Henry Pylkowski, known in his boxing career as Babe Risko, and Eddie Risko, (July 14, 1911 – March 8, 1957) was a Lithuanian-Polish-American boxer who became

Middleweight Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to . Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have be ...

boxing champion of the world in portions of 1935–36. While boxing in his early career with the US Navy, he was known as Sailor Puleski. He was managed by Gabe Genovese of Syracuse, New York. After winning the World Middleweight Title, his professional career declined rapidly, perhaps because of his lengthy amateur career with the Navy.

Early life and amateur career

Risko was born Henry Pylkowski on July 14, 1911 in Syracuse, New York, the son of a struggling Lithuanian family of five. He attended school in Syracuse. He had a long and impressive amateur boxing career in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, which he joined at only 16 in 1927, and fought around 125 matches as Sailor Puleski."Babe Risko, Past Champ, Dead at 46", ''Star-Gazette'', Elmira, New York, pg. 43, 7 March 1957 Risko won the Navy Middleweight Title in a Panama Bullring in 1931, and was undefeated in his fights with the Navy."Ex-Middleweight Champ Babe Risko Dies", ''News-Press'', Fort Myers, Florida, pg. 12, 8 March 1957

Professional boxing career

Risko's rapid rise in the boxing world

On New Years Day 1935, bursting on the world scene in a stunning upset, Risko defeated defending World Middleweight Champion

Teddy Yarosz Thaddeus Jarosz (June 24, 1910 – March 29, 1974) was an American boxer. He held the world middleweight boxing championship from 1934–1935. Early life Yarosz was born the second of eight children on the North side of Pittsburgh, but ...

in a technical knockout, though the bout was not for the title. Yarosz was down five times before his manager ended the bout early in the seventh round. A crowd of only 2300 witnessed the bout that demonstrated Risko's mastery of the reigning champion. On January 25, 1935, Risko met the great

Vince Dundee Vince Dundee (October 22, 1907 – July 27, 1949), born Vincenzo Lazzara in Sicily, became the New York State Athletic Commission world middleweight champion when he defeated reigning champion Lou Brouillard on October 30, 1933. His title was al ...

, losing in a fifteen round split decision at New York's Madison Square Garden. Due to an error by one of the two judges, Risko was first announced as the winner, but the mistake was soon corrected by boxing commissioners present at the fight. Though Risko's closing rounds were strong and demonstrated his youthful endurance, Dundee's consistent aggressiveness and body punching convinced judges to vote in his favor. The Associated Press gave six rounds to Dundee and four to Risko.

Taking the World Middleweight Championship

Risko won the NYSAC World Middleweight Title and National Boxing Association World Middleweight Title with a win over

on September 19, 1935. Risko knocked Yarosz to the mat twice for counts of nine in the sixth and seventh rounds, and several judges gave Yarosz only the first round. On December 21, 1935 Risko was knocked out in the first round by

Jock McAvoy Joseph Patrick Bamford (20 November 1908 – 20 November 1971), better known by his ring name Jock McAvoy, was a British boxer who fought from 1927 to 1945. He held the British Empire Middleweight Championship from 1933 to 1939, and took the ...

after being floored six times. The match was a non-title bout, with both men weighing in over the 160 pound middleweight limit. On February 10, 1936, Risko successfully defended his World Middleweight championship for the only time against Tony Fisher in ten rounds in Newark, New Jersey. Risko was awarded eight of the ten rounds in a title bout considered "drab" by some reporters. Only one round was awarded to Fisher, a 21 year old Newark native.

Losing the World Middleweight Championship

Risko lost the belt on July 11,1936 to

Freddie Steele Freddie Steele (December 18, 1912 – August 22, 1984) was a boxer and film actor born Frederick Earle Burgett in Seattle, Washington. He was recognized as the National Boxing Association (NBA) Middleweight Champion of the World between 1936 ...

via a fifteen round unanimous decision in Seattle, Washington before an impressive crowd of 25,000. Steele scored the only knockdown in the bout when he put Risko to the mat with a right to the jaw for a count of six in the first round. Steele damaged both of Risko's eyes during the bout which hampered the reigning champions ability to defend himself. The Associated Press gave Risko only three rounds of the well attended bout. On February 19, 1937 Risko attempted another shot at the title against Steele at Madison Square Garden but lost in a fifteen around unanimous decision. The Associated Press gave Steele nine rounds, with five to Risko, and one even. The bout, fought before a crowd of 11,600, was described as tedious by many reporters.

Retirement and life after boxing

Risko married Sally Ciborowski of Syracuse in 1936 and eventually had a daughter. After losing five straight fights by knockout, Risko retired from boxing in 1939, only three years after holding the crown. He recruited for the Navy during WWII and served as Deputy Sheriff in

Onondaga County Onondaga County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 476,516. The county seat is Syracuse. Onondaga County is the core of the Syracuse, NY MSA. History The name ''Onondaga'' derives from ...

. He later worked as a sales manager for the U. S. Hoffman Machinery Corp. of New York. On March 7, 1957, he died unexpectedly in his sleep in his home in Syracuse at age 46. He was still working for the machinery firm at the time of his death."Babe Risko, Ex-Middleweight Champion Dies", ''The Decatur Herald'', Decatur, Illinois, pg. 18, 8 March 1957

Professional boxing record

Boxing achievements

References

External links

*
Babe Risko's obituary
* ttps://www.respublika.lt/lt/naujienos/sportas/kitos_sporto_sakos/lietuviski_kumsciai_verti_cempionu_dirzu/ Lietuviški kumščiai, verti čempionų diržų {{DEFAULTSORT:Risko, Eddie 1911 births 1957 deaths Boxers from New York (state) Middleweight boxers World middleweight boxing champions World boxing champions Sportspeople from Syracuse, New York American people of Polish descent American male boxers