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Born Luigi d'Ambrosio, Lou Ambers grew up in Herkimer, New York, during the Great Depression. He and his nine siblings watched their father lose his business. Then they lost their father. Taking to the ring as a "bootleg" boxer to support his family, "The Herkimer Hurricane" soon became an undefeated contender, losing only one of more than fifty fights in his first three years as a professional. A keen judge of distance with prodigious hand speed, he worked just within punching range, busily slipping and feinting, then slashing in with hooks and uppercuts.
In 1936, he faced his idol and mentor, Tony Canzoneri, and defeated him to capture the world lightweight championship. Ambers held the title for twenty-three months, losing it in a historic fight with the formidable Henry Armstrong (1938) but regaining it in a rematch the following year. As the 1930s ended, so did Amber's impressive career. This book chronicles the life of one of the great 20th century lightweights, who retired with a Hall of Fame record of 90-8-6 with 30 KOs.
List of contents
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Preface
Introduction: Bootleg Boxing in New York State
One. Hometown History
Two. Luigi Giuseppe D'Ambrosio
Three. 1933-You're Getting to Be a Habit
Four. 1934-Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled
Five. 1935-Lullaby of Broadway
Six. 1936-Tragedy and Triumph
Seven. 1937-Pennies from Heaven
Eight. 1938-Thanks for the Memory
Nine. 1939-Heaven Can Wait
Ten. 1940-I Want a Girl
Eleven. 1941-You Made Me Love You
Twelve. The Flight to Phoenix
Appendix A: Luigi Giuseppe D'Ambrosio-A Selected Boxing Record
Appendix B: Federation of Amateur Sports Clubs Directory of Selected Boxers (1931-1933)
Appendix C: Official Records of Associated Members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Mark Allen Baker, business executive and writer of hundreds of articles and more than 25 books, is the only person to serve the International Boxing Hall of Fame as an author, historian, chairperson, sponsor, volunteer and biographer. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. He was accorded a Lifetime Award of Merit by the State University of New York in 2022.
