Henry Brimm
Buffalo, NY
Middleweight

Henry Brimm was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved with his family to Lackawanna, NY when he was 5 years old. He began his amateur boxing career at the age of 14 and won a national Amateur Athletic Union boxing crown in 1939 in Boston, Mass .

He is considered by many, to have been one of the best middleweights in Buffalo's boxing history.

He turned pro in 1946 and immediately was fighting contenders such as Sam Baroudi and Steve Belloise.

In his eleventh pro fight, Brimm shocked the boxing world by out-pointing the great Holman Williams at the Aud in Buffalo.

Brimm's record reads like a "Who's Who" in the annals of fisticuffs. There were no soft touches on his list of opponents. His professional boxing career included bouts in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions.

He fought Sugar Ray Robinson twice, losing the first bout in a close ten round decision on Mar 16,1948.

In his rematch with Sugar Ray Robinson, on February 15, 1949, again held at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium, it ended in a draw and was of earthquake proportions. How did he do it? "I just stayed on top of him and wouldn't let him get extended," said the ebullient Henry. "He could really punch," he added. "Henry was the better fighter that night," exclaimed the great and gracious Ray Robinson.

Others Henry Brimm faced in his illustrious career were Rocky Graziano and Bobo Olsen, both middleweight champions, Jose Basora, Dave Sands, Artie Towne (his toughest opponent) and Irish Bob Murphy.

In his second last fight, the 3-1 underdog Brimm, pulled another stunning upset when he out-pointed feared slugger, Joey DeJohn.

Henry Brimm passed away on February 21,1994 at the Buffalo Veterans Medical Center after a long illness.

He gave Buffalonians, boxing thrills they'll never forget.