Q.B. Pryor

Year Inducted: 1982
Nominated By: Sam Corsentino
Sports Competed In: Boxing
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S., graduating in 1935.

Athletics:
Boxing:
● Started boxing in 1928 at age 11.
● At age 13, became champion in his weight class.
● Boxed as an amateur until age 17 and posted a win-loss record of 96-7.
● Colorado Middle Weight 1940 until drafted in 1943 WWII.
● Reigned as Rocky Mountain Champion for a time.
● Won the state titles in Texas (1939) and Idaho (1943).
● Forced to retire from boxing because of a War injury at 27.
● Boxed for 16 years and had a total of 115 pro fights.

Related Activities:
● On August 18, 1941, fighting under the name of "Billy Pryor" fought the World Middleweight Champion Tony Zale in Milwaukee, WI...The crowd swelled to more than 135,000 (still recognized as the highest non-paid attendance in boxing history).
● The non-title fight at Juneau Park was a promotion for the Fraternal Order of Eagles and Pabst Brewing Co...The Fight was a good one, with underdog (Pryor) knocking the champ down twice...In the 9th round he was knocked down for the ninth and last time...Received $750.00 for the fight...Jack Dempsey was the referee...That fight was the first of two fights which ended with Pryor on the deck.
● On April 8, 1942 Pryor lost a 10 round decision loss to Ezzard Charles in Ezzard's hometown of Cincinnati, OH, who became the WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Quotes:

"I am certain that Q.B. will be a strong candidate for honor by GPSA and his many accomplishments in the world of boxing can be matched by no one."
-- Samuel J. Corsentino

"I turned pro so he could eat!"
-- Q.B. Pryor

Occupation:
Worked as a steel worker at the CF&I before retiring in 1979.

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with his wife, Irene Dunn... Passed away on November 19, 2000.