Tommy Paul boxer

Tommy Paul (4 March 1909 – 28 April 1991) was a world featherweight boxing champion from Buffalo, NY. He won the world featherweight championship in May 1932, defeating Johnny Pena in a boxing tournament in Detroit. He was inducted into the first class of Buffalo’s Ring No. 44 Boxing Hall of Fame and in 2003 to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He retired from the ring in 1935.Paul was born to Italian immigrant parents, Vito Antonio (aka Tony Paul) Papa, Sr. and Caterina "Katie" Tomasulo on March 4, 1909 on Seventh Street in Buffalo's old waterfront district. Both his father and mother were from San Fele, province of Potenza, Basilicata. The fifth of thirteen children, Paul and his brothers Bartolomeo "Al", Michele "Mickey", and Vito Antonio "Tony, Jr.", followed their brother Tommy into the ring.At seventeen, Paul followed his brothers into Jack Singer's gym, hoping for a tryout. Singer recognized Paul's rough abilities, and after consenting to train him, entered him in a number of tournaments. Paul began boxing as an amateur in 1926, and in 1927 won the Niagara District Amateur Bantamweight Championship in March, the Empire State Amateur Bantamweight Championship in May at Madison Square Garden, and the National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Bantamweight Championship in April in Boston. Paul finished as an amateur with an impressive 31-2 record. After Paul completed his amateur career, Jack Singer began acting as his manager for professional bouts. In his later career, he was managed by George Blake.Paul was undefeated in his first 27 fights with a record of 23-0-4. He defeated future Hall of Famer and reigning NBA world flyweight champion Frankie Genaro on January 18, 1929 in Buffalo, New York, winning in a six round unanimous decision in Paul's home town of Buffalo, New York.In an important early career win on July 31, 1928, Paul defeated Johnny McCoy in a six round decision in Buffalo. He defeated McCoy again in a unanimous decision in Buffalo on August 14.On December 21, 1928 Paul defeated Ansel Bell in a first round knockout in Buffalo.