Freddie Steele(1912-1984)

Former World Middleweight Boxing Champion Freddie Steele was born Frederick Earl Burgett in Seattle, Washington on December 18, 1912. His childhood idol was local fighter and world champion Todd Morgan. Young Freddie decided to follow in Morgan's foot-steps and launched a professional boxing career in 1926 at age 14. After more than 100 fights, Steele captured the World Middleweight Championship (National Boxing Association version) from champion William "Gorilla" Jones on January 1, 1937. A series of auto accidents and a severe kidney problem started Steele on the downward path. He lost the championship less than two years later in a stunning first round shocker to local rival Al Hostak. A friend of actor John Wayne, Steele became involved in the movies as a boxing double, and later as a character actor. He made an unsuccessful ring comeback on May 23, 1941 at the Hollywood, California Legion Stadium, being stopped in 5 rounds by Jimmy Casino. Steele returned to the movies and gave outstanding performances in Hail The Conquering Hero with Eddie Bracken, and G.I. Joe with Robert Mitchum. His acting career ended in the late 1940s, and he ran a local tavern with his family for over 20 years. The great champion died on August 22, 1984 at 71. His career boxing record was 125-5-11 with 60 knockout victories.