STEVE HALAIKO
LIGHTWEIGHT 1929-1942
(74-35-11)

Steve Halaiko was born on December 28, 1908 in Auburn, NY and died February 6, 2001. He started boxing at the age of 15 and became captain of the Cook Academy boxing team. In both 1927 and 1928 he became the National Amateur Champion in the lightweight division. In 1928 he qualified for the Olympics in Amsterdam where he won a Silver medal, losing a disputed decision to Carlos Orlandi of Italy. Halaiko fought many of his amateur contests representing Buffalo where he won the Buffalo AAU crown in 1928 and followed that with the National title in Boston, Mass. It has been written that he fought 116 matches as an amateur winning 115 of them, the Olympic decision his only loss, before turning professional. Steve turned pro soon after the Olympics and quickly moved up the ladder with a string of victories, winning many fights in Syracuse, Rochester,

Buffalo and Cleveland. In 1930 he won his first important fight by winning an 8-round decision over former lightweight champion Sammy Mandell. 1933 would be one of his best years in the professional ring. He defeated Cocoa Kid twice, he beat and had a draw with Wesley Ramey and scored a decision over Paris Apice. In 1934 Steve defeated Lou Ambers over 6 rounds in Syracuse and less than 3 weeks later they would battle to a 10-round draw in Providence. During Halaiko's 13-year career he would break the top 10 rankings many times and fight the greats of his era. Among those greats were, Izzy Janazzo, Pedro Montanez, Tippy Larkin and Tony Canzoneri. His final record was 74-35-11 with 22 KO's which spanned from 1929 to 1942.

Steve Halaiko is a member of the Rochester and Elmira boxing Hall's of Fame. He fought in Buffalo 11 times as a pro and numerous times in and for Buffalo as an amateur.

Tonight we are honored to induct him in our Ring 44 Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame.