Jack Singer

Amateur Fighter, Manager, Promoter, Matchmaker, Owner of Singer’s Gym

1921-1949

 

         After a brief amateur boxing career following World War I, Jack Singer became a boxing manager. During a lengthy career Singer managed the careers of Tommy Paul, George Nichols, Terry Meyers, Frankie Linhart, Tony Stabeneau and Mickey Paul (Tommy Paul’s brother). Both Tommy Paul (Featherweight) and George Nichols (Light Heavyweight) won National Boxing Association titles in 1932.

            Jack Singer opened Singer’s Gym at 338 Washington Street in the early 1930’s. Prior to that he owned and operated a gym at 1385 Sycamore Street and remained there until 1929. He then moved to 577 Main Street, where he remained until his move to his Washington and North Division Street location.

            Jack Singer was briefly involved with the promotional side of boxing when he was associated with the Silver Leaf AC in the late 1920’s. In 1943 Singer organized the Hudson Boxing Club in partnership with Tom Lippes and with that returned to the promotional and matchmaking side of boxing. During the next eight years Jack Singer played a major role in the revival of boxing in Western New York.

            The Hudson Boxing Club promotions started on a very small scale. Beginning on January 5^th and extending for just more than six months, the Hudson Club presented 13 boxing cards at the Eagles Auditorium. This was followed by two cards at Civic Stadium in the summer of 1943. Next the Hudson Boxing Club held two boxing cards at the Old Vienna Theater. On November 23, 1943, the Hudson Valley Club moved its operations to Memorial Auditorium, where it would stay well into the 1950’s. The revival of boxing was well on its way.

            Young boxers like Les McGowan, Walter Kolby, Bobby McQuillan, Henry Brimm, Johnny Green and Bobby Claus were all part of this return of boxing to Buffalo. Jack Singer also helped to bring some of boxing’s top stars to Buffalo. Willie Pep and Holman Williams both fought here a half a dozen times. Sugar Ray Robinson appeared here three times, including two great fights against Henry Brimm. The first fight (March 16, 1948) attracted a crowd of 11,904. Robert Villemain fought in Buffalo once , while Ralph and Joey DeJohn were frequent visitors to Buffalo.

            After World War II it was the light-heavyweights and heavyweights that Jack Singer turned to and it was these fighters that brought him even greater financial success. Joe and Phil Muscato, Henry Flakes and Prentice Hall provided the local talent. Jack Singer then brought in some of the top talent in the country including; Ezzard Charles, Lee Oma, Freddie Beshore, Tommy Gomez, Melio Bettina, Bill Weinberg, Anton Christoforidis, Joey Maxim, Lee Savold, Arturo Godoy, Jimmy Bivens and Joe Matisi. Oma, Savold, Beshore, Matisi, and Charles combined for 62 appearances at Memorial Auditorium. The Phil Muscato-Lee Oma fight (January 28, 1946) drew a crowd of 11,431 fans. The Phil Muscato- Joe Matisi fight (January 20, 1948) drew a then record crowd of 11,541

            Jack Singer was anxiously awaiting the Freddie Beshore-Lee Oma fight scheduled for Thursday November 10, 1949. On the Sunday prior to this fight Singer suffered a massive heart attack and died at home. We are here this evening to honor Jack Singer, gym owner, manager, promoter and matchmaker and induct him into Ring #44 Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame.