Big Boy Brackey, Boxer, Dies
One-time Local Resident
George "Big Boy" Brackey, Lackawanna's
favorite son in
the heavyweight fistic ranks
in the early 1930's died Tuesday
in Dayton, Ohio, after a
lengthy illness. Fighting out of
Lackawanna as both an amateur
and professional, Brackey
reached his peak about 1934.
However, he suffered two
major defeats in 1935 which
virtually marked the end of his
career. He lost to Buddy Baer
in the Old Broadway Auditorium.
Buddy's brother, Max,
then the world's heavyweight
champion, was in Buddy's corner
that night.
A few months later Brackey
was knocked out in the fourth
round in-the same ring by
Primo Carnera, the huge Italian
who 18 months earlier
had lost the title to Max Baer,
Brackey fought a few times after
that but then retired.
Born in Canton, O., he came
to Lackawanna while a young
man. He worked at Bethlehem
Steel where he kept in training
for his fights. He was managed
by Tommy Timlin, now prominent
as a football official.
Brackey left Lackawanna
shorty before the start of
World War II. Brackey, whose
real name was George Brajkovich,
is survived by his mother,
Mrs. Mary Brackey of
Ross Ave., Buffalo, and a brother,
Joseph, of Kenmore, also
a cousin, Lt. Peter Skladar, of
the Lackawanna Fire Dept.
-The Lackawanna (NY) Leader, Thursday, February 17, 1955, front page
One-time Local Resident
George "Big Boy" Brackey, Lackawanna's
favorite son in
the heavyweight fistic ranks
in the early 1930's died Tuesday
in Dayton, Ohio, after a
lengthy illness. Fighting out of
Lackawanna as both an amateur
and professional, Brackey
reached his peak about 1934.
However, he suffered two
major defeats in 1935 which
virtually marked the end of his
career. He lost to Buddy Baer
in the Old Broadway Auditorium.
Buddy's brother, Max,
then the world's heavyweight
champion, was in Buddy's corner
that night.
A few months later Brackey
was knocked out in the fourth
round in-the same ring by
Primo Carnera, the huge Italian
who 18 months earlier
had lost the title to Max Baer,
Brackey fought a few times after
that but then retired.
Born in Canton, O., he came
to Lackawanna while a young
man. He worked at Bethlehem
Steel where he kept in training
for his fights. He was managed
by Tommy Timlin, now prominent
as a football official.
Brackey left Lackawanna
shorty before the start of
World War II. Brackey, whose
real name was George Brajkovich,
is survived by his mother,
Mrs. Mary Brackey of
Ross Ave., Buffalo, and a brother,
Joseph, of Kenmore, also
a cousin, Lt. Peter Skladar, of
the Lackawanna Fire Dept.
-The Lackawanna (NY) Leader, Thursday, February 17, 1955, front page
Big Boy Brackey, Boxer, Dies
One-time Local Resident
George "Big Boy" Brackey, Lackawanna's
favorite son in
the heavyweight fistic ranks
in the early 1930's died Tuesday
in Dayton, Ohio, after a
lengthy illness. Fighting out of
Lackawanna as both an amateur
and professional, Brackey
reached his peak about 1934.
However, he suffered two
major defeats in 1935 which
virtually marked the end of his
career. He lost to Buddy Baer
in the Old Broadway Auditorium.
Buddy's brother, Max,
then the world's heavyweight
champion, was in Buddy's corner
that night.
A few months later Brackey
was knocked out in the fourth
round in-the same ring by
Primo Carnera, the huge Italian
who 18 months earlier
had lost the title to Max Baer,
Brackey fought a few times after
that but then retired.
Born in Canton, O., he came
to Lackawanna while a young
man. He worked at Bethlehem
Steel where he kept in training
for his fights. He was managed
by Tommy Timlin, now prominent
as a football official.
Brackey left Lackawanna
shorty before the start of
World War II. Brackey, whose
real name was George Brajkovich,
is survived by his mother,
Mrs. Mary Brackey of
Ross Ave., Buffalo, and a brother,
Joseph, of Kenmore, also
a cousin, Lt. Peter Skladar, of
the Lackawanna Fire Dept.
-The Lackawanna (NY) Leader, Thursday, February 17, 1955, front page
One-time Local Resident
George "Big Boy" Brackey, Lackawanna's
favorite son in
the heavyweight fistic ranks
in the early 1930's died Tuesday
in Dayton, Ohio, after a
lengthy illness. Fighting out of
Lackawanna as both an amateur
and professional, Brackey
reached his peak about 1934.
However, he suffered two
major defeats in 1935 which
virtually marked the end of his
career. He lost to Buddy Baer
in the Old Broadway Auditorium.
Buddy's brother, Max,
then the world's heavyweight
champion, was in Buddy's corner
that night.
A few months later Brackey
was knocked out in the fourth
round in-the same ring by
Primo Carnera, the huge Italian
who 18 months earlier
had lost the title to Max Baer,
Brackey fought a few times after
that but then retired.
Born in Canton, O., he came
to Lackawanna while a young
man. He worked at Bethlehem
Steel where he kept in training
for his fights. He was managed
by Tommy Timlin, now prominent
as a football official.
Brackey left Lackawanna
shorty before the start of
World War II. Brackey, whose
real name was George Brajkovich,
is survived by his mother,
Mrs. Mary Brackey of
Ross Ave., Buffalo, and a brother,
Joseph, of Kenmore, also
a cousin, Lt. Peter Skladar, of
the Lackawanna Fire Dept.
-The Lackawanna (NY) Leader, Thursday, February 17, 1955, front page
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