Sam Baroudi facts for kids

Sam Baroudi (born Sammy Crandall on August 29, 1926 – died February 21, 1948) was a talented American boxer. He competed in the middleweight division. Sammy was known for his exciting fights and strong performances in the ring.

Sam Baroudi's Boxing Journey

Sam Baroudi started his professional boxing career on May 15, 1945. His very first match was in Newark, New Jersey. He won this fight against Jimmy Picollo by a knockout in the first round. A knockout happens when a boxer hits their opponent so hard that they cannot continue the fight.

Over the next two years, Sammy had a great record. He won 35 fights, lost 7, and had 2 draws. A draw means the fight ended with no clear winner.

A Difficult Match

On August 15, 1947, Sam had his 44th fight. He faced Newton Smith. Sammy won the fight by knocking out Smith in the ninth round. Sadly, after this fight, Newton Smith became very ill and passed away later in the hospital. This was a very tough moment for everyone involved.

After this difficult match, Sam lost his next fight by points. However, he quickly started another winning streak. Sammy was a very tough boxer. In 52 fights, he was never knocked down by an opponent. This shows how strong and skilled he was in the boxing ring.

Sammy's Final Fight

On February 20, 1948, Sam Baroudi had a fight in Chicago. His opponent was Ezzard Charles, who would later become a world heavyweight champion. In the tenth round of their match, Charles knocked out Baroudi.

A Sad Ending

Just like in his fight with Newton Smith, Sammy never woke up after the fight. He passed away in the hospital a few hours later from a serious head injury.

Ezzard Charles was very upset by Sammy's death. He even thought about quitting boxing. However, Sammy's family talked to Charles and encouraged him to keep fighting. They wanted him to continue his career in honor of Sammy.