Sport: Boxing
Born: January 30, 1909
Died: November 31, 1983
Town: Jersey City, New Jersey
Stanley Poreda was born January 30, 1909 in Jersey City, NJ. A rock-solid schoolboy athlete, he was drawn to contact sports, particularly football and boxing. Stanley was managed by Bill Reppenhagen and trained by former boxer Joe Jeanette, who ran a gym in Jersey City.
Standing 6’2” and weighing 210 pounds, Stanley became known as the “Jersey City Pole” or the “Polish Giant” after turning pro at the age of 21. His first bout was a draw with Charlie Wepner (father of Chuck Wepner). Following that, he went on a knockout binge to earn a bout with Canadian champ Jack Renault. Stanley lost that match, but continued his rise up the heavyweight ranks, defeating contender Ernie Schaaf in 1932 in Madison Square Garden.
A loss to Joe Louis in 1933 stalled Stanley’s progress but he continued to be a solid gate attraction into his mid-20s. During Stanley’s career, he fought against many of the great heavyweights of the 1930’s, including Schaaf, Louis, Primo Carnera, Max Baer, Max Schmeling and Tommy Loughran.
Stanley retired from boxing in 1935 at age 26 with a record of 28-11, with 12 knockouts. Following his retirement, he became a Jersey City police officer, and later head of the city’s Fraternal Order of Police. Stanley was later inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. He died November 31, 1983 at the age of 74.