William Lawrence Stribling Jr. (December 26, 1904 – October 3, 1933), known as Young Stribling, was an American professional boxer who fought from Featherweight to Heavyweight. His 1931 fight against Max Schmelling for Schmeling's world heavyweight championship was named Ring Magazine fight of the year. Stribling was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1965, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.

Personal life

Born in Bainbridge, Georgia, on December 26, 1904. Stribling's mother claimed she wanted him to be a boxer from the time he was a baby. "When he was two years old, I started him on leg and arm exercises," she told an interviewer. Stribling was raised as a vegetarian. "Strib" celebrated his 21st birthday by marrying Clara Kinney, a student at Brenau College. Clara's father was a prominent Macon businessman, and her mother was the first woman to serve on the city council. Clara's grandfather was a former president of Wesleyan College in Macon, the oldest female college in America. "Strib" and Clara had three children, the first was W. L. Stribling III, born in 1927.

Professional career

Stribling turned professional in 1921. Stribling fought 75 professional bouts while still in high school. He fought at very high frequency. From 1921 to 1929 he fought 258 times, over 28 times per year. In a title match against light-heavyweight champion Mike McTigue the fight was declared a draw. Unhappy with the draw, the ring was surrounded by angry fans who demanded the fight be given to Stribling, which the referee did. Three hours after the fight though, he re-affirmed that it was a draw. "Unless I awarded the decision to Stribling I would never leave the arena alive," referee Harry Ertle said after the fight. The two would face again for a rematch 6 months later. Stribling convincingly outpointed McTigue, winning the match. However in New Jersey boxing at the time a title couldn't change hands on a newspaper decision. Both fights occurred while Stribling was just 19 years old. After his bouts against McTigue, he was often referred to in newspapers as "the uncrowned light-heavyweight champion." Paul Berlenbach took the light-heavyweight title from McTigue. Stribling had previously fought Berlenbach to a draw. In 1926 a match between the two took place. Berlenbach won the rematch decisively. In 1928, now 24 years old, Stribling set the record for knockouts at 101. The New York Times added that "few of Stribling's recent victories were over well known fighters." Stribling met the future heavyweight champion, Primo Carnera, in 1929 and lost on a foul. In a rematch, Carnera fouled Stribling. Each scoring a victory by disqualification. Commenting on the unsatisfactory conclusion of the two matches, sportswriter Robert Edgren commented "Stribling seems to be playing Carnera the way he has played a lot of palukas and stable mates at different towns in "the sticks" in this country. Always the return engagement." After a string of impressive wins against Hans Schönrath, Otto Von Porat, and Phil Scott, none of which lasted more than 2 rounds. Stribling was given a shot at the heavyweight championship against Max Schmelling. It was a decisive victory for Schmelling. Stribling nearly made it to the final bell, with the referee stepping in with just 14 seconds remaining in the 15th and final round. The first and only KO or TKO loss in Stribling's 291 fight career. It was named Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1931. He would fight for 2 more years and 21 more fights, but the Schmelling loss was his last title shot. Stribling was still an active boxer when he died. His final bout came less than two weeks before his death.

Death

He died at 6 A.M, EST on October 3, 1933, at 28 years old, after a motorcycle accident which occurred 2 days prior in Macon, Georgia while travelling to a hospital to visit his convalescing wife and newborn. Injuries involved pelvic fracture and severe left foot damage which lead to amputation. He was buried in Riverside Cemetery (Macon, Georgia).

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as "no decision" bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

Footnotes