# Gus Lesnevich

Gustav George Lesnevich (February 22, 1915 – February 28, 1964) was an American boxer who held the world light-heavyweight championship from 1941 to 1948.

## Boxing career

Lesnevich was born and raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. He turned pro in 1934 and in 1939 took on World Light Heavyweight champion Billy Conn, but lost a decision.
In 1941, he took on Anton Christoforidis, winning the NBA light heavyweight title by decision. Later that year he defended the title twice against Tami Mauriello, winning both decisions to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion. In 1948, he lost a decision to Freddie Mills along with his title recognition. In 1949, he took on Ezzard Charles, but was TKO'd in the 7th, and retired after the bout. In addition to his various accolades, Lesnevich was named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1947.
Lesnevich served in the United States Coast Guard from 1943 to 1945.

## Professional boxing record

| 80 fights | 61 wins | 14 losses |
| By knockout | 23 | 5 |
| By decision | 38 | 9 |
| Draws | 5 | 5 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round(s) | Date | Location | Notes |
| 80 | Loss | 61–14–5 | Ezzard Charles | RTD | 7 (15) | Aug 10, 1949 | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. | For NBA heavyweight title |
| 79 | Loss | 61–13–5 | Joey Maxim | UD | 15 | May 23, 1949 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | For vacant NBA American light heavyweight title |
| 78 | Win | 61–12–5 | Eldridge Eatman | KO | 1 (10) | Mar 3, 1949 | Mosque Theater, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 77 | Loss | 60–12–5 | Freddie Mills | PTS | 15 | Jul 26, 1948 | White City Stadium, White City, London, England | Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 76 | Win | 60–11–5 | Billy Fox | KO | 1 (15) | Mar 5, 1948 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 75 | Win | 59–11–5 | Tami Mauriello | TKO | 7 (10) | Oct 31, 1947 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 74 | Win | 58–11–5 | Tami Mauriello | UD | 10 | Jul 30, 1947 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 73 | Win | 57–11–5 | Melio Bettina | KO | 1 (10) | May 23, 1947 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 72 | Win | 56–11–5 | Billy Fox | TKO | 10 (15) | Feb 28, 1947 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 71 | Loss | 55–11–5 | Bruce Woodcock | KO | 8 (10) | Sep 17, 1946 | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England | |
| 70 | Win | 55–10–5 | Freddie Mills | TKO | 10 (15) | May 14, 1946 | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England | Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 69 | Loss | 54–10–5 | Lee Oma | TKO | 5 (10) | Feb 22, 1946 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 68 | Win | 54–9–5 | Joe Kahut | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 11, 1946 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 67 | Loss | 53–9–5 | Jimmy Bivins | UD | 10 | Mar 11, 1942 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 66 | Loss | 53–8–5 | Bob Pastor | SD | 15 | Jan 30, 1942 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 53–7–5 | Tami Mauriello | SD | 15 | Nov 14, 1941 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 64 | Win | 52–7–5 | Tami Mauriello | SD | 15 | Aug 26, 1941 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained NBA light heavyweight title; Won vacant NYSAC and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 63 | Win | 51–7–5 | Anton Christoforidis | UD | 15 | May 22, 1941 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won NBA light heavyweight title |
| 62 | Win | 50–7–5 | Nathan Mann | UD | 10 | Feb 27, 1941 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 49–7–5 | Jack Marshall | KO | 4 (10) | Dec 16, 1940 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 60 | Loss | 48–7–5 | Al Delaney | PTS | 10 | Nov 23, 1940 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 48–6–5 | Henry Cooper | RTD | 4 (10) | Sep 5, 1940 | Belmont Park, Garfield, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 47–6–5 | Wally Sears | PTS | 10 | Jul 22, 1940 | Belmont Park, Garfield, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 57 | Loss | 46–6–5 | Billy Conn | UD | 15 | Jun 5, 1940 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 56 | Win | 46–5–5 | Dave Clark | UD | 10 | Jan 1, 1940 | Fair Grounds Coliseum, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 55 | Loss | 45–5–5 | Billy Conn | UD | 15 | Nov 17, 1939 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 54 | Win | 45–4–5 | Dave Clark | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 22, 1939 | Velodrome, Nutley, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 44–4–5 | Larry Lane | PTS | 10 | May 15, 1939 | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 43–4–5 | Bob Olin | PTS | 12 | Feb 2, 1939 | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 51 | Win | 42–4–5 | Alabama Kid | RTD | 9 (12) | Jan 13, 1939 | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 50 | Win | 41–4–5 | Ambrose Palmer | PTS | 12 | Dec 8, 1938 | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 49 | Loss | 40–4–5 | Ron Richards | PTS | 15 | Oct 27, 1938 | Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |
| 48 | Win | 40–3–5 | Stanley Hasrato | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 16, 1938 | Miller Stadium, West New York, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 39–3–5 | Buddy Ryan | PTS | 10 | Jun 1, 1938 | Miller Stadium, West New York, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 38–3–5 | Lou Brouillard | PTS | 10 | Mar 23, 1938 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 37–3–5 | Jack Kirkland | KO | 1 (10) | Feb 24, 1938 | Beach Arena, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 36–3–5 | Ben Brown | UD | 10 | Feb 8, 1938 | Coliseum, Coral Gables, Florida, U.S. | |
| 43 | Draw | 35–3–5 | Joey Parks | PTS | 10 | Jan 7, 1938 | Coliseum, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 35–3–4 | Herbie Katz | PTS | 8 | Nov 19, 1937 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Draw | 34–3–4 | Allen Matthews | MD | 10 | Oct 5, 1937 | Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 34–3–3 | Alabama Kid | PTS | 10 | Sep 3, 1937 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 33–3–3 | Atilio Sabatino | PTS | 10 | Aug 24, 1937 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 32–3–3 | Young Stuhley | PTS | 10 | Jun 22, 1937 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 31–3–3 | Johnny Romero | KO | 7 (10) | May 14, 1937 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 30–3–3 | Young Corbett III | TKO | 5 (10) | Mar 12, 1937 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 30–2–3 | Tony Celli | PTS | 8 | Feb 20, 1937 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 29–2–3 | Freddie Steele | TKO | 2 (10) | Nov 17, 1936 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 29–1–3 | Young Stuhley | KO | 9 (10) | Nov 4, 1936 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 32 | Draw | 28–1–3 | Marty Simmons | PTS | 10 | Oct 23, 1936 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 28–1–2 | Carmen Barth | PTS | 10 | Oct 9, 1936 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 27–1–2 | Ray Actis | PTS | 10 | Aug 21, 1936 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 26–1–2 | Louie Rogers | TKO | 1 (6) | Jun 19, 1936 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 25–1–2 | Johnny Sikes | TKO | 1 (6) | May 29, 1936 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 24–1–2 | Sammy Christian | PTS | 4 | May 19, 1936 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 23–1–2 | Frankie Caris | PTS | 10 | Apr 13, 1936 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 25 | Draw | 22–1–2 | Frankie Caris | PTS | 10 | Mar 16, 1936 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 22–1–1 | Billy Hood | PTS | 8 | Mar 11, 1936 | Beach Arena, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 21–1–1 | Eddie Whalen | TKO | 5 (10) | Feb 4, 1936 | Braddock Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 20–1–1 | Butch Lynch | PTS | 10 | Dec 17, 1935 | Braddock Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 19–1–1 | Frank LoBianco | PTS | 8 | Dec 14, 1935 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 18–1–1 | Tony Celli | PTS | 8 | May 25, 1935 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Tom Chester | PTS | 8 | May 4, 1935 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Jimmy Varrelli | PTS | 8 | Apr 13, 1935 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 17 | Draw | 15–1–1 | John Andersson | PTS | 6 | Mar 22, 1935 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | John Andersson | PTS | 8 | Mar 2, 1935 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Jackie Aldare | PTS | 8 | Feb 2, 1935 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Bucky Lawless | KO | 2 (8) | Jan 12, 1935 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Jackie Aldare | PTS | 8 | Dec 29, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Stanley Willardson | PTS | 6 | Dec 8, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 11 | Loss | 10–1 | Jackie Aldare | SD | 6 | Nov 24, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Tom Chester | PTS | 6 | Nov 3, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Mark Hough | PTS | 6 | Oct 13, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Charley Weise | PTS | 6 | Sep 22, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Nicky Williams | PTS | 6 | Sep 13, 1934 | Teterboro Airdrome, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Frankie Cal | TKO | 2 (6) | Jul 23, 1934 | Oakland Outdoor Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Roy Frisco | PTS | 6 | Jun 16, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Willie Kline | PTS | 6 | Jun 9, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jimmy Calabrese | KO | 1 (6) | May 29, 1934 | Kennel Track, Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sid Cohen | TKO | 3 (6) | May 19, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Justin Hoffman | TKO | 2 (6) | May 5, 1934 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* NYSAC light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* NBA (WBA) light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)

### The Ring magazine titles

* The Ring light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)

### Undisputed titles

* Undisputed light heavyweight champion