Former ranked boxer Welch dies

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

In the 1970s and '80s, Coley Welch was a frequent visitor to Johnny Tocco's Ringside Gym on West Charleston Boulevard, where he would share with young, up-and-coming boxers his vast knowledge of the sport.

Many of the fighters probably did not know that in 1944 at the old Boston Garden, Welch stood toe-to-toe with legendary middleweight Jake LaMotta for 10 grueling rounds. But they understood that Welch knew his stuff when it came to boxing -- and not all he had learned about fighting was in the ring.

"When my father was growing up in south Boston, members of rival gangs would settle their differences by each picking one member to fight it out -- and they always picked my dad. He got the job done," said John Welch, a former UNLV basketball player who is now an assistant to his former coach, Jerry Tarkanian, at Fresno State.

Coleman "Coley" Welch, who fought more than 120 professional fights from 1937 to 1949, worked as a security officer for Caesars Palace and owned his own Las Vegas lawn care business, died Monday of heart failure at Sunrise Hospital. He was 81.

Services for the Southern Nevada resident of 32 years will be 5 p.m. today at Palm Mortuary-Eastern.

A Maine Sports Hall of Famer, Welch was named last year by Sports Illustrated as one of the 50 Greatest Sports Figures of the 20th century from Maine.

Maintaining near-fighting weight throughout his life, Welch was in good health until just last month.

"He was about 175 pounds, took his vitamins and never smoked," said Welch's daughter Carolyn Welch. "But dad loved an occasional shot of Irish whiskey."

According to the Ring Record Book, Welch won his first 22 fights in the 160-pound division and fought several top middleweights of the era.

According to the Associated Press, the hard body-punching Welch had a pro record of 100-22-2. However an extensive book of newspaper clippings that former Maine fight promoter Eddie Griffin gave Welch in 1986 indicate Welch's ring record was 105 wins, 24 losses and six draws, with 51 victories by KO and four losses by knockout.

In 1943 Welch was the No. 3 middleweight in the world, according to Ring Magazine. He was New England middleweight champion from 1940 to 1946. But Welch never made the big money today's top contenders are paid. In his best year he earned $120,000.

"My father was never rich, but he was a very giving man who always was looking to help others," said eldest daughter Colleen Carey of New York. "After his boxing career ended, he opened a bar (in Portland, Maine) and gave all of his friends jobs."

Hal Welch said his father was admired by many for his outgoing personality and for the memories he gave them as a fighter.

"Frank Sinatra and Joe DiMaggio would often look up my father when they came to Las Vegas," he said. "They remembered the many times they enjoyed watching him fight at Madison Square Garden."

Born Feb. 9, 1919, in Portland, Maine, Welch lost both of his parents -- Coleman Patrick Welch, a Depression era whiskey distributor, and the former Anne Flaherty -- before he turned 8. He was sent to live with an aunt in south Boston.

Welch later returned to Portland, graduated from high school and honed his fighting skills at a warehouse gym that doubled as a casket-making factory. Two days after Welch turned 18, the successful amateur fought his first pro fight in Portland, winning a four-round decision.

On March 7, 1941, Welch fought Georgie Abrams in New York in a bout to determine who would get a shot at world middleweight champion Tony Zale. Eight months later, Abrams lost to Zale.

On the undercard of the Jan. 9, 1942, Joe Louis-Buddy Baer heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden, Welch lost an eight-round decision to Ernie Vigh. That year Welch went into the Coast Guard.

He returned to boxing in February 1943 and put together an impressive string of a dozen victories before losing a decision to LaMotta on March 17, 1944. LaMotta, subject of the film "Raging Bull," went on to win the world title.

By then Welch no longer was a contender, though he was still a big draw in his hometown. In March 1949 Welch lost a unanimous decision to Buddy Farrell before 2,200 fans at the Portland Exhibition Building. It was his last fight.

In 1968 Welch moved to Las Vegas, working first as a security guard at Binion's Horseshoe and in the 1970s and '80s at Caesars. In the early 1980s Welch started Welch's Lawn Care, from which he retired in 1986.

In addition to his four children, Welch is survived by a sister, Mary Hubbard of Bradenton, Fla.; a brother, Paul Welch of South Portland, Maine; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Lucille, and a son, Patrick.

The family asks donations be made in Welch's memory to the American Heart Association.