Danny London

Born a deaf-mute, London was a 15-year-old amateur boxer in 1929 when he was hit on his right temple in the second-round of a fight (London could never remember the name of his opponent). At the bell, which London suddenly heard with amazing clarity, he returned to his corner and began screaming to his trainer that he could hear. His trainer did not understand what he was saying and pushed him back into the ring for the third-round. London, amazed at the sounds that surrounded him, continued to fight. Although he concentrated more on his new-found ability than he did on his opponent, he managed a knockout that evening.

London's story was written about in an edition of the Ripley's Believe It Or Not book series. The excerpt, which also appeared in a 1950 edition of the New York Daily News, said, "The Lucky Punch! Danny London, born deaf and dumb, was hit in the head in the boxing ring and suddenly found he could both speak and hear!" London turned professional later in 1929 and fought as a featherweight until the early 1940s. It is estimated that he fought 167 bouts during his career.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1914 - d. unknown

Career Highlights:
Born a deaf-mute on New York's Lower East Side, London began boxing at the age of 12. Within two years, he boxed in amateur shows. A rough-and-tumble type of fighter, he overcame his early disadvantages and was an excellent amateur prospect. After miraculously gaining both his speech and hearing, London turned professional in 1929. One of his regular opponents early in his career was Jewish fighter, Lew Farber. In 1930, they fought twice -- once at Madison Square Garden -- and Farber defeated London both times in four-round bouts.

In 1935, London knocked out previously undefeated Harry Jeffra in the fifth-round in Baltimore. Jeffra would win the world bantamweight title within two years and later captured the world featherweight championship. The two fighters met twice in 1939 with a four-round no contest and a Jeffra six-round victory. London continued to fight until 1943 when he hung up his gloves after 167 bouts. After his retirement, London taught boxing, first in Monterey (California) and then Saratoga Springs (New York).

Origin:
New York City