Marty Burke
Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame
Boxing, 1912-48
Inducted: 1978
A New Orleans native who began fighting in 1912 at the age of 15, Marty Burke won multiple southern amateur championships including the 90-lb Championship of the South (1912), the Bantamweight Championship of the South (1913) and the Lightweight Championship of the South (1915).
In 1918, Burke won the National AAU Middleweight championship by defeating Sam Lagonia. He went on to win the AAU Heavyweight title in 1919 with a defeat of P. Searle in Massachusetts.
He turned professional in 1919 and recorded a career mark of 58-33-8 with 23 knockouts between 1919 and 1929.
Burke also served as a sparring partner for Jack Dempsey.
After his fighting career, he promoted boxing and wrestling events in New Orleans.
Burke was born September 10, 1897 and died September 18, 1978 at the age of 81.
