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Eddie Machen

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Eddie Machen
Born
Edward Mills Machen

(1932-06-15)June 15, 1932
DiedAugust 8, 1972(1972-08-08) (aged 40)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMachen, circa 1963
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights64
Wins50
Wins by KO29
Losses11
Draws3

Edward Mills "Eddie" Machen (June 15, 1932 – August 8, 1972) was an American professional boxer. He was one of six children of a rural mail carrier. Machen dropped out of high school and became an amateur boxer. However, after just three bouts he was arrested and convicted of armed robbery. After his release, he became a professional boxer, determined never to return to prison again.[1] His 64-bout career began on March 22, 1955, and he went on to win his first 24 bouts. He was highly rated and fought most of the big names of his era and he defeated many of the important names of his period such as Bob Baker, Jerry Quarry, Niño Valdés, Joey Maxim, Willi Besmanoff, Tommy Jackson, Brian London, Howard King and Doug Jones (boxer)

Professional career

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Early career

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Machen often fought at Civic Auditorium or the Cow Palace in San Francisco. His first bout was with fellow first-timer Raul Flores, whom he knocked out in the first round. He had eleven fights in 1955 and the six-foot, 195-pounder won them all, ten by knockout or technical knockout. He had eight more wins in 1956 against better competition. In 1957, he won all five fights he had, including two over former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim. The Maxim wins made him a ranked contender.

In April 1958, he met highly ranked Zora Folley and fought to a draw over 12 rounds. But he was then knocked out in one round by undefeated future heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson, in September. After being caught flush by a big right hand Machen was floored three times, the last for some minutes.

On the comeback trail in 1959, Machen posted seven straight wins to return him to contention. In January 1960, he lost a decision to Folley at the Cow Palace. Later that year he met top contender and future champion, Sonny Liston, and although he lost by a clear 12-round unanimous decision, fought a sharp hit and move match that many believed was later studied by heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.[2] Liston was penalized three times for low blows in that match.

1961 began with two wins, then a very controversial loss to Harold Johnson by decision. Again, he came back with three very good wins, including a decision over undefeated Doug Jones. In 1962, Machen had two more wins before he had a draw with high-ranked big hitter Cleveland Williams in Houston in July 1962. In 1963 he resumed fighting and scored four straight knockouts to finish the year. He fought just twice in 1964, battling his personal issues[which?]. One was a win, the other a close 12-round loss to another former heavyweight champion, Floyd Patterson in Sweden in July 1964.

Title shot and late career

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In 1965, Machen received his first world title shot when he and 6' 6" Ernie Terrell met for the vacated World Boxing Association title that had been stripped from Muhammad Ali. Terrell won the 15-round decision. In 1966 he lost a decision to German southpaw Karl Mildenberger in Germany, then lost a close split-decision to powerful slugger Manuel Ramos. But he closed that year with two wins, one particularly notable over future contender Jerry Quarry, which was Quarry's first defeat

Versus Joe Frazier

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In late 1966, Machen fought young future heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and lost in a tenth-round technical knockout. Downed in the first round, Machen continued to try to out-slug rather than out-box the relentless Frazier.

Retirement

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Machen retired in 1967 at age 35 following consecutive losses to Henry Clark, Boone Kirkman and Joe Frazier.

Health and death

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Machen was admitted to the Napa State Hospital in the fall of 1962 after threatening to commit suicide. Biographies state he suffered from clinical depression. He later filed for bankruptcy in 1966 and retired from boxing in 1967. His final record was 50-11-3, with 27 KOs.

Eddie Machen was found dead in San Francisco on August 8, 1972, apparently the result of a fall from a second story apartment window. He was 40 years old. It is not known if the cause of death was suicide, accident, or murder.[1][3]

Professional boxing record

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50 Wins (29 knockouts, 21 decisions), 11 Losses (3 knockouts, 8 decisions), 3 Draws [1]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 50–11–3 United States Boone Kirkman TKO 3 26/05/1967 United States Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington Referee stopped the bout at 1:09 of the third round.
Loss 50–10–3 United States Henry Clark PTS 12 28/03/1967 United States Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California California Heavyweight Title.
Loss 50–9–3 United States Joe Frazier TKO 10 21/11/1966 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California Referee stopped the bout at 0:22 of the tenth round.
Win 50–8–3 United States George "Scrap Iron" Johnson UD 10 29/09/1966 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win 49–8–3 United States Jerry Quarry UD 10 14/07/1966 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win 48–8–3 United States Joey Orbillo SD 10 23/06/1966 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss 47–8–3 Mexico Manuel "Pulgarcito" Ramos SD 10 03/06/1966 United States Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
Loss 47—7—3 Germany Karl Mildenberger PTS 10 03/02/1966 Germany Festhalle Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Hesse
Draw 47-6-3 United States Elmer Rush PTS 10 10/05/1965 United States San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Loss 47–6–2 United States Ernie Terrell UD 15 05/03/1965 United States International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois WBA Heavyweight Title
Loss 47–5–2 United States Floyd Patterson PTS 12 05/07/1964 Sweden Rasunda, Solna Municipality
Win 47–4–2 United States Duke Sabedong KO 1 17/02/1964 United States Kezar Pavilion, San Francisco, California Sabedong knocked out at 2:56 of the first round.
Win 46–4–2 United States Dave E. Bailey KO 8 30/11/1963 United States Reno, Nevada
Win 45–4–2 United States Bill McMurray KO 7 05/11/1963 United States Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California McMurray knocked out at 2:13 of the seventh round.
Win 44–4–2 United States Alonzo Johnson KO 9 12/10/1963 United States Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California Johnson knocked out at 1:12 of the ninth round.
Win 43–4–2 United States Ollie Wilson KO 6 16/09/1963 United States Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California
Draw 42-4-2 United States Cleveland Williams PTS 10 10/07/1962 United States Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
Win 42–4–1 United States Roger Rischer UD 10 28/05/1962 United States San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Win 41–4—1 United States Bert Whitehurst TKO 6 23/04/1962 United States Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
Win 40–4–1 United States Doug Jones UD 10 02/12/1961 United States Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
Win 39–4–1 United Kingdom Brian London RTD 5 17/10/1961 United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley, London
Win 38–4–1 United States Mike DeJohn TKO 9 16/09/1961 United States Syracuse War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New York Referee stopped the bout at 1:09 of the ninth round.
Loss 37–4–1 United States Harold Johnson PTS 10 01/07/1961 United States Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 37–3–1 United States Mike DeJohn UD 10 10/04/1961 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 36–3–1 United States Garvin Sawyer KO 5 22/02/1961 United States Stockton, California
Win 35–3–1 United States Wayne Bethea UD 10 19/12/1960 United States Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Loss 34-3–1 United States Sonny Liston UD 12 07/09/1960 United States Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington
Win 34–2–1 United States Alonzo Johnson UD 10 08/06/1960 United States Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 33–2–1 Argentina Alex Miteff UD 10 20/05/1960 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 32–2–1 United States Billy H. Hunter TKO 9 26/02/1960 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City Referee stopped the bout at 2:11 of the ninth round.
Loss 31–2–1 United States Zora Folley UD 12 18/01/1960 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 31–1–1 United States Pat McMurtry KO 1 27/10/1959 United States Pacific Livestock Pavilion, Portland, Oregon Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title. McMurtry knocked out at 2:11 of the first round.
Win 30–1–1 Germany Willi Besmanoff UD 10 16/09/1959 United States Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Win 29–1–1 United States Garvin Sawyer PTS 10 11/08/1959 United States Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, California
Win 28–1–1 United States Reuben Vargas TKO 6 22/07/1959 United States Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center, Portland, Oregon
Win 27–1–1 United States Reuben Vargas UD 10 20/05/1959 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 26–1–1 United States Clarence Williams TKO 9 31/03/1959 United States Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California Referee stopped the bout at 1:42 of the ninth round.
Win 25–1–1 United States Young Jack Johnson UD 10 05/03/1959 United States Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Loss 24–1–1 Sweden Ingemar Johansson KO 1 14/09/1958 Sweden Nya Ullevi, Gothenburg Machen knocked out at 2:16 of the first round.
Draw 24–0–1 United States Zora Folley PTS 12 09/04/1958 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 24–0 United States Tommy Hurricane Jackson RTD 10 13/11/1957 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 23–0 Argentina Edgardo Romero KO 5 18/09/1957 United States Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Win 22–0 United States Bob Baker UD 10 24/07/1957 United States Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 21–0 United States Joey Maxim UD 10 03/05/1957 United States Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Win 20–0 United States Joey Maxim UD 10 25/01/1957 United States Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
Win 19–0 United States Johnny Summerlin UD 10 05/12/1956 United States Syracuse War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New York
Win 18–0 United States John Holman KO 7 24/10/1956 United States Portland Armory, Portland, Oregon
Win 17–0 Cuba Julio Mederos UD 10 04/09/1956 United States Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Win 16–0 United States Walter Hafer TKO 4 16/08/1956 United States Auditorium, Portland, Oregon Referee stopped the bout at 2:17 of the fourth round.
Win 15–0 Cuba Nino Valdes KO 8 11/07/1956 United States Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
Win 14–0 United States Matt Jackson TKO 4 18/06/1956 United States San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco, California Referee stopped the bout at 2:51 of the fourth round.
Win 13–0 Cuba Nino Valdes UD 10 16/04/1956 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 12–0 Cuba Julio Mederos UD 10 22/02/1956 United States San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco, California
Win 11–0 United States Ben Wise UD 10 12/12/1955 United States San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Win 10–0 United States Max Chris KO 1 22/11/1955 United States Auditorium, Richmond, California Chris knocked out at 1:09 of the first round.
Win 9–0 United States Howard "Honeyboy" King TKO 10 27/09/1955 United States Auditorium, Richmond, California
Win 8–0 United States Bill Davis KO 1 13/09/1955 United States Auditorium, Richmond, California Davis knocked out at 1:22 of the first round. Davis knocked through the ropes after the KO.
Win 7–0 United States Frank Buford TKO 8 26/08/1955 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California Referee stopped the bout at 2:45 of the eighth round.
Win 6–0 United States Shamus Jones KO 2 08/08/1955 United States San Francisco, California Jones knocked out at 2:39 of the second round.
Win 5–0 United States Artie Lucido KO 1 22/06/1955 United States Polo Grounds, New York City Lucido knocked out at 2:19 of the first round. Lucido retired after this fight.
Win 4–0 United States Clarence Williams KO 3 14/05/1955 United States Redding, California
Win 3–0 United States George Kennedy KO 1 13/04/1955 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California Kennedy knocked out at 0:29 of the first round. This was the first time Kennedy had ever been down.
Win 2–0 Ed Robertson TKO 1 29/03/1955 United States Auditorium, Richmond, California Referee stopped the bout at 2:01 of the first round.
Win 1–0 United States Raul Flores KO 1 22/03/1955 United States Sacramento, California Flores knocked out at 1:04 of the first round.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Milestones, Aug. 21, 1972". TIME. August 21, 1972. Archived from the original on May 22, 2007.
  2. ^ "Sonny Liston vs. Eddie Machen - BoxRec".
  3. ^ "Boxing news, videos, photos, results, fights and more".
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