Billy Petrolle

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.[1] Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Petrolle as the #18 ranked lightweight of all-time.[2] 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.[3][4]

Billy Petrolle
Statistics
Real nameWilliam Michael Petrolle
Nickname(s)The Fargo Express
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Reach70 in (178 cm)
Nationality American
Born(1905-01-10)January 10, 1905
Berwick, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedMay 14, 1983(1983-05-14) (aged 78)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights165
Wins123
Wins by KO66
Losses26
Draws15
No contests0

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.[5]

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.[1]

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.[1]

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."[6] In this context "fighting Billy Petrolle" was a metaphor for facing combat in World War II.

Notable bouts
Result Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes[7]
Loss Barney Ross UD 10 1934-01-24 New York Coliseum, Bronx, New York
Loss Barney Ross UD 10 1933-03-22 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss Tony Canzoneri UD 15 1932-11-04 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York For World Lightweight Title.
Win Battling Battalino UD 10 1932-05-20 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win Battling Battalino TKO 12 (12) 1932-03-24 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss Jimmy McLarnin UD 10 1931-08-20 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Loss Jimmy McLarnin UD 10 1931-05-27 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win Jimmy McLarnin UD 10 1930-11-21 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss Kid Berg UD 10 1930-10-10 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win Tony Canzoneri PTS 10 1930-09-11 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win Kid Berg TKO 5 (10) 1928-08-24 Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Draw Kid Berg PTS 10 1928-07-26 Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss Sammy Mandell NWS 10 1928-01-13 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Newspaper Decision
Loss Sid Terris PTS 10 1926-06-11 Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn, New York
Loss Kid Kaplan PTS 12 1926-03-01 Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut

References
  1. BoxRec Biography - Billy Petrolle BoxRec.com Retrieved on 2014-04-30
  2. All-Time Lightweight Rankings BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-11.
  3. Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame - Billy Petrolle Archived May 31, 2014, at the Wayback Machine MNBHOF.org Retrieved on 2014-04-30
  4. International Boxing Hall of Fame - Billy Petrolle IBHOF.com Retrieved on 2014-04-05
  5. "Billy Petrolle: The Fargo Express at Full Steam". Boxing.com. 2013-07-24. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  6. "Catch-22 - you'll be fighting Billy Petrolle". Book Drum. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  7. Billy Petrolle's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-18.
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