Sammy Angott

Sammy Angott (January 17, 1915 – October 22, 1980) was born Salvatore Engotti in a Pittsburgh area town in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch." In his career, Angott met the best fighters in the welterweight and lightweight divisions. These included Sugar Ray Robinson, Bob Montgomery, Beau Jack, Fritzie Zivic, Henry Armstrong, Redtop Davis, Sonny Boy West, and Ike Williams. His manager was Charlie Jones.[1]

Sammy Angott
Statistics
Real name	Salvatore Engotti
Nickname(s)	The Clutch The Louisville Slugger The Washington Windmill
Weight(s)	Lightweight
Nationality	American
Born	January 17, 1915 Washington, Pennsylvania or California, Pennsylvania
Died	October 22, 1980(1980-10-22) (aged 65) Cleveland, Ohio
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	131
Wins	94
Wins by KO	23
Losses	29
Draws	8

Angott retired with a record of 94 wins (23 KOs), 29 losses and 8 draws. He was knocked out just once in his career, by Beau Jack in 1946.[2] Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Angott as the #6 ranked lightweight of all-time.[3]

Early career

Taking the Kentucky Lightweight Championship

Angott defeated Lew Massey at the Columbia Gymnasium in Louisville, Kentucky in a ten-round points decision on December 6, 1937. Massey took a serious beating and may have been near a knockout in the sixth and ninth, though there were no knockdowns in the bout. The Kentucky boxing commissioner ruled that Massey did not put in enough of an effort in the bout and moved for a temporary suspension.[4] Massey was a solid competitor who had met six world champions before meeting Angott.[5] During his early boxing career, Angott often listed Louisville as his home. Only a month earlier, he had taken the Kentucky State Lightweight Title against Wishy Jones in a ten-round decision.[6]

Angott first defeated Wesley Ramey on May 6, 1938 in a ten-round decision in Louisville, Kentucky. On September 16, 1938, Angott defeated Ramey again in a ten-round unanimous decision at the Sportatorium in Dallas. Ramey held the Michigan State Lightweight Title in 1931.[6]

On May 23, 1938, Angott defeated Frankie Covelli in a ten-round unanimous decision in Chicago. According to the Chicago Tribune, though Angott won the decision, the bout was a tough battle.[6]

On June 1, 1938, Angott defeated Irving Eldridge in a ten-round points decision at Hickey Park in Millvale, Pennsylvania. Eldridge was down for a nine count in the third from a series of rights and was lucky to escape a knockout in the bout. In the eighth and tenth, Angott caught Eldridge on the ropes and appeared to be close to winning by knockout, but Eldridge soldiered on.[7]

On June 28, 1938, he defeated Tommy Speigal at Hickey Park in Millvale, Pennsylvania in a ten-round unanimous decision. Angott had Speigal floundering in the eighth with a flurry of lefts and rights, though there were no knockdowns in the bout.[8] He had lost decisively to Speigal on November 2, 1936 in ten rounds in Maryland, and again on August 24, 1936 in Millvale, Pennsylvania in a closer eight round split decision.[6] Their August 24 bout was quite close, with Angott taking the aggressive and probably landing more blows, though Speigal may have landed more solid punches.[9]

On July 17, 1939, Angott defeated ethnic Syrian boxer Petey Sarron in a ten-round decision at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Sarron had previously held the NBA World Featherweight Title and the loss was one of his last fights. Sarron's strongest rounds were likely the fifth and tenth when he put Angott to the mat for a no-count, but Angott seemed to hold an advantage in points throughout the bout.[10] Angott gained more of his lead on points in the later rounds after the thirty-one year old Sarron had tired. Sarron scored often with his left, but it did not affect the attack of the Angott, who was nine years younger.[11]

He defeated Mexican boxer "Baby" Arizmendi on November 3, 1939 in a ten-round unanimous decision at the Chicago Stadium. Angott was down to his knees for a no count in the second round, but with a barrage of left and rights, he stacked up points in the remaining rounds. In the eighth, he opened a gash in his opponent's eyes, and gained a further advantage.[12]

World Lightweight Title

First taking the NBA World Lightweight Title, May 1940

On May 3, 1940, the lanky fighter gained recognition from the National Boxing Association (NBA) as its world lightweight champion when he outpointed Davey Day over 15 rounds in Louisville, Kentucky. On the eve of the Kentucky Derby before a crowd of 8,000, acting referee Jack Dempsey made the decision giving six rounds to Angott, five to day, and four even. The Associated Press gave Angott nine rounds, with six to Day.[13]

Angott first faced the great Sugar Ray Robinson on July 21, 1941 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, losing in a ten-round decision. He lost twice more to Robinson on July 31, 1942 in a ten-round decision at Madison Square Garden and on March 4, 1946 in a ten-round decision in Pittsburgh.[6]

Taking the NYSAC World Lightweight Title December 1941

On December 19, 1941 Angott took the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC0 World Lightweight Title from Lew Jenkins before a crowd of 11,343 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Angott became undisputed champion as he held both the NYSAC and NBA World Lightweight Championship. He dominated the fighting outpointing Jenkins over fifteen rounds.[14]

Single defense of the Lightweight Title against Allie Stolz, May 1942

Angott defended the title only once, a close 15-round points win over Allie Stolz on May 15, 1942 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Stoltz was penalized for low blows in the twelfth and fifteenth rounds, and the substantial crowd of 16,099 was displeased with the final decision for Angott. Stoltz put Angott to the mat in the third round with two fast blows to the chin, but Angott was up and ready by the count of nine. The United Press gave Angott eight rounds, Stoltz five, and two even, though the referee gave nine rounds to Stolz in the close bout. The two judges each gave Angott eight rounds.[15]

On September 28, 1942 Angott defeated Aldo Spoldi, a former European lightweight champion, in a slow non-title ten round bout at City Park Stadium before a crowd of around 5,000 in New Orleans, and according to one source took nearly all of the rounds. The referee threatened to stop the bout in the sixth and seventh for the lack of solid blows thrown.[16][17] Angott had formerly beaten Spoldi on April 14, 1939 at the Hippodrome in New York before around 2,600 fans in a ten-round points decision. Spoldi was credited with only the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, while Angott was given the rest.[18]

Vacating the World Lightweight Title due to broken hand, 1942

Weary of the ring and complaining of a broken hand that had failed to heal properly even after surgery, he vacated the World Lightweight Title officially on November 13, 1942. He dug ditches and worked as an athletic instructor at Washington and Jefferson College for the five months he was away from the ring.[19][20]

Defeating Willie Pep, March 1943

Returning to professional boxing after five months on March 19, 1943, Angott defeated Willie Pep in a non-title bout at New York's Madison Square Garden by a ten-round unanimous decision. He was dominant in the first five rounds and held on to win the decision. On November 20, 1942, Pep had taken the NYSAC World Featherweight Title. Angott's win after being away from the ring was something of a surprise to the 16,834 fans present at the match.[19] The United Press gave six rounds to Angott, three to Pep, and one even, though the official voting was a bit closer. There were no serious knockdowns, though each boxer had at least one slip to the canvas. Angott showed greater speed and connected with more blows, though the fight in most respects was close, and Pep was favored in the pre-fight betting.[21]

On June 11, 1943, Angott lost to the great Henry Armstrong at Madison Square Garden in a close ten round unanimous decision. The referee voted six rounds for Armstrong and four for Angott, and the judges ruled close to that margin. Angott was nailed with a hard punch to the body in the eighth round that doubled him up, and started a downhill slide, that gave the eighth, ninth, and tenth to his opponent. The savage bout had Armstrong bleeding from the mouth and Angott cut on the left eye and blackened on the left eye.[22]

Retaking the NBA World Lightweight Title, October 1943

Angott took the vacant NBA World Lightweight crown by outpointing Black Baltimore boxer Slugger White in a title bout on October 27, 1943 at Los Angeles' Gilmore Stadium in 15 rounds. At the opening of the fourth round, a generator failure plunged the stadium into darkness, before it could be repaired an hour later. Angott showed dominance in the bout. In the fifteenth, he unleashed a right that briefly sent White out of the ring.[23] Angott lost the title before taking the NYSAC World Lightweight Title, making his title not considered a "unified" World Lightweight Title.

He defeated Bobby Ruffin on December 17, 1943 in a fierce ten round split decision before 11,844 fans at New York's Madison Square Garden. Angott amassed a lead in points in the opening rounds, but Ruffin punched hard enough in the closing rounds to split the decision.[24] The Associated Press gave Angott six rounds to three for Ruffin with one even, though Angott had taken a very brief one count knockdown to the mat in the first round when he was floored with a right from Ruffin after losing his focus dealing a wild punch. Angott used his "windmill" offense dealing flurries of blows at times during the bout.[25][26]

Final loss of the NBA World Lightweight Title

He lost the NBA title for the last time to Mexican boxer Juan Zurita on March 8, 1944 in a fifteen-round unanimous decision title bout before 11,300 at Gilmore Field in Los Angeles. Zurita led in points by a wide margin by the fight's end. Angott clinched frequently and may have lacked the stamina at 30 required to compete with Zurita who punished him throughout the bout. Zurita dominated after the first round which Angott won with aggressive attacks. Angott may have had difficulty penetrating Zurita's southpaw stance, which gave him trouble landing solid blows throughout the bout.[27][28] Many of Zurita's more telling blows were lefts delivered with a southpaw stance.[29] Angott claimed he had difficulty making weight and had run five miles and taken steam baths before the weigh-in.[30]

A victory and two close losses against Lightweight Champion Ike Williams, 1944–45

On September 19, 1945, Angott defeated reigning lightweight champion Ike Williams in a sixth round non-title TKO at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The win was a bit of an upset as Williams led in the early betting by as much as 3 to 1. Williams was hospitalized that evening from a badly contused or broken rib he received in the first round from a powerful roundhouse right from Angott. The referee stopped the bout in the sixth, after observing Williams was in pain. In two previous meetings between the two on September 6, and June 7, 1944 Williams had won in a somewhat close split decisions at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.[31] In their September 6 bout, Williams clinched the decision with a furious two handed attack in the last two of their ten-round match. Angott appeared strongest in the sixth and seventh rounds with strong blows to Williams' body. In the close bout before 7,568, most of the judges gave Angott the second, seventh, and eighth rounds, though Williams hit more cleanly and was given more rounds by the majority of judges.[32]

TKO loss to former lightweight champion Beau Jack, July 1946

On July 8, 1946, he fell to a seventh-round knockout by Beau Jack at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. The bout was rough and Angott did not answer the bell for the seventh, later complaining of pain from kidney punches in the fifth and sixth rounds, as well as suffering from a badly cramped leg. It was Angott's only known knockout in his career.[33] Jack held the World Lightweight Title for seven months in 1943 and through March in 1944.

On May 16, 1947, Angott defeated Black boxer Johnny Bratton in a ten-round unanimous decision at Chicago Stadium. Before 18,409 fans, Angott took control in the early rounds and gained enough of a margin in points to win the decision.[34] Angott was down for a three count in the tenth round, but Bratton waited until the closing seconds of most rounds to stage an attack. Many in the crowd were not pleased with the verdict, as the fight was close, and believed Bratton deserved at least a draw ruling. The bout was close with one judge and the referee scoring the bout 51 to 49 for Angott. Bratton was considered a serious lightweight contender prior to the match and had won his last ten fights.[35]

Angott defeated Mexican boxer Kid Azteca in his second to last fight on June 26, 1950 at Dudley Field in El Paso in a ten-round unanimous decision. Azteca had formerly held the Mexican Welterweight Title. The crowd of 3,500 was displeased with the frequent clinching in the bout, largely done by Angott. Handlers had difficulty separating the two boxers after the final bell, and a small riot ensued requiring a police escort to get Angott to his dressing room.[36]

Life after boxing

After retiring from boxing, he was employed by the Shipping Department at Eaton Corporation in Massillon, near Columbus, Ohio, for seventeen years before retiring in 1967 due to poor health.

He died in the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio on October 22, 1980 after a long illness. He left a wife Evelyn, one son, and two daughters.[37][38]

Achievements and honors

He was inducted into The Ring magazine Hall of Fame in 1973 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998.[1]

Notable bouts

Result	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes[39]
Win	Kid Azteca	UD	10	1950-06-26	Dudley Field, El Paso, Texas
Loss	Beau Jack	TKO	7 (10)	1946-07-08	Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Loss	Sugar Ray Robinson	UD	10	1946-03-04	Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Win	Ike Williams	TKO	6 (10)	1945-09-19	Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Loss	Ike Williams	SD	10	1944-09-06	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss	Ike Williams	SD	10	1944-06-07	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Draw	Beau Jack	PTS	10	1944-01-28	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss	Henry Armstrong	UD	10	1943-06-11	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	Willie Pep	UD	10	1943-03-19	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss	Sugar Ray Robinson	UD	10	1942-07-31	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	Bob Montgomery	SD	12	1942-07-07	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	Bob Montgomery	UD	12	1942-03-06	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	Lew Jenkins	UD	15	1941-12-19	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	Won World Lightweight Title.
Win	Bob Montgomery	MD	10	1940-11-25	Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss	Fritzie Zivic	UD	10	1940-08-29	Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Draw	Baby Arizmendi	PTS	10	1940-06-25	Olympic Auditorium, California, Los Angeles
Win	Baby Arizmendi	UD	10	1939-11-03	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	Wesley Ramey	UD	10	1938-09-16	Dallas Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas
Win	Wesley Ramey	PTS	10	1938-05-06	Jefferson County Armory, Louisville, Kentucky

See also

• Lineal championship
• List of lightweight boxing champions

References

1. Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia - Sammy Angott CyberBoxingZone.com
2. IBHOF/Sammy Angott Archived 2008-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, IBHOF.com, Retrieved on 3-28-08
3. All-Time Lightweight Rankings. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-11.
4. "Mattingly Rules Philadelphian Didn't Try", The Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, pg. 13, 7 December 1937
5. "Angott to Get Real Test in Battle", The Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, pg. 9, 6 December 1937
6. "Sammy Angott". BoxRec. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
7. Boyle, Havey, "Angott Cops Decision Over Irving Eldridge", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 16, 2 June 1938
8. "Angott Wins Decision Over Tommy Speigal", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 15, 29 June 1938
9. Biederman, Lester, "You Can't Do that To Our Ed Says Fritzie Zivic to Click", The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 26, 25 August 1936
10. Taggert, Bert P., "Angott Captures Decision Over Ex-Feather Champion", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 14, 18 July 1939
11. O'Brien, Joe, "Canonsburg Cannonades", The Daily Notes, Canonsburg, Ohio, pg. 6, 19 July 1939
12. "Angott Beats Baby Arizmendi", The Evening News, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, pg. 6, 4 November 1939
13. "Sammy Angott Edges Davey Day to Annex NBA Lightweight Belt", Warren Times-Mirror, Warren, Pennsylvania, pg. 7, 4 May 1940
14. Feder, Sid, "Louisville Slugger Scores Easy Win Over Lou Jenkins", The Ottawa Journal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, pg. 28, 20 December 1941
15. Cuddy, Jack, "Sammy Angott Gains Slim Decision in Battle With Stoltz", The Ogden Standard Examiner, Ogden, Utah, pg. 5, 16 May 1942
16. "Threatens to Halt Bout", The Evening Standard, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, pg. 8, 29 September 1942
17. Crowd of 5000 in "Angott Whips Spoldi in Non-Title Affair", The Daily Notes, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, pg. 6, 29 September 1942
18. "Sammy Angott Punches Out Victory Over Aldo Spoldi", The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 16, 15 April 1939
19. Feder, Sid, "Sammy Angott Breaks Willie Pep's Streak", Tucson Daily Citizen, Tucson, Arizona, pg. 4, 20 March 1943
20. "Angott Gives Broken Hand as Reason For His Retiring", The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 10, 14 November 1942
21. Cuddy, Jack, "Angott Breaks Willie Pep's Streak of Wins", Shamokin News Dispatch, pg. 6, 20 March 1943
22. Carver, Lawton, "Hank Hammers Out Close Win in Savage Duel", The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 15, 12 June 1943
23. "Sammy Angott Retains Title", The Republic, Columbus, Indiana, pg. 6, 28 October 1943
24. Cashman, John, "Angott Pounds Bobby Ruffin for Decision", The News-Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 12, 18 December 1943
25. Feder, Sid, "Sammy Angott Takes Decision From Ruffin", Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno, Nevada, pg. 12, 18 December 1943
26. Used a windmill offense in Cuddy, Jack, "Angott has Trouble With Ruffin, but he Wins in Split Decision", The St. Louis Star and Times, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 4, 18 December 1943
27. Frawley, Frank, "Zurita Takes NBA Title By Beating Sammy Angott", Muncie Evening Press, Muncie, Indiana, pg. 20, 9 March 1944
28. Difficulty with southpaw stancc in Frawley, Frank, "Mexican Scrapper Wins NBA Lightweight Crown", Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 23, 9 March 1944
29. Shoemaker, Lisle, "Juan Zurita Beats Angott in Hollywood to take NBA Crown After Easy Fifteen Round Decision", Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz, California, pg. 4, 10 March 1944
30. Angott had run five miles in Shoemaker, Lisle, The Bakersfield Californian, Bakersfield, California, pg. 15, 9 March 1944
31. "Ike Williams Hurt in Sammy Angott Bout", Warren Times-Mirror, Warren, Pennsylvania, pg. 8, 20 September 1945
32. "Ike Williams Again Defeats Angott on Split", The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 27, 7 September 1944
33. "Beau Jack Winner Over Sammy Angott", The Cincinnati Inquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 16, 9 July 1946
34. "Angott Decisions Johnny Bratton", The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, page 8, 17 May 1947
35. "18,409 Watch Sammy Earn Close Decision", Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 17, 17 May 1947
36. "Riot Enlivens El Paso Bout", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 26, 28 June 1950
37. "Sammy Angott, 65, Former Boxing Champ", The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, pg. 46, 23 October 1980
38. "Boxing Champ Sammy Angott", The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, pg. 30, 23 October 1980
39. Sammy Angott's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-18.

External links

• Boxing record for Sammy Angott from BoxRec

Achievements
Preceded by Lew Jenkins	NBA World Lightweight Champion December 19, 1941 – November 1942 Vacated	Vacant Title next held by Ike Williams
Preceded by Vacant	NBA World Lightweight Champion October 27, 1943 – March 8, 1944	Succeeded by Juan Zurita