Jack Kid Berg
(1909 - 1991)
Judah Bergman, known as Jack Kid Berg or Jackie Kid Berg (June 28, 1909 – 22 April 1991) was an English boxer born in the East End of London. He was apprenticed as a lather boy in a barber's shop, and began his boxing career at the Premierland, Back Church Lane, when he was 14. Of Jewish background, Jack Berg boxed with a Star of David on his trunks.
The film The Whitechapel Windmill is based on his life story. The film covers the handsome boxer's rise in the boxing world as well as his flamboyant out-of-the-ring line, which is said to have included an affair with Mae West and to have borne a long-lasting friendship with fellow east ender Jack Spot, the colorful (and also Jewish-born) gangster.
Jack Kid Berg died in London on April 22, 1991.
He is commemorated by a blue plaque on Noble Court, Cable Street, close to the place where he was born.
Career
Between 1923 and 1936, Berg had 192 professional fights, winning 157 of them. His record was 157-26-9. 57 wins were by knock out.
In 1931 he moved to the USA, where he won 64 out of 76 fights there. He became British Lightweight Champion in 1934, and he lived to be the oldest British boxing Champion.
In 1930, Berg defeated the great Cuban fighter Eligio Saldana, Kid Chocolate, in ten rounds. In 1930, he knocked out the American champion Mushy Callahan to take the Junior Welterweight Title, sometimes known as the Light Welterweight Title, in London.
Berg fought as a lightweight when he put his title on the line to meet with Tony Canzoneri in Chicago on 24 April 1931. He was quickly knocked out in three rounds, falling on his face and stumbling to get up before giving in and collapsing into the ropes.
After retiring from boxing, he worked as a film stunt man.