George Nichols (boxer)

George Nichols (born Phillip John Nicolosi) (10 July 1907 – 1986) was an American boxer who took the National Boxing Association World Light Heavyweight title by defeating Dave Maier on March 18, 1932, in Chicago.

Phillip John Nicolosi, was born on July 10, 1907, in Sandusky, Ohio, to Italian immigrant parents Ida and Thomas.

During their lives, the family used more than one Anglicized spelling of their Italian surname, though Nicolosi's public and ringname remained George Nichols.

He would become a quite capable boxer with good ringcraft who fought the best competition of his era.

On January 30, 1928, he lost to the exceptional black middleweight contender Jack McVey in Rochester, New York, in a ten-round technical knockout.

The bout was stopped by the referee in the final round with Nichols hanging helplessly on the ropes.

McVey won every round, efficiently landing both head and body shots.

Nichols lost again to McVey in a ten-round points decision in Buffalo, New York, in October of that year with both boxers fighting as welterweights.

Osk Till, a Light Heavy contender, fell to Nichols in a six-round points decision at the Broadway Ballroom in Buffalo on November 25, 1929.

Harry Fuller drew with Nichols on February 10, 1930, in six rounds in Buffalo.

The middleweights fought a lively bout.

Nichols defeated Henry Firpo on March 24, 1930, in Oil City, Pennsylvania.

The pace of the bout was unpopular with the crowd of 15,000 as both boxers moved slowly using caution and careful ringcraft in their defense.

Nichol's trusty left had little snap against the effective blocking of Firpo.

Nichols, the aggressor, led for the first seven rounds.

The pace increased in the final three heats with Nichols breaking the close margin in the tenth which he won handily.

Tiger Thomas lost to Nichols on July 25, 1930, in a close but controversial six-round decision.

The referee gave Thomas four of the six rounds for his aggressive two armed technique, though both judges scored for Nichols who clearly led in the early rounds.

The crowd of 3000 booed the ruling, believing the bout belonged to Thomas, the local boxer.

Though Thomas staged a gallant come back in the closing rounds, it was too late to take the decision.

Led in the early rounds in "Banovic Captures Decision", Star-Gazette, Elmira, New York, pg.

11, 26 July 1930

Nichols outpointed accomplished black middleweight Sunny Jim Williams in a ten-round points decision on November 11, 1930, in Franklin, Pennsylvania.

Williams may have lost the favor of the judges as a result of his defensive posture through much of the bout.

Nichols used his powerful left in the fourth and sixth to bring his opponent close to a knockout but Nichols weathered the attack exhibiting endurance and a skilled elusive strategy.

In the middle of the forth, Nichols staggered his opponent with a left to the face that nearly led to a knockout, but for the sounding of the bell.

Williams finally went down for a no count at the start of the fifth.

One reporter gave Williams only the fifth, with seven rounds to Nichols and two even.

Nichols gained an easy victory over Charley Belanger, the Light Heavy Champion of Canada, on December 3, 1930, at the Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.

Nichols won handily taking seven of the ten rounds, that put him on course for the Light Heavyweight championship.

On August 25, 1931, Nichols finally defeated McVey, at least by newspaper decision, in a ten-round battle in Sandusky, Ohio.

Nichols used speed, timing and a strong right to control the bout.

The Associated Press gave Nichols every round, with the possible exception of the first and sixth.

Nichols began to take a deciding margin on points in the third and fourth with consistent attacks.

Nichols seemed on the verge of a knockout in the eighth through tenth, but McVey stayed on his feet throughout the bout using great defensive skills.

Rosy Rosales fell to Nichols in a fourth-round technical knockout on June 15, 1931, at Braves Field in Boston.

Though a close fight, Nichols seemed dominant.

In the fourth, Rosales, suffering from a cut to his eye dropped to the mat without being hit, and the referee stopped the bout.

Nichols met Leo Laravee on July 13, 1931, winning a ten-round points decision at Brave's Field in Boston.

Nichols floored Laravee for nine in the eighth, but he came off the deck gave his rival a great match through the final bell.