Thomas Peter Rademacher (November 20, 1928 – June 4, 2020) was an American heavyweight boxer.^[3] A gold medalist at the 1956 Olympics,^[4] he became the only person to challenge for the world heavyweight championship in his first professional bout when he faced Floyd Patterson in Seattle on August 22, 1957.^[5][6] He compiled a 15-7-1 record over 23 professional bouts.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Pete Rademacher
Rademacher in 1961
Born	Thomas Peter Rademacher (1928-11-20)November 20, 1928 Tieton, Washington, U.S.[1]
Died	June 4, 2020(2020-06-04) (aged 91) Sandusky, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Reach	196 cm (77 in)[2]
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	23
Wins	15
Wins by KO	8
Losses	7
Draws	1
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1956 Melbourne +81 kg

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A former college football player at Washington State,^[4][5] Rademacher took up boxing as a form of rehabilitation during his recovery from rheumatic fever, which he contracted in military school.^[7]

In his amateur career, Rademacher won 72 bouts and lost 7. He won a series of tournaments, including the 1949 and 1951–1953 Seattle Golden Gloves (he lost in 1950 to Zora Folley, who was his frequent opponent throughout his boxing career), and the US Amateur Championship as a heavyweight in 1953—avenging his earlier loss to Folley.

He captured the Chicago Golden Gloves, the All-Army championship, and the Service championship in 1956, before qualifying for the Olympic team. At the Olympics he captured a gold medal in the heavyweight division and served as the U.S. flag bearer at the closing ceremony.^[1]

After winning the gold medal, Rademacher started saying that he would be able to become world heavyweight champion in his first professional fight. He made his belief public and was able to lure world Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson into defending his crown against him in his professional debut. It is the only time to date that a fighter making his professional debut has challenged for the world heavyweight title.

The bout, at Sick's Stadium in Seattle, was refereed by former light-heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, who himself had contended for the heavy crown once, vs. Primo Carnera, in 1934. Rademacher dropped Patterson in round two, but Patterson recovered and knocked Rademacher down seven times, defeating him by a knockout in round six.^[2][1][6] Legendary boxing promoter Jack Hurley promoted the match.

Rademacher fought Zora Folley, Brian London, George Chuvalo, Buddy Turman, and the former world light heavyweight champion, Archie Moore. He lost to Moore, Folley and London but beat Chuvalo, LaMar Clark, and Turman, among others. His last bout was with former world middleweight champion Carl "Bobo" Olson, whom he beat by decision.^[2]

Rademacher had Finnish ancestry; his maternal grandparents were immigrants from Finland.^[8] He was married to Margaret and had a daughter Susan (born c. 1954–1955).^[9] In addition to boxing, he was a salesman and inventor. He was president of the company Kiefer-McNeil which was founded by fellow Olympian, Adolph Kiefer.^[1] Rademacher died in Sandusky, Ohio on June 4, 2020, at the age of 91.^[10][11] His brain was donated for medical research.^[10]

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