Josef Weidinger

Josef "Joschi" Weidinger (25 April 1923 – 26 June 2002), better known as Jo Weidin, was an Austrian boxer who won the European Boxing Union heavyweight title in 1950.

Career Born in Vienna, Weidin made his professional debut in December 1945 with a third-round knockout of Stefan Schmidt. In 1947 he beat Jan Declercq, Enrico Bertola, Stephane Olek, and Robert Eugene to win a European heavyweight tournament (with no title at stake).

Back in Austria he won his next three fights, including a second-round stoppage of Heinz Lazek in September 1949. He lost on points to Olek in Paris in January 1950, with no title at stake, but when the two met again in Vienna in June for the vacant EBU European heavyweight title, Wiedin was victorious, becoming the new European champion. Weidin lost the title in his first defence, losing on points to Jack Gardner in March 1951.

Weidin had nine further fights, beating future South African champion Johnny Arthur in December 1951, but suffering defeats to Johnny Williams, Karel Sys, Hein ten Hoff, and Tommy Farr. His final fight, against Hugo Salfeld in November 1952, also ended in defeat.

Weidin died on 26 June 2002, at the age of 79, after a long illness.