Mike Belloise

Mike Belloise (February 18, 1911 – June 2, 1969), nicknamed The Bronx Spider, was an American professional featherweight boxer who became the NYSAC world featherweight champion in 1936.

Early life Born Michael Joseph Belloise, he was the eldest of nine children born to Salvatore and Julia Belloisi in the Villa Avenue area of the Bronx, New York.

Amateur boxing career He advanced to the final of the 118-pound division at the 1931 National Amateur Boxing Championships in April, where he lost to Honey Mellody.

In November 1931, he fought in Stockholm in a Sweden vs. USA bout held at Stallmästaregården.

Title match with Baby Arizmendi, August 1934 He failed to beat Baby Arizmendi in his first bid for the NYSAC featherweight world title on August 30, 1934.

Taking the NYSAC world featherweight championship, May 1936 The Bronx battler faced 90-4-10 Everette Rightmire in April 1936, winning by a 14th-round TKO in the final eliminator for the division's world title. Belloise went on to successfully defend the NYSAC world featherweight championship with a knockout of Dave Crowley at Madison Square Garden on September 3, 1936.

Losing the NYSAC world featherweight championship, August 1937 He was stripped of the 126-pound title by the New York State Athletic Commission on August 10, 1937.

Belloise was rated fifth in the featherweight division in The Ring magazine's 1938 annual rankings, which appeared in the February 1939 issue. In 1941, he held the eighth position among featherweights in the annual ratings of The Ring.

Loss against reigning NBA world lightweight champion Juan Zurita, January 1945 The former titleholder went up against Juan Zurita, NBA world lightweight champion, in Houston on January 31, 1945.

His last pro bout resulted in a KO loss to Tommy Stenhouse at Dunn Field in August 1947.

Professional boxing record

Death Mike Belloise died on June 2, 1969, in the Bronx, New York, United States, at 58.

Legacy Belloise appeared on the cover of the March 1937 issue of The Ring magazine.

He was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame on November 12, 1998.