Professional Boxer. Al grew up with his brothers in the Jewish ghetto of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He developed into a tough, street-smart young man, and became well known in a neighborhood that was famed as the home of Murder Incorporated. When Al was a teenager, his ability with his fist's led him to the canvas of boxing clubs, where he learned the craft of prizefighting. A boxing promoter convinced him to change his nickname to "Bummy;" Al at first did not like the nickname, everyone in his neighborhood had always known him as "Vroomy," a nickname his Mother had given him at a young age. Al took a fight with an aging Tony Canzoneri, a former world champ from Staten Island, in 1939, and he earned a fight at Madison Square Garden in 1940 against Fritzie (The Croat Comet) Zivic, a welterweight champion. The Zivic fight went bad. Al retaliated with two low blow for the elbow and knee Zivic had given him. But, Al was disqualified and banned from boxing for the retaliation, however, he was later re-instated. Al was a rough slugger with a powerful left hook. His record was 66 wins, with 47 KOs, 10 losses and 4 draws, and he was named to Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. His last victory over a name fighter came in February, 1944, at the expense of former and future NYSAC lightweight champion Bob Montgomery, knocking Montgomery out in the first round. His last big fight in 1945 at the age of twenty five was against Rocky Graziano, who TKOed him in the fourth round. Thanksgiving week in 1945, a gang of young hoodlums, known as "The Flatbush Cowboys", were doing armed holdups at taverns, Dudy’s was their last job. Al was drinking beer at the bar in Brownsville with his friends when four armed robbers walked in. Al attacked the robbers, knocked one of them down, was shot three times, but still managed to chase the other three. During the pursuit, he was shot the fourth and fatal time. The gang included John Romano and Vincent Giarraffa, both were 23, and brothers Russell Donahoe, 23, and David Donahoe, 17. The younger Donahoe was paralyzed by a cop’s gunshot, he would ultimately die six months later. The others were convicted in 1946, based on their confessions. They were sentenced to life in prison for Al's murder.
Professional Boxer. Al grew up with his brothers in the Jewish ghetto of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He developed into a tough, street-smart young man, and became well known in a neighborhood that was famed as the home of Murder Incorporated. When Al was a teenager, his ability with his fist's led him to the canvas of boxing clubs, where he learned the craft of prizefighting. A boxing promoter convinced him to change his nickname to "Bummy;" Al at first did not like the nickname, everyone in his neighborhood had always known him as "Vroomy," a nickname his Mother had given him at a young age. Al took a fight with an aging Tony Canzoneri, a former world champ from Staten Island, in 1939, and he earned a fight at Madison Square Garden in 1940 against Fritzie (The Croat Comet) Zivic, a welterweight champion. The Zivic fight went bad. Al retaliated with two low blow for the elbow and knee Zivic had given him. But, Al was disqualified and banned from boxing for the retaliation, however, he was later re-instated. Al was a rough slugger with a powerful left hook. His record was 66 wins, with 47 KOs, 10 losses and 4 draws, and he was named to Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. His last victory over a name fighter came in February, 1944, at the expense of former and future NYSAC lightweight champion Bob Montgomery, knocking Montgomery out in the first round. His last big fight in 1945 at the age of twenty five was against Rocky Graziano, who TKOed him in the fourth round. Thanksgiving week in 1945, a gang of young hoodlums, known as "The Flatbush Cowboys", were doing armed holdups at taverns, Dudy’s was their last job. Al was drinking beer at the bar in Brownsville with his friends when four armed robbers walked in. Al attacked the robbers, knocked one of them down, was shot three times, but still managed to chase the other three. During the pursuit, he was shot the fourth and fatal time. The gang included John Romano and Vincent Giarraffa, both were 23, and brothers Russell Donahoe, 23, and David Donahoe, 17. The younger Donahoe was paralyzed by a cop’s gunshot, he would ultimately die six months later. The others were convicted in 1946, based on their confessions. They were sentenced to life in prison for Al's murder.
Read More
Bio by: Memorial Flower