Hilton “Fitzie" Fitzpatrick

"Thunder puncher," Fitzie Fitzpatrick, fought his way to the top during the greatest era in boxing history!

Fitzie was the greatest boxer and one of the best athletes ever to come out of West Virginia. He surmounted all obstacles and opposition to achieve both fame for him and honor for his state. Fitzie not only achieved fame and fortune as a boxer, but he also gave the boxing world the color, thrills and sportsmanship, which make it a great American sport. The fortune he achieved like all wealth, whether it be a coal miner’s pay or a business income is merely a temporary and fleeting tangible gold dust, which is carried away and forgotten by the winds of time. Fitzie’s fame, however, is a solid gold medal of great achievement, which remains shiny and eternal in life’s glorious trophy case of immortal deeds.

Fitzie Fitzpatrick fought at the Los Angles Olympic Auditorium in front of sold out crowds. Fitzie was called by many names and was known for his blockbuster punch.

The Irish Blockbuster
Biltzy Fitzie
El Monte Cowpoke
Kayo King
Thunder Puncher
Fitzie The Fiery
Tarzan
Mr.F
Oak Hill OX
Buck Fitzpatrick
Impetuous Horeswrangler
Irish Bruiser
The Clubbing Irishman
Fightin Hombre
Walloping Gent
Wild Irishman
Fuming Fitzie
Flailing Fitzie
Buck Fitzpatrick

His size and hearing disability may have been tough on him; it didn’t stop him from achieving his desired goal. Fitzie’s knockout punching style of fighting was his trademark. Like Marciano, Fitzie would be the aggressor and attack his opponent. The “Clubbing Irishman” once said “I’ll take two punches so I can land a hard one.”

Fitzie attended the Romney School for the Deaf in West Virgina.There he would be two-time All American football player. One sports editor once said Fitzpatrick was “ the best football player he had ever seen." However, his main achievements lie in the realm of boxing. Fitzie, once called “Tarzan," was West Virginia's Golden Glove Champion in 1941. Mr. F ( Fitzie ) became internationally famous and was ranked the number one contender in the light - heavyweight division and ranked eighth in the heavyweight division.

During his career, Fitzie had 31 knockouts, eighteen coming in the first round. "The Irish Bruiser," also had one the world’s quickest knockouts in 0.23 seconds. At one time "Fuming Fitzie," achieved four straight first round knockouts. There was even a fight in the works to put Fitzie up against the great Joe Louis; but Louis sidestepped the challenge in order to fight a lesser opponent than Fitzie. It was said fighters avoided Fitzie like the plague. Ex- heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles once said during a WGN radio interview in Chicago, that one of the hardest punches he could remember came from Fitzie Fitzpatrick!

“Fitzie The Fiery,” fought during the most exciting era of boxing history. He fought the big names like: Lloyd Marshall, Lee Oma, Lee Savold, Pat Valentino, Joe Kahut, Leonard Morrow and Watson Jones. Fitzie battled the Great Ezzard Charles twice. Charles would become World Champion in 1949, when he beat Jersey Joe Walcott. In July of 1947, Fitzie fought Ezzard Charles at Crosley Field in Cincinnati Ohio. Fitzie had Charles on the canvas in the second round and would have finished him then and there. Local fans were convinced Fitzie got a “raw deal.”

“It broke my heart when I got that dirty deal against Ezzard Charles.Seemed like I couldn’t get my mind on training after that. I had Charles when I sent him down. He was in trouble and everybody knew it. Then when he knocked me down I got on one knee and started up when I thought the referee said seven. I couldn’t hear him because he was behind me and the crowd was making an awful lot of noise. When I started after Charles when I got up the referee told me the fight was over. I didn’t like it a bit and I wasn’t hurt."

Fitzie like all other top contenders were not allowed world title shots during World War II, all world champion positions were frozen during that time. Other great fighters were: Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joey Maxim, Archie Moore, Tony Zale, Jake LaMotta, Gus Lesnevich, Ray Robinson, Jimmy Bivins, Willie Pep, and Billy Conn. The list goes on! As the “ Maine Event," Fitzie gave the crowd the excitement and thrills they came to see. He was the “Kayo King”, a west coast sensation. Hilton “ Fitzie” Fitzpatrick will always be best known as “The Irish Blockbuster."

'The Wild Irishman,” fought the big guys. Fitzie himself was considered a small heavyweight. He was no taller than five nine and weighed in at 170 to 180 lbs. Fitzie had a devastating over hand right and was quick on his feet. Most of Fitzie’s opponents were taller and 10 to 30 lbs heavier than he was. “Buck Fitzpatrick,” always trained hard and loved to mix it up. It was difficult to get sparring partners for him. Fitzie was a hard hitter and always went for the knockout.

Over the years Fitzie would continue to work his talents by forming a boxing youth club in his hometown. There his club would win the Golden Glove Tournament. Fitzie stayed at home raising his two children, Ronnie and Terry.

As a young boy, I remembered Fitzie as a huge man. Shoulders as wide as a doorway, arms as thick as logs and his large barreled chess. Fitzie had big blue eyes and a charming smile. You could hear his soft and gentle disposition when he spoke. Although Fitzie was a no non-sense kind of guy he made time for enjoying life. Fitzie didn’t talk much about his bouts. He never made excuses for any of his loses. I’ll always remember the smell of his cologne and how well dressed he was. Fitzie was a clean-cut guy!