November 18-24, 2004

mixpicks

Bantamweight Boychiks

by Mike Newall

exhibit

Jewish fighters dominated boxing throughout the early 20th century. Between 1910 and 1939, there were 26 Jewish world boxing champions.

"Sting Like a Maccabee: The Golden Age of the American Jewish Boxer," a new exhibit at the National American Jewish History Museum, colorfully recounts the heyday of Jewish-boxing dominance with hundreds of rare artifacts, photographs and film. They depict famed Jewish pugilists such as Benny Leonard, accepted by many to be the greatest lightweight of all time; Barney Ross (pictured), a fierce puncher who won titles in three weight divisions; and "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom, a defensive genius who fought close to 300 professional fights.

Also spotlighted are Philly toughs like Benny Bass and Lew Tendler. Bass put Philadelphia on the boxing map when he won the featherweight crown at a packed Municipal Stadium in 1927. At 5 feet 1 inch, he was known as "Little Fish," but was tough as nails and once fought for 12 rounds with a broken collarbone. Tendler was a ferocious southpaw who brawled Benny Leonard to a no-decision in Jersey City in 1922.

"Sting Like a Maccabee" also explores the sociological impact the sport had for Jews. "Jewish fighters, like the Irish and Italians before them, and later the blacks and Latinos, were trying to break out of their social circumstances," says exhibit curator Michael Silver. "Boxing was part of the struggle to gain access and acceptance into the social and economic mainstream of America."

"Sting Like a Maccabee: The Golden Age of the American Jewish Boxer" opens Sun., Nov. 21, $3-$4, National Museum of American Jewish History, 55 N. Fifth St., 215-923-3811.