Bliss Henry "Lee" Croft Boxing Record

Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft Boxing Record “Pugilist” “Leather Pusher” “Punching Paratrooper” “Glover” “The Camp Mackall Terror” “Slugger” 1944 Carolinas Golden Gloves Champion

Bliss “Lee” Croft – Amateur Career W vs. Charles Preston Smyrna Heavyweight Champ (‘43) • W vs. Willard Martin • L vs. Pvt. Bill Anderson in Southern Final match W vs. Rodriguez (Camp Forrest-Tullahoma, TN) SE Championships- Macon, GA (‘43) • L vs. Bob Townsend in semi-final AAU National Boxing Tourney – Boston, MA (‘43) • TKO W vs. John Hammond • L vs. Freddie Shott in final W vs. Wally Vrebansic (Cleveland, OH) Carolinas Golden Gloves Champ- Charlotte (Feb 1944) • KO Jim Lischette in final match Madison Square Garden – 1944 Golden Glove Championship • Lost decision in semi-finals vs. Sal Maribito

Most popular boxer…

1943 Smyrna, TN

Pride of Tacoma….

Jan 1943 “The Bom-Bay” Army Air Forces Combat Crew School Art Saulsgiver-Welterweight 551st PIR Sparring partner

Paratrooper / 551st PIR Boxing Team

Willie Tiger, Johnny Rosata, Lee Croft

First Fight Ever…

KO vs. Charles Preston January 1943

Pre-tournament hype

Won vs. Willard Martin Nashville Southern Golden Gloves Hippodrome Nashville, TN Won vs. Willard Martin Lost by Decision to Bill Anderson in Finals

Heading to Boston….

551st Boxing Team

Boston Garden 1943 AAU Boxing Championship • Runner up • Won vs. John Hammond • Lost to Freddie Schott in finals

• Many telegrams back & forth between Bliss and his father as whether he would make the trip to Boston • Bliss was thrilled when he did show up!

• This was always a treasured picture!

Boston - April 1943

W vs. Wally Verbansic May 1943 Cleveland, OH

May 19, 1943

Christmas 1943

Piedmont Golden Gloves 551st PIR Boxing Team Greensboro Y Gynasium

Article published 2/7/1944 (Bliss & Nell’s wedding day!)

Piedmont Golden Gloves 551st PIR Boxing Team Greensboro Y Gynasium

Article 2/7/1944 “below the fold”

1944 Carolinas Amateur Heavyweight Champion • KO Jim Lischette in finals

Carolina’s Golden Glove Champion (‘44) Charlotte, NC

1944

1944 AAU Amateur Heavyweight Championship Madison Square Garden • Lost Decision vs. Salvador Marabito (semi finals)

Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft – Pro Career

Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft – Pro Career

Joe Thomas – W - KO • July 3, 1944

• Meadowbrook Bowl, Newark NJ

Pvt & Mrs. Bliss “Lee” Croft

Texas Joe Dundee – W - KO • September 1, 1944

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Al Pearson– W - KO • December 4, 1944 • London

Arnie Sauerland– L - PTS • December 18, 1944 • London

• Red Cross Rec Center, Rainbow Gardens

Ring Magazine article April 1945

Shots in the Dark – 2/6/1945

Al Pearson KO in London Royal Albert Hall Same venue his father, HW “Lee” Boxed in 1908 Announces birth of Hugo William

Frankie Ryan– W - KO • February 20, 1945

• Wilmington NC

Aaron Levy- W - KO • March 14, 1945 • Armory, Charlotte NC

John Marvin-KO

Mack O’Michaels - W - KO • April 13, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Tiny Taylor- W - KO • April 27, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Tiny Taylor- W - KO • April 27, 1945 • Armory, Charlotte NC

• Ap

“Ignorance is not Bliss” So…this is how that phrase came about

More opinion…

Eddie Mader – N - NC • May 23, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Eddie Mader – N - NC • May 23, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Eddie Mader – N - NC • May 23, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Eddie Mader – N - NC

Eddie Mader – N - NC

This one did not happen... Al Lawson “He punches too hard”

Whitey Clark – W - KO • June 7, 1945

• Portsmouth, VA

Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

• Ju

Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

“My boy Lee”….John (Jawn) Allen

Jawn Allen, BH “Lee” Croft, Jimmy Campbell

Whitey Clark – W - KO • July 18, 1945

• Portsmouth, VA

“Perfect physical machine” Ring physician

Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft – Pro Career

Pre-Denson fight chatter

Johnny (“Blonde Johnny”) Denson –L - TKO • July 27, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Johnny Denson –L - TKO • July 27, 1945

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Buddy Thomas – W - PTS • August 10, 1945

• Portsmouth, VA

Buddy Thomas vs. Lee Croft

Bobby Murray – W - KO • August 15, 1945 • Armory, Charlotte NC

After WWII….

Trainer, Fred Bruny

Packy Paul– D - PTS

• January 3, 1946

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Packy Paul– D - PTS

• January 3, 1946

• Armory, Charlotte NC

Jim Dixon– W- KO • February 21, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA

Dave Johnston – D - PTS • March 7, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA

Dave Johnston – D-PTS • March 7, 1946

• Midway Arena, Tacoma WA • Fought to a Draw…

Dave Johnston –L - PTS • March 28, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA

Dave Johnston –L - PTS • March 28, 1946 • Midway Arena

“Chip off the old block”

Lee vs Lee • Always “hamming it up”

Ralph Kayo Hooker – L - KO • June 6, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA

Ralph Kayo Hooker – L - KO • June 6, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA

Sonny Orrock– L – KO Last fight for BH “Lee” Croft • July 1, 1946 • Armory, Tacoma WA

A bit about Henry William “Lee” Croft

Henry William “Lee” Croft

Lee vs. Victor McLaglen • Not sure if they actually boxed one another but both enjoyed posing for the camera and were pen pals • Victor McLaglen was in the British army • Had a boxing career (16-8-1) • Once toured with a circus, which offered $25 to anyone who could go three rounds with him.

• Became an actor after his boxing career

Jack Lester – D - PTS • June 27, 1910

Tribute to HW “Lee” Croft • Died December 1951

Tidbits from Melanie…

• Family lore indicates that my great-grandfather, Edmund, lured Lee (Henry William-my grandfather) away from boxing with an enticing trip to Europe!

• Bliss told our family that after 3 KOs, his father (Henry William) indicated he should consider re-upping back into the Army since he had a wife and 3 mouths to feed (Hugo, Alice “Sissy” and Chris), which he did.

• During those “lean years” Bliss also worked as a bartender, blacksmith, farmer, Swedish masseuse, etc.

• Family lived in Fife, WA

From the archives….

Much donated to Tacoma Sports Museum https://www.tacomasportsmuseum.com