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Sunday 3 September 2017

West End Boxer Frankie Battaglia

http://honouredmembers.sportmanitoba.ca/inductee.php?id=11&criteria_sort=name
Top: Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame
Bottom: Jan. 13, 1933, Scranton Republic

My column in today's Winnipeg Free Press is about the career of Frankie Battaglia. He was one of the best boxers our city ever produced and his exploits in the ring, including a title bout at Madison Square Gardens, were a great distraction for Depression-weary Winnipeggers.

I first learned of Battaglia while researching a blog post about the history of 690 Ellice Avenue. Now Gelyn's Wedding Lounge, from 1906 to 1926 it was home to Battaglia Fruit and Confectionery store on the main floor and the Battaglia family, which comprised of eleven children, including Frankie, who lived upstairs.

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