Tommy Paul (4 March 1909 – 28 April 1991) was a world featherweight boxing champion from Buffalo, New York. He won the world featherweight championship in May 1932, defeating Johnny Pena in a boxing tournament in Detroit. He was inducted into the first class of Buffalo’s Ring No. 44 Boxing Hall of Fame and in 2003 to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He retired from the ring in 1935.
Early life and amateur career
Paul was born to Italian immigrant parents, Vito Antonio (aka Tony Paul) Papa, Sr. and Caterina "Katie" Tomasulo on March 4, 1909, on Seventh Street in Buffalo's old waterfront district. Both his father and mother were from San Fele, province of Potenza, Basilicata. The fifth of thirteen children, Paul and his brothers Bartolomeo "Al", Michele "Mickey", and Vito Antonio "Tony, Jr.", followed their brother Tommy into the ring.
At seventeen, Paul followed his brothers into Jack Singer's gym, hoping for a tryout. Singer recognized Paul's rough abilities, and after consenting to train him, entered him in a number of tournaments. Paul began boxing as an amateur in 1926, and in 1927 won the Niagara District Amateur Bantamweight Championship in March, the Empire State Amateur Bantamweight Championship in May at Madison Square Garden, and the National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Bantamweight Championship in April in Boston. Paul finished as an amateur with an impressive 31-2 record. After Paul completed his amateur career, Jack Singer began acting as his manager for professional bouts. In his later career, he was managed by George Blake.
Early professional career
Paul was undefeated in his first 27 fights with a record of 23-0-4. He defeated future Hall of Famer and reigning NBA world flyweight champion Frankie Genaro on January 18, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, winning in a six round unanimous decision in Paul's home town of Buffalo, New York.
In an important early career win on July 31, 1928, Paul defeated Johnny McCoy in a six round decision in Buffalo. He defeated McCoy again in a unanimous decision in Buffalo on August 14.
On December 21, 1928, Paul defeated Ansel Bell in a first round knockout in Buffalo.
In a win that helped him gain a following, on July 12, 1929, Paul defeated former flyweight contender Emil Paluso in a six round unanimous decision in Buffalo. Paluso was a prolific fly and bantamweight who had faced several champions in his career, and was rated eighth in the world among bantamweights in 1929. In a distinct victory, Paul had Paluso down in both the second and sixth rounds. Three months earlier on April 12, Paul had defeated Paluso in another six round unanimous decision in Buffalo.
Paul defeated Joey Scalfaro in a six round unanimous decision in Buffalo on October 11, 1929. Scalfaro was down in the second and sixth rounds, and suffered a cut over his eye in the second. Scalfaro was badly battered and outpunched, though twice he staggered Paul. Paul took four rounds with Scalfaro two, though neither boxer had time to box scientifically, each battering away throughout the bout.
Victory over Johhny Datto, 1930
Paul's first clear win over Filipino boxer Johnny Datto came in a six round unanimous decision at the Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo on January 1, 1930. Paul dominated Datto with a two handed attack in the third round which included vicious left hooks to the mid-section and punches to the chin. Datto lost the initiative after the third as well as the strength to mount much of an attack. With Paul taking the initiative in the last two rounds, Datto was merely the receiver of punches, though he attempted unsuccessfully to end the bout with a last haymaker. Paul had drawn with Datto in six rounds in Buffalo in their previous bout on November 8, 1929. On May 9, 1930, Paul would defeat Datto again in a second round disqualification from a low blow by Datto. The bout may not have ended as quickly for Paul, as Datto had floored Paul in the same round with a right to the jaw for a count of nine.
On January 20, 1930, Paul defeated Eddie O'Dowd in a first round knockout at the Convention Hall in Rochester, New York. Paul commenced a furious hurricane of an attack in the opening minutes of the first round, and knocked out O'Dowd only 1:52 into the first round. Beginning with a stunning left hook, Paul threw lefts to the head of O'Dowd using foot work that had him bounding around with a spring in his step, finding new angles to continue to land his left. Two rapid lefts to the side of the head first put O'Dowd down for a count of nine, and when he rose, a studied left shot squarely to his chin ended the match.