Sammy Mandell (a.k.a. Samuel Mandella; February 5, 1904 – November 7, 1967) was an American Undisputed World lightweight boxing champion from 1926 to 1930. Born in Rockford, Illinois, and named Salvatore Mandala, he was known as the "Rockford Sheik" due to his Rudolph Valentino like good looks and as the "Rockford Flash" due to his fast hands and foot speed. His father was an Albanian and his mother Italian. Statistical boxing website BoxRec ranks Mandell as the 13th greatest lightweight boxer to have ever lived. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998.
Amateur career
Mandell developed his fighting skills at the Camp Grant barracks in Rockford, Illinois. He was too young and underweight to join the army, weighing 105 lbs. Despite this, his persistence in hanging around the wrestling and boxing training areas saw him gain permission to join in with the military personnel. The camp boxing instructor at the time was Fred Dyer, "The Singing Boxer," who recalled in a 1926 interview how Mandell beat every soldier in the bantamweight class and was able to best men 10 lbs heavier than him. Dyer also stated that he advised Mandell to turn professional.
Pro career On July 17, 1925, future champion Mandell fought Solly Seeman in East Chicago, Indiana. Seeman knocked down Mandell in the first round, and in the opinion of many ringside had the edge throughout the bout.Blady, Ken, The Jewish Boxers' Hall of Fame, (1988), Shapolsky Publishers, Inc, New York, Pgs. 149-52
Trained by Jack Blackburn, Mandell was a skilled fighter who had fast hands and impressive defensive skills. He won the championship when he outpointed Rocky Kansas on July 3, 1926. He defended his crown against four contenders, including against hall of famers and future champions Tony Canzoneri and Jimmy McLarnin. In a startling upset, Mandell lost the crown when he was knocked out by Al Singer in the first round.
Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.
Official record
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted to the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes191Loss88–22–10 Joe BernalTKO6 (10)Jun 27, 1934 190Win88–21–10 Chuchi VasquezKO2 (10)Apr 12, 1934 189Win87–21–10 Buddy JacksonPTS10Mar 31, 1934 188Draw86–21–10 Archie KovichPTS10Mar 23, 1934 187Loss86–21–9 Al ManfredoKO4 (10)Mar 13, 1934 186Win86–20–9 Tommy ElksTKO2 (10)Mar 2, 1934 185Win85–20–9 Mike NelsonPTS8Feb 23, 1934 184Win84–20–9 Chuchi VasquezTKO6 (10)Feb 16, 1934 183Loss83–20–9 Tony HerreraTKO6 (10)Jan 31, 1934 182Win83–19–9 Sherald KennardPTS10Dec 15, 1933 181Draw82–19–9 Johnny StantonPTS10Dec 11, 1933 180Win82–19–8 Vernon NelsonNWS8Nov 6, 1933 179Loss82–19–8 Jackie DavisPTS10Oct 23, 1933 178Loss82–18–8 Mickey SerrianUD6Oct 13, 1933 177Loss82–17–8 Iowa Joe RiversPTS10Sep 4, 1933 176Loss82–16–8 Tommy BlandPTS10Aug 19, 1933 175Win82–15–8 Bud JenningsKO4 (10)Aug 2, 1933 174Win81–15–8 Frankie HayesPTS10Jul 4, 1933 173Loss80–15–8 Ron HeadleySD10Jun 19, 1933 172Win80–14–8 Ray CollinsPTS10Jun 14, 1933 171Loss79–14–8 Young StuhleyNWS10Nov 25, 1932 170Win79–14–8 Billy HoonNWS10Oct 25, 1932 169Win79–14–8 Frankie BurnsNWS?Oct 7, 1932 168Loss79–14–8 Tod MorganPTS10Jul 8, 1932 167Win79–13–8 Frankie DiazPTS6Jun 17, 1932 166Win78–13–8 Eddie FosterPTS10Apr 11, 1932 165Loss77–13–8 Gus CampbellPTS10Mar 14, 1932 164Win77–12–8 Jimmy SpiveyPTS10Feb 17, 1932 163NC76–12–8 Ralph LennyNC8 (10)Nov 4, 1931 162Draw76–12–8 Joey HarrisonPTS10Oct 8, 1931 161Win76–12–7 Owens DuvernayPTS10Sep 8, 1931 160Loss75–12–7 Louis 'Kid' KaplanPTS10Aug 24, 1931 159Loss75–11–7 Steve WolaninPTS10Aug 14, 1931 158Draw75–10–7 Wilbur StokesPTS10Jul 10, 1931 157Win75–10–6 Jose EstradaPTS10Mar 31, 1931 156Win74–10–6 Dick GoreKO4 (10)Feb 27, 1931 155Loss73–10–6 Maxie StrubPTS10Dec 5, 1930 154Loss73–9–6 Steve HalaikoPTS8Dec 1, 1930 153Win73–8–6 Tony LigouriNWS10Oct 27, 1930 152Win73–8–6 Joe TrippePTS10Oct 10, 1930 151Win72–8–6 Spug MyersNWS8Oct 2, 1930 150Win72–8–6 Tommy HermanPTS8Sep 26, 1930 149Win71–8–6 Mickey O'NeillPTS10Sep 15, 1930 148Loss70–8–6 Al SingerKO1 (15)Jul 17, 1930 147Win70–7–6 Izzy KlineKO3 (10)Jun 17, 1930 146Draw69–7–6 Tommy GroganPTS10May 9, 1930 145Win69–7–5 Pee Wee JarrellPTS10Apr 30, 1930 144Loss68–7–5 Jimmy McLarninUD10Mar 1, 1930 143Win68–6–5 Joey GoodmanPTS12Feb 3, 1930 142Draw67–6–5 Manuel QuinteroPTS10Jan 15, 1930 141Win67–6–4 Herman PerlickPTS10Dec 13, 1929 140Win66–6–4 Joe AzzarellaKO2 (8)Nov 21, 1929 139Loss65–6–4 Jimmy McLarninSD10Nov 4, 1929 138Win65–5–4 Ray KiserNWS8Sep 23, 1929 137Win65–5–4 Luis VicentiniPTS10Sep 6, 1929 136Win64–5–4 Frankie FriscoTKO3 (10)Aug 28, 1929 135Win63–5–4 Tony CanzoneriSD10Aug 2, 1929 134Win62–5–4 Tony LombardoPTS10Jun 20, 1929 133Win61–5–4 Jackie NicholsTKO7 (10)Jun 7, 1929 132Win60–5–4 Frankie NelsonPTS10Apr 25, 1929 131Win59–5–4 Benny DukePTS10Apr 12, 1929 130Win58–5–4 Don DavisPTS10Feb 4, 1929 129Win57–5–4 Jack GillespieNWS10Jan 22, 1929 128Loss57–5–4 Jimmy GoodrichTKO2 (10)Sep 25, 1928 127Win57–4–4 Johnny O'DonnellTKO8 (10)Aug 14, 1928 126Win56–4–4 Jimmy McLarninUD15May 21, 1928 125Win55–4–4 Eddie WagnerPTS10Apr 17, 1928 124Win54–4–4 Jackie FieldsUD10Feb 23, 1928 123Win53–4–4 Billy PetrolleNWS10Jan 13, 1928 122Win53–4–4 Johnny O'DonnellNWS10Dec 16, 1927 121Win53–4–4 Jimmy SaccoPTS10Dec 9, 1927 120Win52–4–4 Babe RuthPTS10Nov 23, 1927 119Win51–4–4 Spug MyersPTS10Nov 15, 1927 118Win50–4–4 Wildcat MonteKO3 (10)Oct 24, 1927 117Win49–4–4 Joe TrabonNWS10Oct 11, 1927 116Win49–4–4 Midget GueryNWS10Sep 5, 1927 115Win49–4–4 Phil McGrawPTS10Jul 16, 1927 114Win48–4–4 Steve AdamsKO2 (10)Jun 1, 1927 113Win47–4–4 Johnny ValdezKO2 (10)Apr 11, 1927 112Loss46–4–4 Jackie FieldsNWS10Apr 4, 1927 111Win46–4–4 Tommy WhiteNWS10Mar 25, 1927 110Win46–4–4 Armand SchaekelsPTS10Jan 31, 1927 109Win45–4–4 Eddie DwyerNWS10Jan 14, 1927 108Win45–4–4 Jimmy LanningNWS10Jan 10, 1927 107Win45–4–4 Roy MooreKO6 (12)Nov 15, 1926 106Win44–4–4 Jack DuffyNWS12Nov 12, 1926 105Win44–4–4 Clausine VincentNWS10Oct 29, 1926 104Win44–4–4 Larry CappoNWS10Oct 20, 1926 103Win44–4–4 Joe JawsonNWS10Oct 8, 1926 102Win44–4–4 Rocky KansasPTS10Jul 3, 1926 101Win43–4–4 Sidney GlickTKO2 (10)May 7, 1926 100Win42–4–4 Charlie FeraciPTS10Apr 30, 1926 99Win41–4–4 Harry 'Kid' BrownNWS10Apr 9, 1926 98Win41–4–4 Teddy O'HaraPTS10Feb 16, 1926 97Win40–4–4 Johnny AdamsPTS10Feb 5, 1926 96Win39–4–4 Jack SparrPTS10Jan 27, 1926 95Win38–4–4 Babe PicatoTKO7 (10)Jan 22, 1926 94Win37–4–4 Teddy O'HaraPTS10Jan 15, 1926 93Win36–4–4 Jimmy CashillNWS10Dec 7, 1925 92Draw36–4–4 Phil McGrawPTS12Oct 12, 1925 91Win36–4–3 Eddie RaynorTKO4 (10)Sep 17, 1925 90Win35–4–3 Bobby WardPTS10Aug 31, 1925 89Win34–4–3 Solly SeemanPTS10Aug 25, 1925 88Win33–4–3 Sid BarbarianUD10Aug 17, 1925 87Win32–4–3 Frankie BurnsNWS10Aug 6, 1925 86Win32–4–3 Solly SeemanNWS10Jul 17, 1925 85Win32–4–3 Phil SalvadorePTS10Jun 6, 1925 84Loss31–4–3 Jimmy GoodrichDQ6 (10)May 18, 1925 83Win31–3–3 Joe AzzarellaNWS10Apr 20, 1925 82Win31–3–3 Joe SieloffNWS10Apr 3, 1925 81Win31–3–3 Sid TerrisPTS12Feb 6, 1925 80Win30–3–3 Charlie FeraciRTD5 (10)Jan 12, 1925 79Win29–3–3 Jack BernsteinPTS12Nov 7, 1924 78Loss28–3–3 Phil SalvadorePTS4Oct 7, 1924 77Win28–2–3 Johnny AdamsPTS4Sep 30, 1924 76Win27–2–3 Oakland Frankie BurnsPTS4Sep 26, 1924 75Win26–2–3 Billy WallaceUD4Sep 24, 1924 74Win25–2–3 Dick HoppeUD4Sep 12, 1924 73Draw24–2–3 Archie WalkerNWS10Aug 18, 1924 72Win24–2–3 Eddie WagnerNWS12Aug 14, 1924 71Win24–2–3 Joe AzzarellaNWS10Jul 18, 1924 70Win24–2–3 Johnny DundeeNWS10Jun 9, 1924 69Win24–2–3 Paul FritschNWS8May 31, 1924 68Win24–2–3 Jack BernsteinNWS12May 16, 1924 67Win24–2–3 Billy HenryNWS10Apr 21, 1924 66Win24–2–3 Mickey O'DowdNWS10Mar 24, 1924 65Draw24–2–3 Jack BernsteinPTS15Jan 11, 1924 64Draw24–2–2 Sid TerrisPTS10Dec 17, 1923 63Win24–2–1 Eddie BradyNWS10Dec 3, 1923 62Win24–2–1 Babe HermanPTS12Nov 13, 1923 61Win23–2–1 Harry 'Kid' BrownPTS12Oct 26, 1923 60Win22–2–1 Eddie WagnerNWS10Oct 5, 1923 59Win22–2–1 Joe FoxNWS10Sep 17, 1923 58Draw22–2–1 Louis MargolisNWS10Aug 28, 1923 57Win22–2–1 Harry KabakoffNWS10Aug 24, 1923 56Win22–2–1 Frankie FriscoNWS8Jul 31, 1923 55Win22–2–1 Sailor LarsenNWS10Jul 23, 1923 54Win22–2–1 Battling Harry LeonardTKO4 (10)Jun 26, 1923 53Win21–2–1 George ButchNWS8Jun 21, 1923 52Win21–2–1 Jack "Kid" WolfePTS12Jun 13, 1923 51Win20–2–1 Johnny MahoneyKO5 (10)May 31, 1923 50Win19–2–1 Frankie GarciaNWS8May 29, 1923 49Win19–2–1 Eddie WalshTKO2 (6)May 21, 1923 48Win18–2–1 Johnny LisseTKO6 (8)Apr 24, 1923 47Loss17–2–1 Joey SangorTKO7 (10)Mar 9, 1923 46Draw17–1–1 Cowboy Eddie AndersonPTS10Feb 15, 1923 45Loss17–1–1 Frankie GarciaPTS10Feb 9, 1923 44Win17–0–1 Stewart McLeanNWS10Feb 1, 1923 43Win17–0–1 Frankie HowellKO5 (8)Dec 19, 1922 42Win16–0–1 Harvey BrightPTS10Dec 11, 1922 41Win15–0–1 Sammy FragerTKO6 (8)Nov 27, 1922 40Win14–0–1 Joey SangorNWS10Nov 20, 1922 39Win14–0–1 Jack "Kid" WolfeNWS10Oct 30, 1922 38Win14–0–1 Johnny McCoyPTS8Aug 7, 1922 37Draw13–0–1 Memphis Pal MooreNWS8Jul 4, 1922 36Loss13–0–1 Cowboy Eddie AndersonNWS10Jun 26, 1922 35Win13–0–1 Marty HendersonNWS10Jun 5, 1922 34Win13–0–1 Joe BurmanNWS10May 29, 1922 33Win13–0–1 George SpencerDQ5 (12)Apr 7, 1922 32Win12–0–1 Whitey RossNWS10Mar 16, 1922 31Win12–0–1 Frankie GarciaPTS8Feb 13, 1922 30Win11–0–1 Eddie KetchellNWS10Jan 23, 1922 29Win11–0–1 Jack EilePTS10Jan 13, 1922 28Win10–0–1 Sammy FragerTKO4 (10)Dec 5, 1921 27Win9–0–1 Jack EilePTS10Nov 29, 1921 26Win8–0–1 Barney DoolanKO3 (?)Nov 3, 1921 25Win7–0–1 Joe MillerNWS10Oct 7, 1921 24Draw7–0–1 Young FarrellNWS8Sep 5, 1921 23Win7–0–1 Memphis Pal MooreNWS10Aug 26, 1921 22Win7–0–1 Willie GreenNWS10Aug 17, 1921 21Draw7–0–1 Babe AsherNWS10Jul 15, 1921 20Win7–0–1 Stanley EverettNWS10Jul 1, 1921 19Win7–0–1 Mike EuloTKO1 (10)Jun 28, 1921 18Win6–0–1 Johnny GannonNWS10Jun 9, 1921 176–0–1 Johnny GannonNC5 (10)May 18, 1921 16Win6–0–1 Johnny HagenNWS10Mar 16, 1921 15Win6–0–1 Jockey Joe DillonNWS8Jan 1, 1921 14Win6–0–1 Barney DoolanNWS10Oct 5, 1920 13Draw6–0–1 Kid FlanneryNWS10Sep 6, 1920 12Win6–0–1 Barney DoolanNWS10Aug 28, 1920 11Win6–0–1 Frankie IzzoNWS10Aug 14, 1920 10Win6–0–1 Eddie CorbettTKO5 (6)Aug 5, 1920 9Win5–0–1 Johnny GannonNWS8Jul 28, 1920 8Win5–0–1 Kid UngerKO3 (6)May 31, 1920 7Win4–0–1 Johnny GannonTKO3 (6)Apr 21, 1920 6Win3–0–1 Johnny HagermanKO3 (?)Apr 7, 1920 5Win2–0–1 Benny ShapiroPTS8Feb 5, 1920 4Win1–0–1 Eddie HagermanTKO4 (6)Jan 29, 1920 3Win0–0–1 Stubby SandyNWS4Nov 12, 1919 2Win0–0–1 Stubby SandyNWS4Sep 13, 1919 1Draw0–0–1 Clifford LobdellPTS4Jul 23, 1919
Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions to the win/loss/draw column.