Editing Pete Rademacher

{{Short description|American heavyweight boxer (1928–2020)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox boxer
| image =Pete Rademacher 1961.jpg
| image_size = 210
| caption = Rademacher in 1961
| name = Pete Rademacher
| realname = Thomas Peter Rademacher
| nickname =
| nationality = American
| height = 187 cm<ref name=boxrec>[http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=020110&cat=boxer Pete Rademacher]. Boxrec.</ref>
| reach = 196 cm<ref name=boxrec/>
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|11|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Tieton, Washington]], U.S.<ref name=sr/>
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|6|4|1928|11|20}}
| death_place =[[Sandusky, Ohio]], U.S.
| style = Orthodox
| total = 23
| wins = 15
| KO = 8
| losses = 7
| draws = 1
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalGold| [[Boxing at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne]] | [[Boxing at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|+81 kg]]}}
}}

'''Thomas Peter Rademacher''' (November 20, 1928 &ndash; June 4, 2020) was an American heavyweight boxer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Pete-Rademacher-1956-Olympic-boxing-champion-15320048.php |title=Pete Rademacher, 1956 Olympic boxing champion, dies at 91 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> As an [[Amateur boxing|amateur]], he was a gold medalist at the [[Boxing at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]].<ref name=fwsbxrlmt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nspeAAAAIBAJ&pg=1079%2C3752409 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Former WSC boxer takes Olympic title |date=December 2, 1956 |page=13}}</ref> Rademacher became the only person to challenge for the [[List of heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight championship]] in his first professional bout when he faced [[Floyd Patterson]] in [[Seattle]] on August 22, 1957.<ref name=ptgfpd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=htVYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5218%2C6554115 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Boni |first=Bill |title=Patterson gains four pounds; Pete eager for longer fight |date=August 22, 1957 |page=18}}</ref><ref name=allovrxs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h9VYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6265%2C6581763 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Boni |first=Bill |title=Patterson pounds Pete; all over in 6th round |date=August 23, 1957 |page=1}}</ref>  He compiled a 15-7-1 record over 23 professional bouts.

A former [[college football]] player at [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]],<ref name=fwsbxrlmt/><ref name=ptgfpd/> Rademacher took up boxing as a form of rehabilitation during his recovery from [[rheumatic fever]], which he contracted in military school.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bert|last=Borrone|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1697&dat=19570730&id=9QgeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6504,2695443|title=Suspicion Grows That Marciano Is Using Role As Coach Of Rademacher As Stepping Stone To Comeback Try|newspaper=[[Park City Daily News]]|location=Bowling Green, Kentucky|date=July 31, 1957|page=13}}</ref>

==Amateur career==
In his amateur career, Rademacher won 72 bouts and lost 7. He won a series of tournaments, including the 1949 and 1951–1953 [[Seattle]] [[Golden Gloves]] (he lost in 1950 to [[Zora Folley]], who was his frequent opponent throughout his boxing career), and the [[National Amateur Heavyweight Champions|US Amateur Championship]] as a [[heavyweight]] in 1953—avenging his earlier loss to Folley.

He captured the [[Chicago]] Golden Gloves, the All-[[United States Army|Army]] championship, and the [[United States military|Service]] championship in 1956, before qualifying for the [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] team.  At the [[1956 Summer Olympics|Olympics]], he captured a gold medal in the heavyweight division and served as the [[U.S. flag]] bearer at the closing ceremony.<ref name=sr/>

=== 1956 Olympic results===
* Round of 16: bye
* Quarterfinal: Defeated [[Josef Němec]] (Czechoslovakia) KO 2
* Semifinal: Defeated [[Daan Bekker]] (South Africa) KO 3
* Final: Defeated [[Lev Mukhin]] (Soviet Union) KO 1 (won gold medal)

Rademacher also attended college, playing offensive line on the [[American football|football]] team for [[Washington State University|Washington State]].

==Professional career==

[[File:Pete Rademacher and Zora Folley 1958.jpg|thumb|left|Rademacher and [[Zora Folley|Folley]] in 1958]]
After winning the gold medal, Rademacher started saying that he would be able to become world heavyweight champion in his first professional fight. He made his belief public and was able to lure world Heavyweight champion [[Floyd Patterson]] into defending his crown against him in his  professional debut. It is the only time to date that a fighter making his professional debut has challenged for the world heavyweight title.

The bout, at [[Sick's Stadium]] in Seattle, was refereed by former light-heavyweight champion [[Tommy Loughran]], who himself had contended for the heavy crown once, vs. [[Primo Carnera]], in 1934. Rademacher dropped Patterson in round two, but Patterson recovered and knocked Rademacher down seven times, defeating him by a [[knockout]] in round six.<ref name=boxrec/><ref name=sr/><ref name=allovrxs/> Legendary boxing promoter [[Jack Hurley]] promoted the match.

Rademacher fought [[Zora Folley]], [[Brian London]], [[George Chuvalo]], [[Buddy Turman]], and the former world light heavyweight champion, [[Archie Moore]]. He lost to Moore, Folley and London but beat Chuvalo, [[LaMar Clark]], and Turman, among others. His last bout was with former world middleweight champion [[Bobo Olson|Carl "Bobo" Olson]], whom he beat by decision.<ref name=boxrec/>

==Personal life==
Rademacher had [[Finnish Americans|Finnish]] ancestry; his maternal grandparents were immigrants from [[Finland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historylink.org/File/10342|title=Rademacher, Thomas Peter (b. 1928)|website=www.historylink.org|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref> He was married to Margaret and had a daughter Susan (born c. 1954–1955).<ref>[[:File:Wife and daughter of Pete Rademacher 1957.jpg]]</ref> In addition to boxing, he was a salesman and inventor. He was president of the company Kiefer-McNeil which was founded by fellow Olympian, [[Adolph Kiefer]].<ref name=sr/> Rademacher died in [[Sandusky, Ohio]] on June 4, 2020, at the age of 91.<ref name ="Obit">{{cite news |title=Pete Rademacher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114906746/pete-rademacher-1928-2020/ |work=Kenosha News |date=June 6, 2020 |location=Kenosha, WI |page=C2 |access-date=December 20, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>Goul, Matt (June 6, 2020) [https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2020/06/olympic-boxing-champion-pete-rademacher-91-dies.html Olympic boxing champion Pete Rademacher, 91, dies]. cleveland.com</ref> His brain was donated for medical research.<ref name ="Obit"/>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|ko-wins=8
|ko-losses=6
|dec-wins=7
|dec-losses=1
}}
{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bobo Olson]]
|UD
|10
|Apr 3, 1962
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Honolulu Stadium]], [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|22
|{{no2}}Loss
|14–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Karl Mildenberger]]
|PTS
|10
|Jan 20, 1962
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} {{small|[[Westfalenhallen]], [[Dortmund]], Germany}}
|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Buddy Turman]]
|TKO
|9 (10)
|Nov 30, 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Fair Park Coliseum (Dallas, Texas)|Fair Park Coliseum]], [[Dallas, Texas]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|20
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Archie Moore]]
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|2:10}}
|Oct 23, 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Baltimore Coliseum]], [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|19
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} George Logan
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|2:40}}
|Aug 17, 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Boise, Idaho]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|18
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Doug Jones (boxer)|Doug Jones]]
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|0:54}}
|Apr 29, 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[St. Nicholas Arena]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Dan Vanderford
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:17}}
|Apr 14, 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Armory, [[Gastonia, North Carolina]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Harvey Taylor
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:47}}
|Feb 22, 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]], Washington, U.S.}}
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Donnie Fleeman
|UD
|10
|Jan 23, 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Seattle Civic Ice Arena]], Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}
|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Willi Besmanoff]]
|UD
|10
|Dec 13, 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.}}
|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Kirk Barrow
|{{abbr|SD|Split decision}}
|10
|Dec 8, 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Spokane Coliseum]], [[Spokane, Washington]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[George Chuvalo]]
|UD
|10
|Jul 19, 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|CAN}} {{small|[[Maple Leaf Stadium]], [[Toronto]], Canada}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[LaMar Clark]]
|TKO
|10 (10), {{small|2:27}}
|Jun 29, 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Derks Field]], [[Salt Lake City, Utah]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|10
|{{no2}}Loss
|6–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Brian London]]
|KO
|7 (10), {{small|0:15}}
|Apr 26, 1960
|style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]], [[London]], England}}
|
|-
|9
|{{draw}}Draw
|6–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} Ulli Ritter
|PTS
|10
|Apr 8, 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} {{small|[[Sportpalast]], [[Berlin]], Germany}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} Ulli Nitzschke
|KO
|7 (10)
|Feb 6, 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} {{small|[[Festhalle Frankfurt]], [[Frankfurt]], Germany}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny York
|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}
|8
|Dec 9, 1959
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Cleveland Arena]], [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Keener
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:52}}
|Nov 12, 1959
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|City Auditorium, Columbus, Georgia, U.S.}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Calvin Butler
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|10
|Sep 29, 1959
|style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Miami Beach Convention Center]], [[Miami Beach, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Ralph Schneider
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|3 (10)
|Sep 17, 1959
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Greenville Memorial Auditorium]], [[Greenville, South Carolina]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Tommy Thompson
|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}
|5 (10)
|Aug 23, 1959
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Municipal Auditorium (Columbus, Georgia)|Municipal Auditorium]], [[Columbus, Georgia]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|2
|{{no2}}Loss
|0–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Zora Folley]]
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|1:15}}
|Jul 25, 1958
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Grand Olympic Auditorium|Olympic Auditorium]], Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|1
|{{no2}}Loss
|0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Floyd Patterson]]
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|6 (15), {{small|2:57}}
|Aug 22, 1957
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|[[Sick's Stadium]], [[Seattle, Washington]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For NYSAC and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight titles]]}}
|}

==See also==
*[[Rafael Lovera]]
*[[Joves De La Puz]]
*[[Joko Arter]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name=sr>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418090826/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ra/pete-rademacher-1.html Pete Rademacher]. sports-reference.com</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pete Rademacher}}
* {{Sports links}}
* [http://www.boxing-records.com/palm/voirpalma.phtml?boxeur=rademape.html Alternate record site]

{{Footer Olympic Champions Boxing Heavyweight}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rademacher, Pete}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Boxers from Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Washington State Cougars football players]]
[[Category:American football offensive linemen]]
[[Category:People from Yakima County, Washington]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic boxers for the United States]]
[[Category:Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in boxing]]
[[Category:American people of Finnish descent]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Yakima Valley College alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]