Donald Waldhelm (born March 17, 1939 in the
Gerritsen Beach
Gerritsen Beach is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, located between Sheepshead Bay to the west and Marine Park to the east. The area is served by Brooklyn Community Board 15. The population of the neighborhood is 4,797 as ...
neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York) was a professional
heavyweight boxer. He was best known for being
George Foreman's first professional opponent.
He also won the light heavyweight
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States, where they are awarded a belt and a ring. And the title of nations champion is awarded. The Golden Gloves is a term used to refer to the Nation ...
in 1964. He beat James Joyner on the three knockdown rule in amateur boxing.
After his retirement from professional boxing, Waldhelm would go on to train several amateur fighters (typically around
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
and the surrounding area) for local, state, and national competitions, including but not limited to the Golden Gloves.
References
Heavyweight boxers
Boxers from New York (state)
Living people
1939 births
American male boxers
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