Midget Wolgast

Joseph Robert Loscalzo was born in Philadelphia on July 18, 1910 of Italian-American descent. His size undoubtedly accounted for the name "Midget," and he may have taked the professional name of Wolgast after the famous light heavyweight champion of the early 20th Century, Ad Wolgast, who was best known for successfully defending his title against Joe Rivers on July 4, 1912, when after what appeared to be a double knockout in the 13th round the referee inexplicably picked Wolgast off the canvas and declared him the winner.

Midget Wolgast's professional boxing career started in 1927. He won 22 of his first 25 matches. The world flyweight title had been vacated in 1929 by the retirement of Corporal Izzy Schwartz. On March 21, 1930, Midget Wolgast won a 15 round fight against Black Bill, which resulted in the New York Commission recognizing him as the flyweight champion of the world. The National Boxing Association refused to recognize Wolgast as champion, however, and designated Frankie Genaro as champion.

Wolgast (in photo above, right) and Genaro (photo left) fought in New York to clear up the dispute, but the fight ended in a draw. Genaro went on to Europe to lose to Young Perez, and Wolgast went to Oakland, California to lose his title to Small Montana. That, incidentally, would prove to be the last flyweight championship fight in the United States for the next forty years.

Not known as a power puncher, Midget Wolgast was fast and a little clumsy�a scrapper. He fought a total of 142 times, winning 81 by decisions and 11 by knockout. Newsboy Brown beat him, but not for the title.

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