Inducted on November 10, 1989
Frankie DePaula, born Francisco Antonio DePaula on July 4, 1939, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
In his career he had a total of 30 fights 15 of which were knock outs. One of which he fought Dick Tiger on October 25, 1968 which was called the “Fight of the Year”!
Frankie worked his way up to a title fight on January 23, 1969 with world light heavyweight champion Bob Foster. He was regarded by many fans as one of the best in that weight class, before suffering a first-round knock out at Madison Square Garden.
Unfortunately Fran k ie passed away on September 14, 1970. Frankie left behind his wife Mary Lou, four children-Francis (deceased), Lisa, Michael and Joseph and three grandchildren Francis, Dana and Justina.
Frankie has been greatly missed and will always be missed by his many friends and especially by his family.
Frankie is being inducted posthumously into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Our congratulations go out to him and his family.
Biography
Frank (Jersey Jolter) DePaula, trained at the Bayonne Police Athletic League in Bayonne, New Jersey. He began his amateur boxing career at age 20. He developed his punching power as an iron-worker. He married his wife Marylee in 1960 and had a son, Frank, Jr. His younger brother, Robert, was one of the top semi-pro pitchers in New Jersey in 1963.
DePaula won the 1962 New York Golden Gloves 175lb Sub-Novice Championship by defeating William Sanders of the West 28th Street Parks Department Gym in the finals.
DePaula broke the jaw of a police officer’s son in a street brawl and served a prison sentence as a result. While at Rahway State Prison he met Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. DePaula claimed in a 1968 Boxing Illustrated article that he and Carter once knocked out about ten other inmates in a prison brawl.
Upon his release from prison, DePaula worked as a bouncer. Al Braverman claimed he was jumped by a dozen guys at the club where DePaula worked, when he and DePaula proceeded to knock out all twelve of their attackers.
DePaula became the second man to deck former Middleweight/Lightheavyweight Champion Dick Tiger, and was credited with knocking down World Lightheavyweight Champion Bob Foster in their title fight. DePaula was down three times in the first round before that fight was halted.
DePaula later associated with a “dangerous” crowd and ended up the victim of a “hit.” He was hospitalized for months, unable to move from the neck down.
Frank DePaula died of pnemonia on September 14, 1970, as a result of gunshot wounds he suffered a year earlier.
Source
- Ring Magazine, December 1963, page 28: RING LAGGING? SEE THESE, by Lew Eskin
Boxing Record: click