Pinky Silverberg

Pinky Silverberg (April 5, 1904 – January 16, 1964) was a Connecticut-based American boxer who briefly held the National Boxing Association (NBA) World Flyweight title in late 1927. With an efficient defense, Silverberg was knocked out only once in his career by Willie LaMorte in 1926. His managers were Johnny Herman, Lou Anger, and Joe Smith. Problems with his hands, which were often broken during his career, may have hampered many of his boxing performances.

Early life and career Pinky Silverberg was born into a Jewish family in the Bronx on April 5, 1904. He would eventually become one of six siblings, with three other boys and two girls. His father relocated to Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1920 to find work in one of the many factories in the Naugatuck Valley.

Silverberg began his career in 1920 when he was only 16 by adding two years to his age so he could begin boxing professionally. His older brother Herman, who may have influenced his choice to be a boxer, was also a featherweight known as "Kid Silvers" and fought feature bouts in New York boxing clubs. Between September 1920, and June 1925, Pinky fought twenty-seven bouts almost exclusively in the Connecticut area, losing only three, and winning fourteen, with three by knockout.

NBA World Flyweight title, October 1927 Silverberg won the NBA World Flyweight Championship vacated by Fidel LaBarba, who had recently retired, by defeating Ruby "Dark Cloud" Bradley in Bridgeport, Connecticut on October 22, 1927, when Bradley was disqualified for delivering a low blow to Silverberg in the seventh round. Silverberg was unable to continue the bout due to the injury.

After his loss to Bradley, Silverberg began boxing exclusively as a bantamweight at a weight range of 112 to 118 pounds. The poster of Silverberg at right, published around 1928, shows his new status as a bantamweight contender, and lists many of the boxers he met formerly as a flyweight.

Due to a power struggle within the organization's hierarchy, the NBA never achieved a consensus to restore the championship to Silverberg. Adding to the confusion, there was no single organization at the time that sanctioned a World Flyweight Champion, and in the 1920s over a dozen World Flyweight Champions were recognized by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), and the European Boxing Union (EBU). Bell would contend several times for but never take a world title. A talented contender, in May 1927, Bell had competed for the British version of the World Bantamweight Title in London, but lost a fifteen-round decision. Later in his career in 1932–2, he would contend for the World Bantamweight Title again in Britain, and twice for the California version of the World Featherweight Title.

Bout with future Feather Champ Kid Chocolate, 1928

At 118 pounds, on November 8, 1928, Silverberg lost to Black boxer Kid Chocolate, then a sensational Cuban bantamweight, at New York's St. Nicholas Arena, in a ten-round points decision. The Kid won easily on points but did not score a significant knockdown of Silverberg throughout the bout. In his career after 1930, Chocolate would take the NBA World Super Featherweight, and NYSAC World Featherweight titles. The January 2002 Ring Magazine once rated Chocolate as the fifth greatest featherweight of all time.

Loss to Bantam Champ Al Brown, 1930

On January 25, 1930, Silverberg lost to Panama Al Brown reigning NBA World Bantamweight Champion, in a non-title ten round points decision at the Arena Polar in Havana, Cuba. At 5' 9", using his five-inch advantage in height and reach, Brown was in command throughout the fight. A defensive master, Brown nullified all of Silverberg's advances with effective left jabs and hard rights, though there were no knockdowns in the bout. Silverberg demonstrated he could remain on his feet with some of the best boxers of his era. Brown had taken the NYSAC Bantamweight Champion against Gregorio Vidal on June 18, 1929, in New York, later gaining NBA recognition for the title as well.

Bouts with Fly champ Midget Wolgast, 1930–31

On March 9, 1931, Silverberg met Midget Wolgast, for the last time, at the Park Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut losing in a ten-round points decision. Silverberg could not manage the speedy attack of Wolgast. The two contenders had previously met in important non-title bouts on March 10 and May 8, 1930, in Queens, N. Y., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Silverberg lost in 10 and 8 round points decisions.

In March 1930, Wolgast had impressively taken the NYSAC World Flyweight Title against Black Bill at Madison Square Garden. He clinched the title in May 1930 against Willie LeMorte. Several boxing websites rated Wolgast the eighth greatest flyweight of all time.

Life after boxing

Silverberg won his last known fight, a four rounder against Frankie Reese at Star Casino in New York.

In the fall of 1950, Silverberg was the subject of legal prosecution and conviction for the entertainment provided at a large gala held at his newly opened gymnasium in Ansonia. Silverberg was known in Ansonia for his campaign work in a local mayoral election.

By the early 1950s Silverberg was working as an inspector for aircraft engines at AVCO Lycoming in Stratford, Connecticut near his hometown of Ansonia. He fought in the Connecticut area and lived in Ansonia during much of his early life and career. He died at his home in Ansonia on January 16, 1964, after another heart attack at the age of 59. He was survived by his wife and two children, Janis, and Ron. Prior to the year 2000, Silverberg's boxing achievements were given little or no coverage by on-line boxing sites, and published boxing histories.

Selected fights

Win Al Beuregard Oct 17, 1925 Ansonia, CT 10 Rounds Won USA Connecticut Fly Title Loss Ruby Bradley Jan 7, 1926 Hartford, CT 8 Rounds Loss Willie LaMorte Apr 5, 1926 Hartford, CT 3rd Round TKO Loss Black Bill Jan 19, 1927 New York 6 Rounds Win Ruby Bradley Oct 22, 1927 Bridgeport, CT 7th Round DQLow blow Won NBA World Fly Title Loss Ruby Bradley Dec 3, 1927 Bridgeport, CT 10 Rounds Stripped of NBA World Fly Title Loss Willie LaMorte Jun 25, 1928 Newark, NJ 10 Rounds Loss Archie Bell Sep 22, 1928 Brooklyn, NY 6 Rounds Loss Archie Bell Sep 22, 1928 Brooklyn, NY 6 Rounds Loss Petey Sarron May 25, 1929 Melbourne, Aus. 15 Rounds Loss Nel Tarleton Nov 11, 1929 St. Nicks Arena, NY City 15 Rounds Loss Panama Al Brown Jan 25, 1930 Havana, Cuba 10 Rounds Brown was World Fly champ

Achievements and honors

Silverberg was inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame on November 30, 2007.