Armand "Al" Weill (December 28, 1893 – October 20, 1969) was an American
boxing
Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...
manager born in
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
Background
Weill moved to the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
from his birthplace of France at the age of 13. In his early years, he began working as a professional
ballroom dancer
Ballroom dance is a set of European partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and tel ...
and would promote dance competitions.
At the time, boxing matches and dance competitions were often held in the same locations, and Weill found his way into becoming a manager at the Harlem Sporting Club.
Early professional career
Weill began managing boxers at the Harlem Sporting Club.
[ The first professional boxer he managed was New York State featherweight champion Charlie Pilkington.
Over the course of his career, he managed four world champions ]Rocky Marciano
Rocco Francis Marchegiano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969; ), better known as Rocky Marciano (, ), was an American professional boxer who competed from 1947 to 1955. He held the world heavyweight championship from 1952 to 1956, and re ...
, Marty Servo, Lou Ambers
Luigi Giuseppe d'Ambrosio (November 9, 1913 – April 25, 1995), lalso known as Lou Ambers, was an United States, American two-time list of undisputed world boxing champions#Lightweight, Undisputed World Lightweight boxing champion who fought fro ...
, Joey Archibald and several other boxers.
In 1930, Weill and his business partner Dick Gray arrived in New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the outlet of the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, which empties into Long Island Sound. The cit ...
and established the Thames Arena, where Weill began making a promoting matches.Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...
where he stayed until 1952.[
]
Marciano's manager
In 1952, Weill left Madison Square Garden to become the manager of boxer Rocky Marciano.[
On June 18, 1957, Marciano announced publicly that he and Weill were ending their partnership "amicably." Weill had largely limited Marciano's public appearances, and as a result of his retirement a year earlier, wanted to focus on charitable work that Weill had so long forbid.
]
Later years
In 1958, Weill moved to California, saying "Hollywood and Los Angeles are the greatest fight cities in the world.".
Later in his life, Weill himself retired from boxing to Florida.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weill, Al
1893 births
1969 deaths
American boxing trainers
American boxing promoters
American boxing managers
French emigrants to the United States