PRENTISS HALL
Buffalo, NY.
Light-Heavyweight
1944-1948


Prentiss Hall was a graduate of the amateur ranks during which he won the National Amateur Middleweight Championship in 1943.

As a professional, he became a hot favorite in upper New York State. Prentiss came from a large family and several of his brothers were amateur and pro boxers.

In 1944, turning pro, he won his first eleven bouts including among his victims, Vern Escoe, the Canadian light-heavyweight champion, whom he defeated in only his seventh bout. He was managed by Johnny Toth.

In 1945, he was fighting such noted world ranked opponents such as Holman Williams, Lee Oma, Izzy Janozzo and Phil Muscato.

The 1945 battle with fellow Buffalonian, Phil Muscato, for bragging rights locally, was a savage affair with Muscato scoring four first round knockdowns and a seemingly easy win.

To everyone's surprise, Hall came battling back to win five of the next six rounds in furious toe-to-toe action before falling in round eight.

No one ever questioned the heart or courage of Prentiss Hall. Hall's best year was in 1946 when he won all nine of his fights to crash the world's ranking. He went on to battle contenders Sam Baroudi, Nick Barone and Cyclone Williams before retiring in 1949.

In all, he had 35 fights, winning 28 with seventeen knockouts, five in the first round.