STEFAN REDL

Inducted on November 10, 1989

Born on March 5, 1933 in Hungary to Frank & Katherine Redl. He was the only boy in a family of three. During the War, his father served with the Hungarian Army and while on duty on the Russian front, was reported missing in action in 1944. In 1946, together with his mother and two sisters, Katherine and Elizabeth, he was deported to Germany. They settled in Heidenheim, where his love for boxing started to grow.

While learning to be a tool and dye maker, he became one of the top amateurs in Germany. In 1950 he became the Junior Featherweight Champ of Germany. In 1952 he was defeated on ~ split decision in the finals of the Olympic trials. He competed as a member of the German team allover Europe winning 138 and losing 3 bouts. He also held the Junior Welterweight title for three years, during 1952, 1953 and 1954. In 1953 he fought for the European Junior Welterweight title in Warsaw, Poland, but lost the decision to the same fighter who defeated him in the Olympic trials in 1952.

On February 14, 1956, Steve arrived in the United States. Two months later he turned professional and won by a first round knockout. Following four quick kayos, Steve made his I debut in Madison Square Garden against a tough youngster, Tony Sansone and won a six round decision.

Steve joined the National Guard in Paterson and adjusted himself to his new home as he rapidly progressed as a fighter. Just four days past a year after he landed in America, he stepped into the ring at St. Nick’s in New York for his first main event bout. A big test on television and against a top name foe, former world lightweight champion, tough, little Paddy DeMarco, who was a seasoned veteran. Redl pounded his way to a unanimous decision over DeMarco. This was Redl’s twelfth straight win and gained him wide attention.

Redl turned in three more wins, including two kayos, then enlisted for active duty with the Army. During this time, he kept in shape and was given time off to fight and scored another kayo to his record.

After returning to inactive duty in January, 1958, Steve moved back into fistic action and was matched against Gale Kerwin in a main bout in Madison Square Garden. After seventeen consecutive victories, this was the only defeat of his career, a hotly disputed split decision.

On March 29, 1958, Redl easily outpointed Johnny DeGilio for the New Jersey Welterweight title.

RedI has fought many top notch fighters and former world champions like Paddy DeMarco, Tony DeMarco, Virgil Akins, Curtis Cokes, Gil Turner, Vince Martinez, Florentino Fernandez, Don Fullmer, Jorge Fernandez and Hector Constance. He was also rated in the top ten of the lightweight and welterweight divisions in the World and European ratings.

In March 1963, Steve took his wife and one year old son, Frank to Europe for a seven month vacation. During this time he fought his last five fights, two of which he promoted himself.

October 1963 officially marked the close of Steve’s boxing career and in so doing, a boxing career came full circle, a start and finish in Europe with many colorful highlights in between leaving a boxing record of a total of 57 fights, 38 wins, 16 loses, 3 draws and 19 kayos.

Steve now lives in his own home which he built himself in Wayne, New Jersey with his wife, Laura and their three chiIdren, Frank 26; Linda 24; and David 18. He has invested i real estate in Vermont and Pennsylvania where he built a gym to train in while he was fighting.

He now has his own business which started out in 1964 as carpentry construction and has now expanded into building custom homes. He takes pride in his work and does all of the woodworking himself. In building as in his boxing, Stefan Redl ‘takes pride in his work and effort and believes in doing things the right way or not doing them at all.

Boxing Record: Stefan Redl