LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
1925-1926
Rocky Kansas, born Rocco Tozzo on Buffalo's West Side in 1895, was 30 years old and in the twilight of a great career when he finally won the lightweight championship- the first ever gained by a Buffalo native-from Jimmy Goodrich on Dec 7,1925 at the Broadway Auditorium (now the city Streets and Sanitation Department garage),at 193 Broadway, near Michigan Avenue.
Kansas, known as "Little Hercules," had begun fighting professionally in 1911 and had seemed to reach his peak in 1922 when he was beaten in two attempts to take the title from Benny Leonard. ( He lost on points in February, and was knocked out in the eighth round in July.)
Three years later he was good enough to beat Goodrich on points before about 12,000 hometown fans. (The gate receipts were reported at $33,000 with Goodrich getting about $12,000 and Kansas about $4,500.)
" It was the hardest battle of his career" News sports editor Jim Parke wrote. "For Goodrich fought desperately and along about the middle of the fight it looked as if Rocky was wavering a bit, but he rallied and renewed the attack with added fierceness, punishing Goodrich severely."
Kansas did not have long to bask in his glory. He lost the title just 208 days later when he was out pointed by Sammy Mandell, in 10 rounds in Chicago on July 3,1926.
That was essentially, Kansas's last fight, although he did try a come back six years later.
Kansas fought 165 times, winning 64 (including 32 knockouts) and losing 13. He also fought to 7 draws and, hampered by a archaic scoring method which encouraged official results of "no decision" in an attempt to thwart gambling, was burdened with 81 such verdicts.
Kansas died on January 10, 1954 at the age 58.
