International Boxing Hall of Fame Flies Flags at Half – Staff for Former Middleweight Champion Gene Fullmer

The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced its flags will fly at half-staff in memory of two-time middleweight champion Gene Fullmer, who passed away yesterday in Taylorsville, UT. He was 83.

Born in West Jordan, UT on July 21, 1931, Fullmer utilized an aggressive, crowd-pleasing style to twice reign as world middleweight champion. Following a 70-4 amateur career, he turned pro in 1951. Wins over Del Flanagan, Rocky Castellani, Gil Turner, Tiger Jones and Charley Humez propelled him to a 1957 middleweight title-winning bout with Sugar Ray Robinson (W 15). Fullmer lost the title to Robinson in a rematch but rebounded to defeat Carmen Basilio for the vacant NBA world middleweight title in 1959. He successfully defended the crown seven times before losing it to Dick Tiger in 1962. Fullmer retired in 1963 with a 55-6-3 (24KOs) record that includes victories over Paul Pender, Joe Miceli, Spider Webb and Florentino Fernandez.

“A tough and rugged middleweight champion, Gene Fullmer was one of the shining stars of the Golden ‘50s boxing scene,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “The Hall of Fame joins the boxing community in mourning his passing and extend our condolences to the Fullmer family.”

In 1991 Fullmer was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.