Billy Petrolle

Billy Petrolle
Billy Petrolle
Statistics
Real name	William Michael Petrolle
Nickname(s)	The Fargo Express
Weight(s)	Lightweight
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Reach	70 in (178 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	January 10, 1905; Berwick, Pennsylvania, United States
Died	May 14, 1983 (aged 78)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	165
Wins	123
Wins by KO	66
Losses	26
Draws	15
No contests	0

William Michael Petrolle (January 10, 1905 – May 14, 1983) was a world lightweight boxing title contender. Boxing ran in the Petrolle family as his brothers Pete and Frank also shared his occupation.^[1] Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Petrolle as the #18 ranked lightweight of all-time.^[2] Petrolle is member of the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame, the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame, the , and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.^[3]^[4]

Professional career[]

Nicknamed "The Fargo Express", Petrolle is perhaps best known for challenging World Lightweight Title holder Tony Canzoneri. In 1932 the two met for the World Lightweight Title, and Canzoneri was "squarely at his peak: a Canzoneri so magnificently conditioned, so beautifully attuned that even the old-timers at the ringside admitted he was worthy to stand alongside the lightweight giants of the past." (United Press). Petrolle dropped a decision in the bout at Madison Square Garden.^[5]

Life after boxing[]

Petrolle retired during the Great Depression with $200,000 and an iron foundry in Duluth, Minnesota. He later owned a religious goods and gift shop in Duluth, and was the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pioneer National Bank.^[1]

Honors[]

Petrolle has graced the covers of The Ring Magazine in May 1927, March 1931, and May 1932. An article on him appeared in the July 2008 issue.^[1]

Petrolle is mentioned in the novel Catch-22 during the trial of Clevinger. The quote reads "In sixty days you'll be fighting Billy Petrolle," the colonel with the big fat mustache roared. "And you think it's a big fat joke."^[6] In this context "fighting Billy Petrolle" was a metaphor for facing combat in World War II.

Notable bouts[]


Result	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes^[7]
Loss	Barney Ross	UD	10	1934-01-24	New York Coliseum, Bronx, New York
Loss	Barney Ross	UD	10	1933-03-22	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss	Tony Canzoneri	UD	15	1932-11-04	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	For World Lightweight Title.
Win	Battling Battalino	UD	10	1932-05-20	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	Battling Battalino	TKO	12 (12)	1932-03-24	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss	Jimmy McLarnin	UD	10	1931-08-20	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Loss	Jimmy McLarnin	UD	10	1931-05-27	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	Jimmy McLarnin	UD	10	1930-11-21	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss	Kid Berg	UD	10	1930-10-10	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	Tony Canzoneri	PTS	10	1930-09-11	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	Kid Berg	TKO	5 (10)	1928-08-24	Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Draw	Kid Berg	PTS	10	1928-07-26	Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss	Sammy Mandell	NWS	10	1928-01-13	Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota	Newspaper Decision
Loss	Sid Terris	PTS	10	1926-06-11	Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn, New York
Loss	Kid Kaplan	PTS	12	1926-03-01	Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut