Forgotten Warriors: Eduardo Lausse

[BoztheMadman]

"Who??" you must be asking. Yeah. I was surprised when I found an old clip of one of his knockout wins from 1964. Eduardo Lausse was an Argentinian middleweight who fought from 1947 to 1960. He was a puncher with a good chin who scored 62 ko's in 75 wins and was only stopped 3 times in 10 losses. He was known under the aliases of "Zurdo" (meaning he was a southpaw but he is listed as orthodox) and "K.O.", a logical nickname. He stood 5'9 and at first fought as a welter. During his career, he defeated Kid Gavilan, Gene Fullmer, Ralph Jones, Wilf Greaves, Andres Selpa and Antonio Cuevas. Here is the story of Eduardo Lausse, the forgotten warrior.

 

His story begins in Lomas de Zamora, a part of Buenos Aires, where he was born 27 November 1927. As many other Argentinian boxers, he was of sturdy build and also possessed a great left hook. He started his pro career in March 1947 and won his first 17 fights, 15 by ko. His first loss came at the end of the year, on points to Amelio Piceda, a vastly more experienced fighter. On 30 April 1952, he was stopped for the first time against the national rival Antonio Cuevas, by TKO10. It was one of his first fights at 160, after starting out at 147. In his next fight on 13 September, he fought the legendary former world welter champion Kid Gavilan and gave him a good fight, but lost on points. His performance caught the eye of American manager Charley Johnston, who then offered him a contract. The handsome Argentinian strongman had his first fight in USA in February 1953 and beat the journeyman Johnny Darby by TKO5 at Westchester County Center in White Plains. He also stopped Gus Mel by TKO1 and Tommy Smith by TKO6. He then returned to Argentina for a rematch with Cuevas and this time won by KO6 to avenge his first stoppage loss. In his next fight, he won the Argentinian middle title by KO4 against the 89-15-8 Mario Diaz. He kept fighting between South America and USA the next couple years or so, before he beat the experienced and clever Ralph Jones, alias Tiger Jones, by UD10 at Madison Square Garden, 13 May 1955. He had a rematch against Kid Gavilan 3 September that year and this time got the better of the legend to win by PTS12 at home in Buenos Aires. He then scored his perhaps best victory against Gene Fullmer (32-2 at the time) at MSG 25 November '55. Although he was cut around the right eye and shaken in the fifth round, he dropped Fullmer in the eight but the referee declared it a no-knockdown after starting the count. He still got the better of Fullmer in the last half to win by UD10. 2 judges gave him 7 rounds and the third 6.

 

After stopping the English Johnny Sullivan by TKO5 to win his 34th straight fight, he surprisingly drew against Milo Savage, who was 38-33-7 going into the fight. On 15 February 1956, Lausse lost a controversial split decision to Bobby Boyd. Boyd used his head to open a bad cut between Lausse's eyes in the third. Still, Lausse staggered Boyd several times and put him down in the fourth with a right to the chin while Boyd used his jab to pile up points. Afterwards, Charley Johnston said:"An 8 ounce glove couldn't have opened a cut in a place like that. It was a butt. And the jarring effect of it held by boy back enough for two rounds to affect the outcome." Disgusted with the outcome, Lausse returned to Argentina for a while and scored two easy ko victories before losing to the younger Andres Selpa on points in August. They had a rematch 2 months later, this time for the South American and Argentinian titles and Selpa won by TKO13, thereby inflicting Lausse his second stoppage loss. In September '58 they had their third fight and this time Lausse won on points. He returned to USA to fight Wilf Greaves, a Canadian who held a split decision victory over Dick Tiger and was a rather tough guy. It was 18 March at MSG and Lausse would score his last pivotal victory when he stopped Greaves by TKO4 after putting him down twice. On 17 June, he was matched against Marcel Pigou, a tough and strong Frenchman. It was a true brawl and Laussa first dropped Pigou in round five before being caught by a left hook in the seventh and dropped. As he beat the count, Pigou was allover him before the referee Arthur Mercante stopped the fight. Lausse was ahead on the scorecards at the time. Afterwards, he said:"It was too hot-I fight myself out in the 5th round. I want to fight him again-in Argentina where it's winter and it's very cold now. Or here in NY, next winter." But that didn't happen. He returned home and won one more fight, knocking out Victor Zalazar in 8 on 19 November. That was the end of his career and he retired aged 33.

 

In retirement, he tended to his numerous businesses, including a pizza parlor, a gym, a motorcycle agency and an appliance store. He remained a popular figure in Argentina. He died on 8 May 1994, at the age of 66. He was one of several promising South Americans who were treated unfairly by the judges and referees in USA and therefore never got to have a fruitful career. Lausse never fought for a world title, even though he came close to it after the Fullmer victory. I hope you enjoyed my presentation.

 

[LondonRingRules]

--- Could be he was a natural lefty converted to ortho to get fights. His profile pic shows him in a lefty stance.

 

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10911

 

Joe Frazier was a converted lefty and reputedly so was Big George, but Lausse in an era that was a good reason then not to risk a belt against a lefty.

 

First rate again, Boz. You on the Juice ;)...

[BoztheMadman]

--- Could be he was a natural lefty converted to ortho to get fights. His profile pic shows him in a lefty stance.

 

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10911

 

Joe Frazier was a converted lefty and reputedly so was Big George, but Lausse in an era that was a good reason then not to risk a belt against a lefty.

 

First rate again, Boz. You on the Juice ;)...

 

Thanks. Hehe, no, just the orange one! :laugh: