Ed Sanders (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Hayes Edward “Big Ed” Sanders (March 24, 1930 – December 12, 1954), was an Olympic champion boxer, was born in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California
, to Hays Sanders, a municipal garbage worker, and Eva Sanders.
, the six-foot four-inch, 220 pound Sanders attracted the attention of Idaho State College boxing coach Dubby Holt and football coach Babe Caccia. "He had a good left hand, and for the big man that he was, he was a real orthodox, skilled boxer," Holt recalled. Shortly thereafter, Sanders was awarded an athletic scholarship to Idaho State College (now Idaho State University
) in Pocatello
, Idaho
, where he boxed and played football.
Sanders flourished at nearly all-white Idaho State. In his first collegiate bout, Sanders knocked out the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Champion. Sanders also set a record by never losing a bout in a collegiate dual meet. While attending Idaho State, Sanders fell in love with Pocatellan Mary LaRue, who was then a secretary at Idaho State's athletic department. She would later become his wife.
and won both the Los Angeles and Chicago Golden Gloves Tournaments. He subsequently toured Europe, winning the Golden Gloves Tournament in Berlin
, Germany
, which enhanced his reputation as a dominant heavyweight. Upon his return to the United States, Sanders trained at Naval facilities in Maryland
for his dream—the Olympics.
The 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
turned out not to be much of a challenge for Sanders. Sanders knocked out Swiss fighter Hans Jost in the first round, defeated Italian Giacomo DiSegni, in his second fight, and KO'd a South African, Andries Nieman
, in the second round of the semi-final bout. At that point, the only man that stood between Sanders and Olympic Gold was Swede Ingemar Johansson
.
The Gold Medal match between Sanders and Johansson would soon become boxing lore. For the entire first round, Johansson avoided Sanders by circling along the edges of the ring. The crowd, growing impatient, called for Johansson to fight. In the second round, Johansson continued the same strategy. Finally, in the third minute of the second round, Johansson was disqualified for failure to fight by the referee. Johansson was ushered from the ring between policemen, and was subsequently refused the Silver Medal. Sanders would later stand atop the prize dais with the place for the silver medallist vacant and a Swedish flag in its unfurled knot. Johansson maintained he was not fleeing Sanders, but rather was trying to tire his huge opponent for a planned third round onslaught but Johansson would not be awarded his silver medal for another 30 years.
Sanders, the first African American Olympic Heavyweight Champion and the first American to win gold in the division since 1904, returned to the United States a national hero. The combination of his tenacious fighting style, deep sense of assurance and humble demeanor attracted constant media attention. The City of Los Angeles named a day in his honor, and he was inundated with requests for his attendance at athletic, social and religious events.
After the Olympics, Sanders’ amateur status became a burden on his ability to provide for his wife and young son, Russell, who was born in 1953. As a Navy man, Sanders was prevented from boxing professionally, so he continued to box in the amateur ranks while lawyers and commissions analyzed his applications to turn pro. It was during this time period that Sanders fought future World Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston
. Liston emerged victorious, though witnesses at the fight accused Liston of clutching Sanders illegally. Sanders, always noted as a Negro in press reports, ended his amateur career with a record of 43 wins and only 4 losses.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, to Hays Sanders, a municipal garbage worker, and Eva Sanders.
Personal
As a child, Sanders, the oldest male child of the family, was mature and physically strong. He collected coffee cans, filled them with cement and connected two of them with a steel bar to make a weight set for exercising. As he grew bigger, faster and stronger, Sanders excelled in football and track and field at Jordan High School.Early life
After graduating from Jordan High School, Sanders attended Compton College, where he again excelled in football and a new sport, boxing. In 1950, at the National Junior College Boxing Championships in Ogden, UtahOgden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, the six-foot four-inch, 220 pound Sanders attracted the attention of Idaho State College boxing coach Dubby Holt and football coach Babe Caccia. "He had a good left hand, and for the big man that he was, he was a real orthodox, skilled boxer," Holt recalled. Shortly thereafter, Sanders was awarded an athletic scholarship to Idaho State College (now Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
) in Pocatello
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, where he boxed and played football.
Sanders flourished at nearly all-white Idaho State. In his first collegiate bout, Sanders knocked out the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Champion. Sanders also set a record by never losing a bout in a collegiate dual meet. While attending Idaho State, Sanders fell in love with Pocatellan Mary LaRue, who was then a secretary at Idaho State's athletic department. She would later become his wife.
Amateur career
In 1951, Sanders was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in the Korean War, but was convinced to join the Navy by his coaches. He then continued his boxing career as part of the U.S. Navy Boxing Team. Sanders scored a string of major victories when he defeated the Navy Heavyweight Champion, Kirby Seals, in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and won both the Los Angeles and Chicago Golden Gloves Tournaments. He subsequently toured Europe, winning the Golden Gloves Tournament in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which enhanced his reputation as a dominant heavyweight. Upon his return to the United States, Sanders trained at Naval facilities in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
for his dream—the Olympics.
Olympics
The Olympics, once a faraway dream, were suddenly within Sanders’ grasp. But the Olympic trials loomed as a major test, as stiff competition from around the country vied for the few coveted U.S Team spots. In the Mid-West Regional in Omaha, Nebraska, Sanders was defeated by Army Corporal Lloyd Willis, but still advanced to the finals because of his prior victory over Navy Champion Seals. Sanders and Willis would meet again in a bout in Kansas City, Missouri that would decide the last spot on the Olympic boxing team. With a broken hand, Sanders knocked out Willis, dropping him with a smashing left hook in only one minute.The 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
turned out not to be much of a challenge for Sanders. Sanders knocked out Swiss fighter Hans Jost in the first round, defeated Italian Giacomo DiSegni, in his second fight, and KO'd a South African, Andries Nieman
Andries Nieman
Andries Christiaan Niemann is a former boxer from South Africa, bronze medalist at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.-References:...
, in the second round of the semi-final bout. At that point, the only man that stood between Sanders and Olympic Gold was Swede Ingemar Johansson
Ingemar Johansson
Jens Ingemar Johansson was a Swedish boxer and former heavyweight champion of the world. Johansson was the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the United States. In 1959 he defeated Floyd Patterson by TKO in the third round, after flooring Patterson seven times in that round, to win the World...
.
The Gold Medal match between Sanders and Johansson would soon become boxing lore. For the entire first round, Johansson avoided Sanders by circling along the edges of the ring. The crowd, growing impatient, called for Johansson to fight. In the second round, Johansson continued the same strategy. Finally, in the third minute of the second round, Johansson was disqualified for failure to fight by the referee. Johansson was ushered from the ring between policemen, and was subsequently refused the Silver Medal. Sanders would later stand atop the prize dais with the place for the silver medallist vacant and a Swedish flag in its unfurled knot. Johansson maintained he was not fleeing Sanders, but rather was trying to tire his huge opponent for a planned third round onslaught but Johansson would not be awarded his silver medal for another 30 years.
Sanders, the first African American Olympic Heavyweight Champion and the first American to win gold in the division since 1904, returned to the United States a national hero. The combination of his tenacious fighting style, deep sense of assurance and humble demeanor attracted constant media attention. The City of Los Angeles named a day in his honor, and he was inundated with requests for his attendance at athletic, social and religious events.
After the Olympics, Sanders’ amateur status became a burden on his ability to provide for his wife and young son, Russell, who was born in 1953. As a Navy man, Sanders was prevented from boxing professionally, so he continued to box in the amateur ranks while lawyers and commissions analyzed his applications to turn pro. It was during this time period that Sanders fought future World Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
. Liston emerged victorious, though witnesses at the fight accused Liston of clutching Sanders illegally. Sanders, always noted as a Negro in press reports, ended his amateur career with a record of 43 wins and only 4 losses.
Olympic Results
- Defeated Hans Jost (Switzerland) KO 1
- Defeated Jan Lansiaux (France) withrdrew due to injury
- Defeated Giacomo Di Segni (Italy) KO 3
- Defeated Andries NiemanAndries NiemanAndries Christiaan Niemann is a former boxer from South Africa, bronze medalist at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.-References:...
(South Africa) KO 2 - Defeated Ingemar JohanssonIngemar JohanssonJens Ingemar Johansson was a Swedish boxer and former heavyweight champion of the world. Johansson was the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the United States. In 1959 he defeated Floyd Patterson by TKO in the third round, after flooring Patterson seven times in that round, to win the World...
(Sweden) DQ 2