Leo Rodak pugile

Leo Rodak (1913-1991) was an American featherweight boxer from Chicago. He took the Maryland version of the World Featherweight Title from Jackie Wilson on June 17, 1938 in a fifteen-round unanimous decision at Carlin Park in Baltimore, Maryland.He was declared the National Boxing Association (NBA) World Featherweight Champion when he defeated Leone Efrati at Chicago's Coliseum in a ten-round unanimous decision, on December 29, 1938, though some sources omit him as the NBA champion, as he held the title only four months.Rodak was born on June 5, 1913 in South Chicago to an athletic Ukrainian family. His brother Mike was a bicycling champion. Remaining in South Chicago through his youth, at 17 he joined Chicago's Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), where he received boxing training. According to one source, Rodak's amateur record over a two-year period was a remarkable 157–5.As an amateur from 1931 to 1933 Rodak showcased his exceptional boxing talent in five Chicago Golden Gloves tournaments. He first won the 1931 Flyweight 112 lb championships for both the Chicago and Intercity Golden Gloves Championships. In 1932, he took the Bantamweight 118 lb Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, and in 1933, the Featherweight 126 lb Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions and the Intercity Golden Gloves Championships.Rodak was known for speedy hands and feet, but not for a knockout punch. In his second year as a professional in 1934, and at only twenty-one years of age, he defeated Eddie Shea, Everett "Young" Rightmire, and former 1932 NBA world featherweight champion Tommy Paul. According to the Chicago Tribune, he won every round of ten against Eddie Shea on April 23, 1934 at White City Arena in Chicago, effectively using his left.On September 20, 1934, he decisively defeated Everett "Young" Rightmire at Wrigley Field in Chicago in a ten-round points decision, acting as the aggressor throughout the fight, and flooring Rightmire in the first round. Rodak had Rightmire close to a knockout in the sixth round. One source attributed Rightmire's loss to his lack of a knockout punch. Rodak would later lose to Rightmire on March 16, 1939 in St. Louis, in a ten-round points decision.