László Papp
(IOC)
Updated: 2007-07-26 20:02
Helsinki, 1952, Games of the XV Olympiad. Hungarian boxer Laszlo PAPP gets ready for a training session. Credit: CIO Collections Musée Olympique
Born: 25 March 1926
Deceased: 16 October 2003
Birthplace: Budapest (Hungary)
Nationality: Hungary
Sport: Boxing
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
London 1948
Helsinki 1952
Melbourne / Stockholm 1956
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 3
Other results:
Amateur-
1 European Middleweight Title (1949)
1 European Light-Middleweight Title (1951)
Professional-
6 European Middleweight Titles (1962-1965)
First Boxer to Win Three Gold Medals
After winning the Olympic middleweight title in 1948, Hungary's László Papp won the light-middleweight crown in 1952 and 1956 to become the first boxer to win three Olympic gold medals. He also won European amateur titles in 1949 and 1951.
Possibly his finest victory in the Olympic ring came in the 1956 final when he beat José Torres (USA), a future world professional champion. A skillful, hard-punching southpaw, Papp was the first fighter from the Soviet bloc allowed to turn professional and he won the European middleweight title in 1962.
However, in 1965, the Hungarian authorities withdrew their permission for him to fight professionally and the chance of a world title bout was denied him. Papp later served as the coach of the Hungarian national boxing team from 1971-92.
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