Solly Krieger pugile

Solly Krieger (March 28, 1909 – September 24, 1964) was an American middleweight boxer who fought from 1928–41. He held the NBA World Middleweight Championship in 1938–39. Krieger, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.Krieger was born on March 28, 1909 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. He attended Eastern District High School, and was active in baseball, football, basketball, and soccer, but preferred boxing to his other sports. His father, who was born in Poland and was initially a tailor, was religiously observant, and had strong opposition to his son Solly's youthful desire to pursue boxing as a career.Krieger was a Golden Gloves champion in his amateur career. In 1928, turning professional, he was mentored by the legendary Hymie Caplan, who had also coached Syd Terris, Ruby Goldstein, and Al Singer.Between 1928–31, he won eighteen four to six round bouts in clubs, with an impressive nine by knockout. He lost only twice to Jose Rodriguez on August 15, 1929, and Joey LeGrey, on May 26, 1930.Very early in his career he was known as a cautious boxer with strong defensive skills. After surgery for an injured left elbow, the result of a handball accident, he lost his ability to jab with his left hand, and found the need to develop more powerful blows. As a result, he became a more free wheeling heavy hitter with a very strong left hook. As he was relatively short armed but powerful for a middleweight, he preferred to box on the inside and from clinches where his reach was not a disadvantage.In June 1931, after Mickey Walker relinquished the title, there was no universally recognized World Champion to fill his shoes.