Description
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Leach Cross
Born: February 12, 1886 New York, New York
Died: July 2, 1958 (aged 78) Weehawken, New Jersey
Height: 5’7″
Weight: –
Division: Lightweight
Record:
Total fights: 49
Wins: 35
Wins by KO: 22
Losses: 10
Draws: 4
No Contest: –
Biography:
Leach Cross “The Fighting Dentist” (born Louis C. Wallach, and one of the many boxing Cross brothers–along with Sam, Phil, Dave, Marty, Monte, Tommy and Johnny) began boxing in 1906, taking part in almost 150 ring battles. Although he never won a title, he was known for his gameness and thus was very popular. In 1916, he retired for the first time after he had acquired considerable wealth, and a dental degree from New York University.
Born Louis Wallach on February 12, 1886, he was raised in New York’s Lower East Side. Wallach’s parents were from Vienna and his father became a successful businessman in New York. But Wallach grew up in a tough neighborhood and was often forced to fight in the streets. Because of his father’s success, Wallach was able to go to NYU for college where he studied dentistry. He only began boxing while in school to pick up a few extra dollars. In 1905, he fought his first fight in which he earned $6. He then went to Los Angeles, where one of his ventures was a private gymnasium. He staged a comeback in 1921, not because of financial distress, but to prove that he could still cope with the youngsters after a five year layoff. Returning to California, he erected an apartment complex, which he managed himself, while still running his dental practice. He soon returned to New York, however, and had successful dental offices on Columbus Circle, in the Bronx and on Fourteenth Street.
He was also a boxing referee and judge. According to the April 22, 1920 Tacoma News Tribune, Cross had signed with Universal Studios in Los Angeles to appear in an 18-episode serial entitled “The Vanishing Dagger” with Eddie Polo. In 1922, after his final retirement from the ring, he had his name changed legally to “Leach Cross.”
More info:
http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Leach_Cross
http://jewishboxing.blogspot.com/2011/05/look-back-leach-cross.html
