THE STORY BEGINS IN 1918, WHEN DOCTORS TOLD BILLY MISKE , HE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP BOXING. HE DEVELOPED A KIDNEY CONDITION CALLED BRIGHTS DISEASE. LITTLE DID THE DOCTORS KNOW, HIS WORK AT THE AUTO DISTRIBUTORSHIP LEFT HIM IN DEBT TO THE TUNE OF $100,000. HE CONTINUED TO FIGHT AGAINST DOCTORS ORDERS TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY AND HE MADE CERTAIN TO PAY OFF THAT $100,000 DEBT. HIS GENEROSITY WAS NOT ONLY FOR HIS FAMILY BUT TO HIS FRIENDS ALSO, MISKE HAD A BIG HEART AND FELT FOR OTHERS IN NEED. IN THE 1920'S HE FOUGHT, THE LEGENDARY JACK DEMPSEY THREE TIMES. THE LAST FIGHT WITH DEMPSEY WAS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THAT FIGHT PAID $25,000. ON DECEMBER 23 IN BENTON, MICHIGAN, MISKE STEPPED INTO THE RING, LOOKING EMACIATED ANDTATTERED. EVEN JACK DEMPSEY NOTICED MISKE WASN'T THE SAME MISKE HE FOUGHT TWICE BEFORE, BUT THAT DIDN'TSTOP HIM FROM DELIVERING AN ONSLAUGHT OF DEVASTING BLOWS TO MISKE. DEMPSEY RECANTS, " I DROVE A TERRIFIC RIGHT TO MISKES HEART THAT PUT HIM DOWN FOR A NINE COUNT, HE GOT UP, AND WHEN HE DID, I PUT EVERY OUNCE OF WEIGHT INTO MY PUNCH, TO THE RIGHT OF HIS JAW AND HE WAS DOWN FOR THE COUNT. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES TO REVIVE HIM." THE LOST TO DEMPSEY DIDN'T TAKE THE SPIRIT OUT OF MISKE, AFTERALL HE WAS WALKING AWAY WITH THE MONEY HE NEEDED TO MAKE HIS LAST WISH COME TRUE. HE BOUGHT A CHRISTMAS TREE. HE BOUGHT BILLY JR. A TRAIN SET AND THAT BABY GRAND PIANO FOR HIS FAMILY TO ENJOY. THEY HAD FOOD AND FESTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS THE WAY CHRISTMAS SHOULD BE CELBRATED, FULL OF LOVE AND JOY.
ON JANUARY 1, 1024, BILLY MISKE SR. DIED FROM KIDNEY FAILURE AT ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL IN MINNEAPOLIS.
WE TALK POUND FOR POUND
WE TALK OF NOBILITY
WE REMINISCE OF THE OLD TIME PUGILIST IN AWE
BUT THIS GREAT PUGILIST SHOWED IT ALL IN ONE NIGHT
. . . MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT
CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST
BAZOOKA
C.I.O. FAVOURITE IT
CUTMAN
CHAIRMAN OF CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITEE
WORLD PROFESSIONAL BOXING FEDERATION (WPBF)
MISKE44
PHOTO FROM THE MISKE EXHIBIT
