Sam Berger
(Samuel Berger)
BORN December 25 1884; Chicago, Illinois DIED February 23 1925; San Francisco, California HEIGHT 6-2 WEIGHT 180-205 lbs Berger was an outstanding Amateur Heavyweight Champion; He fought out of the Olympic Club of San Francisco and had around 40 amateur fights, winning nearly all of them by knockout
Berger was the first Olympic Heavyweight Champion, winning the Gold Medal at the 1904 St. Louis Games, the first time boxing was included as an event; Competing as a member of the San Francisco Olympic Club, he weighed 180 pounds and defeated Charles Mayer of New York in the championship bout
Sam turned professional following the Olympic Games but fought pro for only two years; As a professional fighter, he had good boxing technique but lacked substantial hitting power when pitted against the better professionals
His most notable fight was a six-round no decision bout in 1906 against the Light-Heavyweight Champion, "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien; Following his retirement, he worked as a sparring partner for Jim Jeffries during 1909-1910 when Jeffries was training for his comeback against Jack Johnson
Berger later owned a clothing store in San Francisco; He is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame*** AMATEUR BOUTS ***
1901
-Berger won the Amateur Middleweight Championship
of the Pacific Coast at San Francisco, Ca
Jul 17 Clement Milward San Francisco, Ca SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1902
-Berger won the Amateur Heavyweight Championship
of the Pacific Coast at San Francisco, Ca
Jul 9 Jack Joyce San Francisco, Ca TK
1903
-Berger won the Amateur Heavyweight Championship
of the Pacific Coast at San Francisco, Ca
1904
Jan 20 George Sullivan San Francisco, Ca KO 4
May 25 William Rodenbach San Francisco, Ca L 4
-Berger won the Amateur Heavyweight Championship
of the Pacific Coast at San Francisco, Ca
Sep 21 William M. Michaels St. Louis, Mo TK 3
Charles Mayer St. Louis, Mo W
-Berger won the Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medal
by defeating the previous 2 men
*** PROFESSIONAL BOUTS ***
1904
Dec 31 Jim Casey San Francisco, Ca D 20
1905
Feb 17 Jim Casey San Francisco, Ca KO 1
Mar 3 Joe Long San Francisco, Ca W 3
Mar 15 Bill Richards San Francisco, Ca KO 1
1906
Jul 16 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Oct 31 Al Kaufmann San Francisco, Ca LT 10
Undated
Harry Foley L1909
Feb 18 Jim Jeffries Monterey, Ca SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 15 Jim Jeffries Pittsburgh, Pa EX 6
Jun 16 Jim Jeffries Philadelphia, Pa EX 3
Jun 22 Jim Jeffries Troy, NY EX 4
Jun 24 Jim Jeffries Albany, NY EX 6
Jun 29 Jim Jeffries Wilkes-Barre, Pa EX
Dec 1 Jim Jeffries New York, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1910
Apr 15 Jim Jeffries Ben Lomond, Ca EX
Jun Jim Jeffries San Francisco, Ca EX
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
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