# Bep van Klaveren

Lambertus "Bep" van Klaveren (26 September 1907 – 12 February 1992) was a Dutch boxer, who won the gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Van Klaveren remains the only Dutch boxer to have won an Olympic gold medal. His younger brother Piet competed as a boxer at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

## Biography

Born in Rotterdam as Lambertus Steenhorst, he adopted the name of his stepfather Pieter van Klaveren when he was eight. After primary school, he worked as a butcher's assistant and fought in his spare time. He seriously took up boxing aged 16, and around that time changed to a vegetarian diet believing it fits better for a boxer. In 1926 he won the national flyweight title and in 1927–29 the featherweight title. After his Olympic success in 1928, he received a hero’s welcome in his hometown Rotterdam and was presented to the Dutch Queen and her prince consort.
In 1929 van Klaveren began a long career of professional boxer, which ended in 1956. In 1931 he became European champion in the lightweight division and in 1938 he won the same title in the middleweight division. During his professional tenure, van Klaveren fought on four continents and won fights against Ceferino Garcia and Kid Azteca. He also faced Hall of Famers Young Corbett III and Billy Petrolle.
In 1935 van Klaveren married Margarite Olivera, daughter of a banker. He lost much money through her excessive lifestyle and through his boxing manager. Van Klaveren was sentenced for one year for assaulting Olivera. He was released on bail after three months and fled to Rotterdam, leaving behind all his possessions.
During World War II van Klaveren served overseas with the Dutch army. He then moved to Australia with his second wife, an Australian nurse, and worked there as a sports teacher, dock worker, bouncer, and boxing instructor. He then returned to Rotterdam and retired in 1948, but returned to the ring in 1954 and won 11 out of 12 bouts. He retired for good in 1956 after an unsuccessful attempt to win the European welterweight title. The same year he married for the third time, and for several years ran a cigar shop with his wife, though with little success. He continued to train through all his life and did not smoke or drink alcohol. He died in 1992 in his native Rotterdam, aged 84. The same year a memorial statue of van Klaveren was installed in Rotterdam. The annual Bep van Klaveren boxing memorial was launched in 1993, and became the largest boxing competition in the Netherlands.

## Gallery

* The statue of Bep van Klaveren in Rotterdam
* Bep van Klaveren 1928
* 1932 match against Cleto Locatelli
* Bep van Klaveren vs Kid Pompeij in Amsterdam, 15 February 1954
* Bep van Klaveren 1982

## Professional boxing record

| 110 fights | 80 wins | 21 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 4 |
| By decision | 59 | 15 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 2 |
| Draws | 9 | 9 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
| 110 | Loss | 80–21–9 | Werner Handtke | TKO | 5 (10) | Mar 19, 1956 | 48 years, 172 days | Ahoy'-hal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 109 | Loss | 80–20–9 | Idrissa Dione | PTS | 15 | Nov 28, 1955 | 48 years, 60 days | Ahoy'-hal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | For European welterweight title |
| 108 | Win | 80–19–9 | Horst Garz | PTS | 10 | Sep 26, 1955 | 47 years, 362 days | Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 107 | Win | 79–19–9 | Freddi Teichmann | PTS | 10 | May 16, 1955 | 47 years, 229 days | Kurzaal, Scheveningen, Netherlands | |
| 106 | Win | 78–19–9 | Emil Koch | PTS | 10 | Mar 21, 1955 | 47 years, 173 days | Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 105 | Win | 77–19–9 | Rafael da Silva | PTS | 10 | Jan 17, 1955 | 47 years, 110 days | Ahoy'-hal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 104 | Win | 76–19–9 | Terry Ratcliffe | TKO | 8 (10) | Nov 1, 1954 | 47 years, 33 days | Ahoy'-hal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 103 | Win | 75–19–9 | Jimmy Lyggett | PTS | 10 | Oct 4, 1954 | 47 years, 5 days | Haagsche Zoo, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 102 | Loss | 74–19–9 | Terry Ratcliffe | TKO | 4 (10) | Sep 6, 1954 | 46 years, 342 days | Ahoy'-hal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 101 | Win | 74–18–9 | Herbert Glaser | KO | 2 (10) | Jun 21, 1954 | 46 years, 265 days | Ahoy'-hal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 100 | Win | 73–18–9 | Santos Martins | PTS | 10 | May 21, 1954 | 46 years, 234 days | Kurzaal, Scheveningen, Netherlands | |
| 99 | Win | 72–18–9 | Alois Dewulf | PTS | 10 | Apr 15, 1954 | 46 years, 198 days | Haagsche Zoo, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 98 | Win | 71–18–9 | Kit Pompey | PTS | 10 | Feb 15, 1954 | 46 years, 139 days | Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 97 | Win | 70–18–9 | Tino Pierluigi | PTS | 8 | Jan 7, 1954 | 46 years, 100 days | Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 96 | Win | 69–18–9 | Francois Blanchard | TD | 6 (10) | Nov 30, 1948 | 41 years, 62 days | RAI, Amsterdam, Netherlands | The bout was halted after round 6 because of a cut over Blanchard's right eye |
| 95 | Win | 68–18–9 | Jean Wanes | PTS | 10 | Nov 16, 1948 | 41 years, 48 days | Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 94 | Win | 67–18–9 | Albert Heyen | TKO | 1 (10) | Nov 2, 1948 | 41 years, 34 days | Rubenspaleis, Antwerpen, Belgium | |
| 93 | Win | 66–18–9 | Hans Norbert | KO | 3 (10) | Jul 28, 1948 | 40 years, 303 days | RAI, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 92 | Win | 65–18–9 | Harry Bos | TKO | 5 (10) | Jul 15, 1948 | 40 years, 290 days | Apollohal, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 91 | Win | 64–18–9 | Harry Bos | TKO | 4 (10) | Jun 22, 1948 | 40 years, 267 days | Apollohal, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 90 | Loss | 63–18–9 | Luc van Dam | PTS | 15 | May 15, 1948 | 40 years, 229 days | Apollohal, Amsterdam, Netherlands | For Dutch middleweight title |
| 89 | Win | 63–17–9 | Leon Fouquet | PTS | 10 | Apr 21, 1948 | 40 years, 205 days | Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 88 | Win | 62–17–9 | Des Jones | PTS | 10 | Apr 6, 1948 | 40 years, 190 days | Apollohal, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 87 | Loss | 61–17–9 | Luc van Dam | TD | 9 (12) | Sep 5, 1947 | 39 years, 341 days | Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Lost Dutch middleweight title; The referee halted the fight because of a cut on Van Kleveren's cheek |
| 86 | Win | 61–16–9 | Luc van Dam | TD | 5 (15) | Aug 10, 1947 | 39 years, 315 days | Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Won Dutch middleweight title; The referee halted the fight because of a cut on Van Dam's cheek |
| 85 | Win | 60–16–9 | George Posno | TKO | 5 (10) | May 13, 1947 | 39 years, 226 days | Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 84 | Win | 59–16–9 | Jan Schoen | KO | 4 (10) | Apr 15, 1947 | 39 years, 198 days | Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 83 | Draw | 58–16–9 | Paul Altman | PTS | 6 | Sep 15, 1942 | 34 years, 351 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US | |
| 82 | Win | 58–16–8 | Mickey Daniels | PTS | 10 | Sep 19, 1941 | 33 years, 355 days | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US | |
| 81 | Loss | 57–16–8 | Milt Aaron | UD | 10 | Mar 14, 1940 | 32 years, 167 days | Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 80 | Draw | 57–15–8 | Augie Arellano | PTS | 8 | Feb 24, 1940 | 32 years, 148 days | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, US | |
| 79 | Win | 57–15–7 | Jay Macedon | PTS | 8 | Jan 27, 1940 | 32 years, 120 days | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, US | |
| 78 | Win | 56–15–7 | Ernie Vigh | PTS | 8 | Jan 9, 1940 | 32 years, 102 days | New York Coliseum, New York City, New York, US | |
| 77 | Win | 55–15–7 | Cleto Locatelli | PTS | 10 | Jul 24, 1939 | 31 years, 298 days | Doelentuin, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 76 | Win | 54–15–7 | Assane Diouf | PTS | 10 | Jun 25, 1939 | 31 years, 269 days | Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 75 | Win | 53–15–7 | Al Baker | PTS | 10 | May 14, 1939 | 31 years, 227 days | Doelentuin, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 74 | Win | 52–15–7 | Victor Janas | PTS | 10 | Apr 3, 1939 | 31 years, 186 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 73 | Draw | 51–15–7 | Jupp Besselmann | PTS | 12 | Mar 9, 1939 | 31 years, 161 days | Sportpalast Schoeneberg, Germany | |
| 72 | Win | 51–15–6 | Paddy Roche | PTS | 10 | Feb 13, 1939 | 31 years, 137 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 71 | Loss | 50–15–6 | Anton Christoforidis | PTS | 15 | Nov 14, 1938 | 31 years, 46 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Lost European middleweight title |
| 70 | Win | 50–14–6 | Henry Rothier | PTS | 10 | Oct 17, 1938 | 31 years, 18 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 69 | Win | 49–14–6 | Edouard Tenet | PTS | 15 | Jul 17, 1938 | 30 years, 291 days | Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Won European middleweight title |
| 68 | Win | 48–14–6 | Anton Christoforidis | PTS | 10 | May 23, 1938 | 30 years, 236 days | Nenijtohal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 67 | Win | 47–14–6 | Jean Simon | PTS | 10 | Mar 21, 1938 | 30 years, 173 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 66 | Win | 46–14–6 | Kid Tunero | PTS | 10 | Feb 7, 1938 | 30 years, 131 days | Nenijtohal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 65 | Win | 45–14–6 | Pierre Stepanci | PTS | 10 | Jan 10, 1938 | 30 years, 103 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 64 | Win | 44–14–6 | Jack Ulrich | RTD | 3 (10) | Dec 10, 1937 | 30 years, 72 days | Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 63 | Win | 43–14–6 | Nestor Charlier | PTS | 10 | Nov 8, 1937 | 30 years, 40 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 62 | Win | 42–14–6 | Gilbert Jamsin | TKO | 4 (10) | Oct 11, 1937 | 30 years, 12 days | Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| 61 | Loss | 41–14–6 | Gustav Eder | KO | 8 (10) | Jul 11, 1937 | 29 years, 285 days | Nenijtohal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 60 | Win | 41–13–6 | Jomme Wegner | TKO | 6 (10) | May 10, 1937 | 29 years, 223 days | De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 59 | Win | 40–13–6 | Charles Pernot | PTS | 10 | Feb 8, 1937 | 29 years, 132 days | Nenijtohal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 58 | Loss | 39–13–6 | Glen Lee | PTS | 10 | Nov 6, 1936 | 29 years, 38 days | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US | |
| 57 | Loss | 39–12–6 | Jack Carroll | PTS | 15 | Feb 6, 1936 | 28 years, 130 days | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney, Australia | |
| 56 | Loss | 39–11–6 | Jack Carroll | PTS | 15 | Dec 26, 1935 | 28 years, 88 days | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney, Australia | |
| 55 | Draw | 39–10–6 | Al Manfredo | PTS | 10 | Jul 12, 1935 | 27 years, 286 days | Frank Chance Field, Fresno, California, US | |
| 54 | Win | 39–10–5 | Kid Azteca | PTS | 10 | May 24, 1935 | 27 years, 237 days | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US | |
| 53 | Win | 38–10–5 | Carlos Salomon | PTS | 10 | Apr 9, 1935 | 27 years, 192 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US | |
| 52 | Loss | 37–10–5 | Young Corbett III | PTS | 10 | Feb 22, 1935 | 27 years, 146 days | Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California, US | |
| 51 | Loss | 37–9–5 | Young Corbett III | PTS | 10 | Jan 28, 1935 | 27 years, 121 days | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US | |
| 50 | Win | 37–8–5 | Ceferino Garcia | PTS | 10 | Dec 7, 1934 | 27 years, 69 days | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US | |
| 49 | Loss | 36–8–5 | Ceferino Garcia | PTS | 10 | Oct 30, 1934 | 27 years, 31 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US | |
| 48 | Draw | 36–7–5 | Joe Rossi | PTS | 10 | May 9, 1934 | 26 years, 222 days | Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 47 | Win | 36–7–4 | Eddie Shapiro | TKO | 7 (10) | Apr 30, 1934 | 26 years, 213 days | Carlin's Park, Baltimore, Maryland, US | |
| 46 | Win | 35–7–4 | Frankie Petrolle | PTS | 10 | Mar 16, 1934 | 26 years, 168 days | 104th Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, US | |
| 45 | Win | 34–7–4 | Phil Rafferty | PTS | 10 | Jan 25, 1934 | 26 years, 118 days | Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 44 | Win | 33–7–4 | Benny Levine | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 13, 1934 | 26 years, 106 days | Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, US | |
| 43 | Win | 32–7–4 | Tony Falco | PTS | 10 | Jan 5, 1934 | 26 years, 98 days | Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 42 | Win | 31–7–4 | Stanislaus Loayza | PTS | 10 | Nov 16, 1933 | 26 years, 48 days | Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 41 | Loss | 30–7–4 | Billy Petrolle | RTD | 4 (10) | Jul 12, 1933 | 25 years, 286 days | Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, US | |
| 40 | Win | 30–6–4 | Herman Perlick | PTS | 10 | Jun 5, 1933 | 25 years, 249 days | Bonacker's Stadium, Rensselaer, New York, US | |
| 39 | Win | 29–6–4 | Jimmy Phillips | PTS | 8 | Mar 31, 1933 | 25 years, 183 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | |
| 38 | Win | 28–6–4 | Baby Joe Gans | PTS | 8 | Mar 17, 1933 | 25 years, 169 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | |
| 37 | Win | 27–6–4 | Phil Rafferty | PTS | 10 | Jan 9, 1933 | 25 years, 102 days | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 36 | Win | 26–6–4 | Eddie Ran | PTS | 10 | Nov 28, 1932 | 25 years, 60 days | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 35 | Win | 25–6–4 | Paolo Villa | PTS | 8 | Nov 21, 1932 | 25 years, 53 days | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 34 | Loss | 24–6–4 | Cleto Locatelli | PTS | 15 | Jul 17, 1932 | 24 years, 292 days | Wielerbaan Kralingen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Lost European lightweight title |
| 33 | Win | 24–5–4 | Victor Deckmyn | TKO | 5 (10) | Jun 5, 1932 | 24 years, 250 days | Wielerbaan Kralingen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 32 | Win | 23–5–4 | Len Tiger Smith | PTS | 10 | May 2, 1932 | 24 years, 216 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 31 | Draw | 22–5–4 | François Sybille | SD | 15 | Mar 26, 1932 | 24 years, 179 days | Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Belgium | Retained European lightweight title |
| 30 | Loss | 22–5–3 | Louis Saerens | SD | 10 | Jan 5, 1932 | 24 years, 98 days | Rubenspaleis, Antwerpen, Belgium | |
| 29 | Win | 22–4–3 | Henri Scillie | TKO | 4 (10) | Dec 16, 1931 | 24 years, 78 days | Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Belgium | |
| 28 | Win | 21–4–3 | Henri Scillie | SD | 15 | Nov 17, 1931 | 24 years, 49 days | Gebouw van K&W, Den Haag, Netherlands | Retained European lightweight title |
| 27 | Win | 20–4–3 | Harry Corbett | PTS | 15 | Oct 21, 1931 | 24 years, 22 days | Colston Hall, Bristol, England, UK | Retained European lightweight title |
| 26 | Win | 19–4–3 | Jim Hunter | KO | 2 (15), 2:45 | Oct 5, 1931 | 24 years, 6 days | Gebouw van K&W, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 25 | Win | 18–4–3 | François Sybille | KO | 2 (15), 2:45 | Jul 19, 1931 | 23 years, 293 days | Wielerbaan Kralingen, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Won European lightweight title |
| 24 | Draw | 17–4–3 | Leen Sanders | PTS | 10 | Apr 20, 1931 | 23 years, 203 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 23 | Draw | 17–4–2 | Franz Dübbers | PTS | 8 | Feb 17, 1931 | 23 years, 141 days | Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Weimar Republic | |
| 22 | Win | 17–4–1 | Paul Czirson | KO | 5 (10) | Feb 9, 1931 | 23 years, 133 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 21 | Win | 16–4–1 | Jakob Domgoergen | PTS | 10 | Jan 8, 1931 | 23 years, 101 days | Haagsche Zoo, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 20 | Draw | 15–4–1 | Paul Czirson | PTS | 10 | Nov 7, 1930 | 23 years, 39 days | Etablissement Sagebiel, Hamburg, Weimar Republic | |
| 19 | Win | 15–4 | Henri Vuillamy | PTS | 10 | Nov 3, 1930 | 23 years, 35 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 18 | Loss | 14–4 | Len Tiger Smith | PTS | 12 | Aug 2, 1930 | 22 years, 307 days | City Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 17 | Win | 14–3 | George Purchase | PTS | 10 | Jul 5, 1930 | 22 years, 279 days | City Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 16 | Win | 13–3 | Charles van Rooyen | PTS | 10 | Jun 14, 1930 | 22 years, 258 days | City Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 15 | Win | 12–3 | Lucien Porthaels | PTS | 10 | May 7, 1930 | 22 years, 220 days | Haagsche Zoo, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 14 | Win | 11–3 | Charlie Mack | PTS | 10 | Apr 28, 1930 | 22 years, 211 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 13 | Loss | 10–3 | Harry Brooks | PTS | 15 | Apr 1, 1930 | 22 years, 184 days | Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England, UK | |
| 12 | Win | 10–2 | Haydn Williams | PTS | 10 | Mar 17, 1930 | 22 years, 169 days | Haagsche Zoo, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 11 | Win | 9–2 | Leen Sanders | PTS | 15 | Feb 18, 1930 | 22 years, 142 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Won Dutch lightweight title |
| 10 | Win | 8–2 | Jack Hudson | TKO | 11 (15) | Jan 28, 1930 | 22 years, 121 days | Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England, UK | |
| 9 | Win | 7–2 | Horace Barber | PTS | 15 | Jan 13, 1930 | 22 years, 106 days | Baths Hall, Swindon, England, UK | |
| 8 | Win | 6–2 | Billy Streets | PTS | 15 | Jan 8, 1930 | 22 years, 101 days | Connaught Drill Hall, Portsmouth, England, UK | |
| 7 | Win | 5–2 | Jack Dedheene | TKO | 3 (10) | Dec 25, 1929 | 22 years, 87 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 6 | Win | 4–2 | George Peck | PTS | 15 | Nov 30, 1929 | 22 years, 62 days | Holmeside Stadium, Sunderland, England, UK | |
| 5 | Win | 3–2 | Leo Nicolaas | TKO | 7 (10) | Nov 18, 1929 | 22 years, 50 days | Haagsche Zoo, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 4 | Loss | 2–2 | Young Lefevre | DQ | 8 (10) | Oct 30, 1929 | 22 years, 31 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Low blow |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Kid Robert | KO | 4 (10) | Oct 14, 1929 | 22 years, 15 days | Haagsche Zoo, Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| 2 | Loss | 1–1 | Nicolas Wilk | DQ | 4 (10) | Aug 26, 1929 | 21 years, 331 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Low blow |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jules Steyaert | PTS | 8 | Jul 29, 1929 | 21 years, 303 days | Gebouw van K&W, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |