Bob "Bombardier" Satterfield (November 9, 1923 in St. Louis, Missouri – June 1, 1977) was a

heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...

boxer who fought from 1945–1957. Satterfield, a top rated contender who never fought for the title, retired with a record of 50 wins (35 KOs), 25 losses and 4 draws. Known for his punching power, he is listed in ''Ring'' magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time at number 58. Satterfield later died from cancer at the age of 53.

Amateur career

Satterfield was the Chicago City

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147-pound champion in 1941. He lost to Al Tribuani on a first round knockout in the inter-city championship between Chicago and New York boxers.

Professional career

Satterfield, known for his punching power and aggressive style, was a fan favorite. His poor stamina and weak chin often cost him fights, however. In his bout against heavyweight contender Rex Layne on March 9, 1951, Satterfield hurt Layne, and knocked him down for an eight count in the first round. Layne slowly retook control of the fight, and ultimately knocked out Satterfield in the eighth round. Satterfield was knocked out in 7 rounds by future middleweight champion Jake LaMotta on September 12, 1946. He was also knocked out in 2 rounds by former

champion Ezzard Charles on January 13, 1954. Satterfield did score a knockout over future heavyweight contender Cleveland Williams and also beat the dangerous giant Cuban Niño Valdés, but lost by KO to

light heavyweight Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight. The light heavyweight class has ...

champion Archie Moore, and dropped 2 out of 3 to future light heavyweight champion Harold Johnson. He retired from boxing on January 15, 1958, due to a detached retina in his left eye.

In the media

In the 2007 motion picture '' Resurrecting the Champ'' (based on an '' L.A. Times Magazine'' article) a reporter named Erik Kernan Jr. finds a homeless man claiming to be Bob Satterfield and writes an article about him in the ''Denver Times Magazine''. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett and Alan Alda and was directed by Rod Lurie.

Trivia

* Satterfield served in the United States Army from 1942–45. * The 1997 story "Resurrecting the Champ" by J.R. Moehringer in the

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said that he was friends with musician

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...

and introduced

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...

to his first wife. This was based on an interview in the Chicago home of his son, Robert Satterfield Jr.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Satterfield, Bob 1923 births 1977 deaths Boxers from Missouri Heavyweight boxers Boxers from Chicago United States Army personnel of World War II American male boxers 20th-century American sportsmen