What is willie besmanoff?

Willie Besmanoff was a professional heavyweight boxer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was born on January 11, 1932, and died on January 25, 2012, at the age of 80. Besmanoff made his professional debut in 1949 and won his first 16 fights. He was known for his powerful punching and aggressive style in the ring, earning him the nickname "Hurricane."

Besmanoff fought some of the greatest boxers of his era, including Sonny Liston, Archie Moore, and Floyd Patterson. He challenged for the world heavyweight title in 1959 but lost to Patterson in a first-round knockout. Despite never winning a major title, Besmanoff was a respected fighter and had a career record of 49 wins, 25 losses, and 1 draw.

After retiring from boxing in 1962, Besmanoff became a successful businessman and owned several businesses in the Pittsburgh area. He also worked as a boxing trainer and mentor to young fighters in his later years. Besmanoff was inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.