[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 104 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN REMEMBRANCE OF MR. JIMMY BIVINS

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Cleveland, 
Ohio's famous boxer, Mr. Jimmy Bivins.
  Bivins was born in Dry Branch, Georgia on December 6, 1919. He moved 
to Cleveland at the age of three and attended Central High School, 
where he was an honor student. Weighing only 112 pounds, Bivins began 
his boxing career in 1936.
  Bivins' professional boxing career began in 1940 and lasted until 
1955. He boxed in 112 professional fights, accumulating 86 wins and 31 
knockouts. Between June 22, 1942 and February 25, 1946, he went 
unbeaten in 26 consecutive bouts. During his fifteen year career, 
Bivins defeated eight of eleven world champions and four of the seven 
fellow Hall of Famers he faced throughout his career. Although he was 
never able to compete for the world title, Bivins remains the only 
boxer to date that has ranked as the No. 1 contender in both the Light 
Heavyweight and the Heavyweight divisions.
  In 1999, Bivins was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of 
Fame. That same year, Sports Illustrated said that Bivins may have been 
the greatest modern heavyweight who never got a shot at the title 
crown. He was best known for his powerful left jab.
  Following his boxing career, Bivins joined the Teamsters and drove 
bakery and snack trucks around the City of Cleveland. He was active in 
the community, spending time at the gym with local kids teaching them 
how to box, telling them stories and giving them fatherly advice. He 
also cooked food for them every Sunday to make sure that they did not 
go hungry as he had in the past.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life of 
Jimmy Bivins.

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