THE pages of boxing’s history books show there was once another fighter who thought he could beat the world heavyweight champion on his professional debut. More than half a century ago, Pete Rademacher had the same impossible dream as Francis Ngannou. There were protests from the boxing authorities, the press and traditionalists, but somehow Rademacher got his shot at the title – and, what’s more, he had one incredible moment of success.
In 1953, Rademacher was an ex-fighter; a former Amateur Athletic Union champion who had retired to work on his father’s apple farm. The following year, he joined the Army and had a rethink. Rademacher decided he wasn’t finished with boxing.
He had missed out on the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki and made the 1956 Games in Melbourne his target. Back-to-back knockouts secured Rademacher’s place in the US Olympic boxing team, and once in
