Description
Laszlo Papp
Alias: Laci Papp
Birth Name: László Papp
Born: 1926-03-25
Hometown: Budapest, Hungary
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: 2003-10-16 (Age 77)
Career: 1957-1964
Debut: 1957-05-18
Record: 27-0-2
Bouts: 29
Division: middle
After this title fight, the Hungarian government refused to allow him to fight for the world title in 1965 because boxing for financial gain was “incompatible with socialist principles.” Papp retired from the sport with an undefeated record of 27-0-2.
He won the European Middleweight Championship in 1962 and made six successful title defenses.
Papp was on the verge of a title shot against World Middleweight Champion Joey Giardello when the Hungarian government revoked his permit to travel abroad in 1965, thus ending his pro career. He had a professional record of 27-0-2 with 15 knockouts.
“I was one step away from a world title shot but it would have meant going to America and my government didn’t approve,” Papp said in an interview after the fall of communism in Hungary in 1989. “I think it was just jealousy. I was earning more money than most of them. There was a lot of antagonism.”
Categories: Olympic Gold Medalists | 1948 Olympians | 1952 Olympians | 1956 Olympians |Hungarian Olympians |IBHOF Members |Undefeated Boxers
