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

Boxing career Lesnevich was born and raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.via Associated Press. "Billy Conn Punches Out Decision Over Lesnevich: Pittsburgh Fighter Successfully Defends Light-heavyweight Title Through Superior Boxing Ability Before Small Crowd at Detroit", Hartford Courant, June 6, 1940. Accessed March 22, 2011. "Billy Conn, the smiling, dancing Irishman from Pittsburgh, successfully defended his world's light heavyweight boxing championship tonight by beating out a close 15-round decision over Gus Lesnevich, plodding challenger from Cliffside Park..." 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

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound(s)DateLocationNotes80Loss Ezzard CharlesRTD7 (15)Aug 10, 1949 79Loss61–13–5 Joey MaximUD15May 23, 1949 78Win61–12–5 Eldridge EatmanKO1 (10)Mar 3, 1949 77Loss60–12–5 Freddie MillsPTS15Jul 26, 1948 76Win60–11–5 Billy FoxKO1 (15)Mar 5, 1948 75Win59–11–5 Tami MaurielloTKO7 (10)Oct 31, 1947 74Win58–11–5 Tami MaurielloUD10Jul 30, 1947 73Win57–11–5 Melio BettinaKO1 (10)May 23, 1947 72Win56–11–5 Billy FoxTKO10 (15)Feb 28, 1947 71Loss55–11–5 Bruce WoodcockKO8 (10)Sep 17, 1946 70Win55–10–5 Freddie MillsTKO10 (15)May 14, 1946 69Loss54–10–5 Lee OmaTKO5 (10)Feb 22, 1946 68Win54–9–5 Joe KahutKO1 (10)Jan 11, 1946 67Loss53–9–5 Jimmy BivinsUD10Mar 11, 1942 66Loss53–8–5 Bob PastorSD15Jan 30, 1942 65Win53–7–5 Tami MaurielloSD15Nov 14, 1941 64Win52–7–5 Tami MaurielloSD15Aug 26, 1941 63Win51–7–5 Anton ChristoforidisUD15May 22, 1941 62Win50–7–5 Nathan MannUD10Feb 27, 1941 61Win49–7–5 Jack MarshallKO4 (10)Dec 16, 1940 60Loss48–7–5 Al DelaneyPTS10Nov 23, 1940 59Win48–6–5 Henry CooperRTD4 (10)Sep 5, 1940 58Win47–6–5 Wally SearsPTS10Jul 22, 1940 57Loss46–6–5 Billy ConnUD15Jun 5, 1940 56Win46–5–5 Dave ClarkUD10Jan 1, 1940 55Loss45–5–5 Billy ConnUD15Nov 17, 1939 54Win45–4–5 Dave ClarkKO1 (10)Jun 22, 1939 53Win44–4–5 Larry LanePTS10May 15, 1939 52Win43–4–5 Bob OlinPTS12Feb 2, 1939 51Win42–4–5 Alabama KidRTD9 (12)Jan 13, 1939 50Win41–4–5 Ambrose PalmerPTS12Dec 8, 1938 49Loss40–4–5 Ron RichardsPTS15Oct 27, 1938 48Win40–3–5 Stanley HasratoKO1 (10)Jun 16, 1938 47Win39–3–5 Buddy RyanPTS10Jun 1, 1938 46Win38–3–5 Lou BrouillardPTS10Mar 23, 1938 45Win37–3–5 Jack KirklandKO1 (10)Feb 24, 1938 44Win36–3–5 Ben BrownUD10Feb 8, 1938 43Draw35–3–5 Joey ParksPTS10Jan 7, 1938 42Win35–3–4 Herbie KatzPTS8Nov 19, 1937 41Draw34–3–4 Allen MatthewsMD10Oct 5, 1937 40Win34–3–3 Alabama KidPTS10Sep 3, 1937 39Win33–3–3 Atilio SabatinoPTS10Aug 24, 1937 38Win32–3–3 Young StuhleyPTS10Jun 22, 1937 37Win31–3–3 Johnny RomeroKO7 (10)May 14, 1937 36Loss30–3–3 Young Corbett IIITKO5 (10)Mar 12, 1937 35Win30–2–3 Tony CelliPTS8Feb 20, 1937 34Loss29–2–3 Freddie SteeleTKO2 (10)Nov 17, 1936 33Win29–1–3 Young StuhleyKO9 (10)Nov 4, 1936 32Draw28–1–3 Marty SimmonsPTS10Oct 23, 1936 31Win28–1–2 Carmen BarthPTS10Oct 9, 1936 30Win27–1–2 Ray ActisPTS10Aug 21, 1936 29Win26–1–2 Louie RogersTKO1 (6)Jun 19, 1936 28Win25–1–2 Johnny SikesTKO1 (6)May 29, 1936 27Win24–1–2 Sammy ChristianPTS4May 19, 1936 26Win23–1–2 Frankie CarisPTS10Apr 13, 1936 25Draw22–1–2 Frankie CarisPTS10Mar 16, 1936 24Win22–1–1 Billy HoodPTS8Mar 11, 1936 23Win21–1–1 Eddie WhalenTKO5 (10)Feb 4, 1936 22Win20–1–1 Butch LynchPTS10Dec 17, 1935 21Win19–1–1 Frank LoBiancoPTS8Dec 14, 1935 20Win18–1–1 Tony CelliPTS8May 25, 1935 19Win17–1–1 Tom ChesterPTS8May 4, 1935 18Win16–1–1 Jimmy VarrelliPTS8Apr 13, 1935 17Draw15–1–1 John AnderssonPTS6Mar 22, 1935 16Win15–1 John AnderssonPTS8Mar 2, 1935 15Win14–1 Jackie AldarePTS8Feb 2, 1935 14Win13–1 Bucky LawlessKO2 (8)Jan 12, 1935 13Win12–1 Jackie AldarePTS8Dec 29, 1934 12Win11–1 Stanley WillardsonPTS6Dec 8, 1934 11Loss10–1 Jackie AldareSD6Nov 24, 1934 10Win10–0 Tom ChesterPTS6Nov 3, 1934 9Win9–0 Mark HoughPTS6Oct 13, 1934 8Win8–0 Charley WeisePTS6Sep 22, 1934 7Win7–0 Nicky WilliamsPTS6Sep 13, 1934 6Win6–0 Frankie CalTKO2 (6)Jul 23, 1934 5Win5–0 Roy FriscoPTS6Jun 16, 1934 4Win4–0 Willie KlinePTS6Jun 9, 1934 3Win3–0 Jimmy CalabreseKO1 (6)May 29, 1934 2Win2–0 Sid CohenTKO3 (6)May 19, 1934 1Win1–0 Justin HoffmanTKO2 (6)May 5, 1934

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

See also List of light heavyweight boxing champions

References

External links