce FlowersPTS10Jun 21, 1928109Win54–12–7 Jackie KaneNWS10Jun 13, 1928108Win54–12–7 Armand SchaekelsKO3 (10)Jun 7, 1928107Win53–12–7 Eddie DwyerKO4 (10)May 22, 1928106Loss52–12–7 Tommy GroganTKO7 (10)Apr 27, 1928105Loss52–11–7 Bruce FlowersPTS10Mar 16, 1928104Win52–10–7 Rusty JonesKO4 (10)Feb 28, 1928103Win51–10–7 Spug MyersPTS10Feb 24, 1928102Draw50–10–7 Russie LeRoyNWS10Feb 10, 1928101Loss50–10–7 Sammy MandellNWS10Jan 13, 1928100Win50–10–7 Cuddy DeMarcoRTD7 (10)Jan 2, 192899Win49–10–7 Harry KahnNWS10Dec 2, 192798Loss49–10–7 Tommy HermanTKO7 (10)Sep 8, 192797Win49–9–7 Harry KahnNWS10Aug 26, 192796Win49–9–7 Johnny CeccoliKO6 (10)Aug 19, 192795Win48–9–7 King TutPTS10Aug 15, 192794Win47–9–7 King TutDQ4 (10)Aug 2, 192793Win46–9–7 Eddie BradyKO1 (10), Jul 19, 192792Win45–9–7 Basil GalianoPTS10Jun 27, 192791Loss44–9–7 Billy WallacePTS10Jun 15, 192790Win44–8–7 Jack DuffyKO1 (10), May 26, 192789Win43–8–7 Johnny HayesTKO5 (10)May 2, 19278842–8–7 Cuddy DeMarcoNC4 (10)Apr 25, 192787Draw42–8–7 Freddie MuellerPTS10Apr 12, 192786Win42–8–6 Joe JawsonKO7 (10)Feb 25, 192785Win41–8–6 Willie AmesKO3 (10)Feb 11, 192784Win40–8–6 Frankie FriscoKO3 (10)Feb 7, 192783Draw39–8–6 Spug MyersPTS10Jan 20, 192782Win39–8–5 Tommy Kid MurphyKO3 (10)Jan 1, 192781Win38–8–5 Les MurrayTKO3 (10)Dec 20, 192680Draw37–8–5 Cuddy DeMarcoPTS6Dec 6, 192679Win37–8–4 Johnny O'DonnellTKO2 (10), Nov 26, 192678Win36–8–4 Billy PollockKO1 (10), Nov 8, 192677Win35–8–4 Hilario MartínezKO2 (10), Oct 29, 192676Win34–8–4 Alf SimmonsNWS10Sep 10, 192675Win34–8–4 Ruby SteinNWS10Aug 23, 192674Win34–8–4 Johnny CeccoliNWS10Aug 2, 192673Win34–8–4 Johnny AdamsKO8 (10), Jul 24, 192672Win33–8–4 Johnny RoccoKO8 (10)Jul 13, 192671Draw32–8–4 Ray MillerPTS10Jul 2, 192670Win32–8–3 Frankie SchaefferKO1 (10), Jun 21, 192669Loss31–8–3 Sid TerrisUD10Jun 11, 192668Win31–7–3 Danny CooneyDQ4 (10)May 21, 192667Win30–7–3 Joe JawsonNWS10May 3, 192666Loss30–7–3 Louis 'Kid' KaplanPTS12Mar 1, 192665Loss30–6–3 Sammy VogelPTS10Feb 19, 192664Win30–5–3 Eddie WagnerKO10 (10)Feb 5, 192663Loss29–5–3 Charley MantyPTS12Jan 7, 192662Win29–4–3 Steve SmithPTS12Dec 17, 192561Win28–4–3 Joe AzzarellaKO6 (8)Dec 7, 192560Win27–4–3 Ruby SteinPTS10Nov 20, 192559Loss26–4–3 Johnny DrewPTS10Nov 6, 192558Draw26–3–3 Joe JawsonNWS10Oct 29, 192557Win26–3–3 Red Cap WilsonNWS10Oct 16, 192556Win26–3–3 Nick LombardiTKO7 (?)Sep 25, 192555Win25–3–3 Carl LeonardKO3 (10), Sep 7, 192554Draw24–3–3 Jimmy HackleyPTS6Jul 28, 192553Win24–3–2 Johnny LamarDQ3 (8)Jul 7, 192552Win23–3–2 Frankie FinkPTS6Jun 23, 192551Win22–3–2 Johnny KnaufNWS10May 14, 192550Win22–3–2 Al HolzmanNWS10May 1, 192549Win22–3–2 Johnny KnaufDQ4 (?)Apr 28, 192548Win21–3–2 Andy TuckerPTS10Apr 21, 192547Loss20–3–2 Bobby GarciaPTS10Mar 23, 192546Win20–2–2 Al ShubertPTS10Mar 13, 192545Loss19–2–2 Babe RuthPTS10Mar 2, 192544Win19–1–2 Sylvio MireaultKO1 (10)Feb 27, 192543Win18–1–2 Reddy BlanchardNWS10Jan 30, 192542Win18–1–2 Charley RaymondNWS10Jan 16, 192541Win18–1–2 Eddie RootKO3 (?)Jan 1, 192540Win17–1–2 Gaston CharlesNWS10Dec 19, 192439Win17–1–2 Alex NoveckyNWS10Nov 28, 192438Win17–1–2 Battling StrayerTKO5 (10)Nov 24, 192437Win16–1–2 Roscoe HallNWS8Nov 11, 192436Draw16–1–2 Johnny SchauerNWS8Oct 31, 192435Win16–1–2 Tommy TibbettsKO4 (10)Oct 24, 192434Win15–1–2 Freddie BurkeKO3 (?)Sep 12, 192433Win14–1–2 Rusty JonesNWS6Aug 15, 192432Win14–1–2 Kid WorleyNWS10Jul 26, 192431Win14–1–2 Pete CampiPTS8Jul 23, 192430Win13–1–2 Billy O'BrienKO5 (?)Jul 4, 192429Draw12–1–2 Jimmy LundyPTS10Jun 25, 192428Win12–1–1 Joe McCabeKO4 (?)Jun 6, 192427Win11–1–1 Len SchwabelNWS10May 5, 192426Win11–1–1 Rusty JonesNWS10Apr 25, 192425Loss11–1–1 Rusty JonesNWS6Apr 11, 192424Win11–1–1 Otto WallaceNWS10Mar 24, 192423Win11–1–1 Sammy LeonardNWS6Mar 13, 192422Win11–1–1 Jimmy MooreTKO2 (6)Mar 7, 192421Win10–1–1 Irish KennedyTKO4 (?)Feb 29, 192420Win9–1–1 Jack MoochieNWS8Feb 1, 192419Win9–1–1 Jimmy FreylerKO3 (10)Jan 22, 192418Win8–1–1 Young Harry RuncornKO1 (?), Jan 17, 192417Win7–1–1 Sammy RoseKO2 (?)Jan 5, 192416Win6–1–1 Irish KennedyNWS10Jan 1, 192415Win6–1–1 Irish KennedyNWS10Nov 23, 192314Draw6–1–1 Eddie DeBeauPTS10Oct 23, 192313Win6–1 Eddie DeBeauNWS10Sep 19, 192312Win6–1 Doc SnellPTS8Aug 4, 192311Draw5–1 Jackie NicholsNWS10Jun 27, 192310Win5–1 Mike ErtleKO1 (10), May 15, 19239Draw4–1 Jimmy WoodhallNWS6Apr 6, 19238Win4–1 Jackie NicholsNWS10Mar 6, 19237Loss4–1 Submarine SmithNWS8Mar 3, 19236Win4–1 Lou BoomerKO1 (6), Mar 1, 19235Win3–1 Johnny GannonKO3 (?)Feb 2, 1923N/A4Win2–1 Submarine SmithNWS4Jan 1, 19233Win2–1 Jackie RoseKO2 (6), Dec 1, 19222Win1–1 Kid FogartyKO2 (6)Oct 27, 19221Loss0–1 Sammy DorkinsPTS4May 8, 1922

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.