Maxie Berger (February 23, 1917 – August 1, 2000) was a Canadian boxer who fought as a flyweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight from 1935 to 1946. He squared off against many different Hall of Famers including the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Ike Williams, Beau Jack, Fritzie Zivic, Midget Wolgast, and Wesley Ramey. He held the Montreal version of the World Jr. Welterweight Title in 1939. His manager was Tommy Dio. Statistical boxing website BoxRec rates Berger as the 14th best Canadian boxer ever across all weight divisions.
Early life and career
Berger was born on February 23, 1917, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He began fighting in 1931 at the Montreal Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA). After a strong amateur career, Berger was selected as representative for Canada in the 1934 British Empire Games. Fighting as a flyweight, he lost a close decision in the finals to Pat Palmer of England, but managed to win the silver medal. After turning pro in 1935, and winning his first ten bouts, he moved to New York City. Three quarters of his career fights took place in the United States.
On July 6, 1937, Berger topped Midget Wolgast in an eighth round points decision before a crowd of 3,000 at New York's Coney Island Velodrome. Wolgast had held the World Flyweight Championship from 1930 to 1935. Berger floored Wolgast for a nine count in the fourth round with a right to the jaw.
Professional career highlights
Canadian Lightweight Champion, 1937
On September 9, 1937, at 133 1/4 pounds, Berger took the Canadian Lightweight championship against Dave Castilloux in a twelve-round points decision at the Forum in Montreal. One month later, he successfully defended the title against Orville Drouillard in a ten-round unanimous decision. Berger took the decision with a rally in the closing rounds to the excitement of an audience just over 2000.
On March 22, 1938, Berger defeated Enrico Venturi in an exciting upset before 12,000 at the New York Coliseum in an eight-round points decision. Venturi, who got in his best shots in the final round, was returning to boxing after a three-month suspension.
Bouts against Wesley Ramey
On March 28, 1939, Wesley Ramey defeated Berger in their second meeting, an eight-round points decision at the New York Colliseum in the Bronx, New York before an impressive crowd of 10,000. Ramey took five of the eight rounds. In their first meeting on February 21, 1939, Ramey defeated Berger more decisively at the Bronx's Colliseum in an eight-round points decision though Ramey was down for nine counts in the third and fifth rounds. Ramey was able to stage a comeback in the sixth through eighth rounds and win the decision, making the bout all the more memorable to fans.
World Jr. Welter Champion, 1939
On July 5, 1939, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Berger took the World Junior Welterweight Championship as recognized by the Montreal Athletic Commission before 4000 fans in ten rounds against his former nemesis Wesley Ramey. Berger dropped Ramey in the third, fourth, and seventh rounds though he had lost to him twice previously fighting in the states. Ramey, a veteran of over 200 fights, arose quickly from each knockdown, taking only short counts. At the end of the bout, Ramey had difficulty seeing from the swelling in his right eye.
On September 26, 1939, Berger won over Leonard Del Genio in a crowd pleasing eight round points decision at the New York Coliseum in the Bronx. He had lost to Del Genio on November 11, 1936, in an eight-round points decision at the New York Coliseum. It was a close bout and many in the crowd of 7000 were displeased with the verdict which ruined Berger's nearly perfect win record. Del Genio had an edge in the infighting which was noteworthy since he had a disadvantage of several inches in reach.
On October 29, 1940, Berger defeated Billy Beauhuld in an eight-round points decision before impressed fans at the New York Coliseum in the Bronx. Berger won a decisive points margin in the feature bout extending a streak of twenty matches without a loss. He came out aggressively in the first round opening cuts above Beahhuld's eyes and avenging a loss he took to Beauhuld on February 7, 1938, when Beahuld scored an eight-round points decision against him in St. Nicholas Arena.
Boxing at 143 3/4, on February 3, 1941, Berger defeated Bobby McIntire in an eight-round points decision at the New York's St. Nicholas Arena. He had previously defeated McIntire on two occasions in eight round points decisions on May 7 and June 10, 1940, at the Bronx's New York Colliseum.