BENNY URSO

Benny Urso, a native of Shinnston, WV, and longtime resident of Washington, started training at Brownson House in 1935 at the age of l2 under trainer-manager George Tucker.

He won his first amateur bout in 1939 and in the same year won the Ohio Valley 112-pound title.

He was runnerup in the 112-pound division in a Silver Gloves tournament in Uniontown before entering the service in 1943.

Urso advanced to the 165-pound class and had his first professional bout at Fort Ord, CA., where he won the base championship and was part of a boxing card involving famed heavyweights Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott, who put on an exhibition.

After leaving the service, Urso returned to Washington and trained at the YMCA under one-time lightweight champion Sammy Angott. His last pro fight was a victory over Cal Leda of Canton, Ohio in 1952. He finished his career with an 82-10 record and is still active as a coach and trainer of amateur boxers at Brownson House.