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Top 10 Facts About Boxer Frankie Campbell

Boxing, as one of the most popular sports, has produced some of the most entertaining matches in history, with exceptional boxers displaying their in-ring prowess and achieving stardom during their tenure. Frankie Campbell was a boxer who established himself as one of the most feared fighters of all time. 

He had it all: strength, flexibility, speed, and ring IQ. Frankie possessed everything you would expect the best boxer to possess. He was a household name in the ring as one of the best fighters of his time, which is surprising given that he fought against much bigger boxers whom he was able to defeat.

Campbell was a competitive fighter who demonstrated his dominance in the ring and was regarded as one of the most feared competitors. He was known for his strength, devastating knockouts, and the unmatched thrills he brought to the sport every time he stepped in the ring. His outstanding desire was to be the best in the world and leave his mark on future generations, which he did. He was known for his technical prowess, sheer strength, and aggressiveness.

His thrilling boxing journey, with a particular emphasis on his fighting style, strengths, and weaknesses, has had an impact on current boxers, who attempt to emulate his fighting styles and learn from his career. Let us find out the top 10 facts about boxer Frankie Campbell.

1. Campbell was born on April 19, 1904

Frankie Campbell was born Francesco Camilli on 19 April 1904 in Hibbing, Minnesota. He is of Italian-American descent and famously known as one of the best boxers to ever grace the ring in the 1920s.

2. He began his professional boxing career in 1922

The early 1920s saw Frankie Campbell start his boxing career.  In 1927, he made his professional boxing debut as a heavyweight. He competed in both the US and Canada, and with his stature and strength, he rapidly established himself as a fearsome foe.

3. Campbell was the brother of former Major League Baseball player Dolph Camilli

Frankie Campbell’s brother, Dolph Camilli, was a former Major League Baseball player. Dolph played first base for the Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers for the majority of his Major League Baseball career. As the Dodgers won the pennant for the first time since 1920, he was awarded the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1941 after leading the league in home runs and runs batted in.

He held the franchise record for career home runs for the Dodgers from 1942 through 1953 and was the ninth player in the National League to reach 200 home runs. He is the younger brother of former professional boxer Frankie Campbell.

4. He fought under the nickname “The Freight Train” 

Throughout his boxing career, Frankie Campbell went by the moniker “The Freight Train”. Due to his big physique, strong punches, and aggressive fighting style—which was likened to a freight train speeding down the tracks—he earned the moniker “Freight Train.”

5. He was killed in the ring by future heavyweight champion Max Baer

On August 25, 1930, in San Francisco, Frankie Campbell faced off against Max Baer in a heavyweight bout. Both combatants landed powerful blows and traded blows throughout the even-matched encounter. Though Campbell was sent to the ground in the second round after being struck in the jaw by a strong right hook from Baer, he was able to get up, but he was visibly dazed and unsteady on his feet.

More forceful blows to Campbell’s head and torso were delivered by Baer as he pursued him. In the end, Campbell was knocked out in the fifth round by another right hook from Baer, who had now landed two.

6. Frankie Campbell died of a cerebral haemorrhage

Frankie Campbell passed away from a cerebral haemorrhage, a form of stroke brought on by brain bleeding. The numerous punches to the head he sustained during his boxing battle against Max Baer on August 25, 1930, are probably what led to the haemorrhage. Baer delivered several powerful blows to Campbell’s head during the bout, leaving him stunned and shaky on his feet. Campbell fought on despite this, taking more strikes to the head and torso.

When Campbell was rushed to the hospital following the altercation, the doctors there found that he had suffered a cracked skull and a cerebral haemorrhage. He soon deteriorated due to the bleeding in his brain, and the next day, August 26, 1930, he passed away.

Also Read: Top 10 Facts About Jimmy Doyle

7.  He died with a record of 33 wins, 12 losses, and 4 draws 

Frankie Campbell was a professional boxer who died on August 25, 1930, after a match against Max Baer. At the time of his passing, he was involved in a total of 40 bouts which he won 33 with 26 coming by way of knockout. He however lost only 4, got 2 draws and 1 no-contest.

8. Campbell’s death prompted calls for changes in the rules and boxing regulations

A pivotal moment in boxing history, Frankie Campbell’s death in the ring in 1930 had a profound effect on the sport. It resulted in more people paying attention to boxing, which led to requests for reforms to the laws controlling fights.

Campbell’s passing served as a reminder of boxing’s risks, notably the chance of suffering head trauma and brain damage. This sparked calls for reforms in the way boxing contests were handled and raised awareness of the necessity of safety precautions to protect fighters.

Following Campbell’s passing, numerous boxing commissions and regulating bodies established new guidelines aimed at enhancing safety in the sport. These included limitations on the number of rounds in a bout, required physicals for competitors, and tougher guidelines for the usage of gloves and other protective gear.

Campbell’s tragic death also raised public scrutiny of boxing and sparked a larger discussion about the morality and safety of professional combat. Many detractors said that boxing was inherently hazardous and demanded that the sport be outlawed. The legacy of Campbell’s death continues to be felt, with continued efforts to enhance safety in the sport and lower the possibility of major damage or death for combatants, even though boxing is still legal in many parts of the world.

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9. His death made Max Baer briefly retire from boxing

Max Baer came under fire and stirred up controversy after Frankie Campbell died in the ring at his hands. Many individuals held Baer accountable for Campbell’s passing, claiming that he overreacted in terms of force and failed to adequately care for Campbell.

Campbell’s death had a tremendous impact on Baer personally, and he was subject to a lot of criticism from the general public and the media. He received criticism for his rough fighting tactics, which some felt may have contributed to Campbell’s wounds. Additionally, there were claims that Baer punched Campbell when he was down and engaged in illegal fighting techniques.

Following the catastrophe, Baer experienced remorse and depression and temporarily gave up boxing. He ultimately made it back into the ring, though, and in 1934 he took home the heavyweight title. Baer continued to be a well-liked and prosperous boxer despite the controversy surrounding his part in Campbell’s passing; finally, he was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. 

10.  Campbell and Baer’s incident inspired the novel and subsequent film “The Harder They Fall”

Campbell and Baer’s encounter served as the basis for the book and later movie “The Harder They Fall.” Budd Schulberg’s 1956 novel “The Harder They Fall” was eventually made into a 1956 motion picture. The unscrupulous methods that were prevalent in the sport at the time, as well as Schulberg’s own experiences in the boxing scene, served as inspiration for the book.

The book and the subsequent movie are regarded as important noir works that are credited with exposing some of the most sinister sides of the boxing business and assisting in the implementation of changes to safeguard fighters’ rights and safety. Despite the unfortunate manner in which he passed away, Campbell is recognized as a talented and strong boxer, and his influence continues to be felt in the world of boxing.

Related: 10 Boxers who sadly died in the Ring