Robert "The Grinder" Baker (October 26, 1926 – April 23, 2002) was a heavyweight boxer whose professional career spanned from 1949 until 1959. Baker was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and originally fought out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Baker had an impressive amateur career. He only lost one amateur fight and won the 1949 Intercity Golden Gloves championship in the heavyweight division.[1] He started his professional career with twenty-six consecutive wins. However, his winning streak came to an end when he was defeated by another leading contender, Clarence Henry, in 1954. In his previous fight, only days before, he drew with bulky Kid Riviera.  |
| Baker vs Tommy Jackson |
There was talk of Baker facing heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano in 1956. However, even though Baker defeated Nino Valdez on December 7, 1955, the championship bout never materialized. The bout against Valdez was a rematch of a bout fought in May 1953 and both were won by Baker by unanimous decisions.
Before losing a split decision to Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson on February 3, 1956, Baker won thirteen straight bouts and was ranked as a top contender for Marciano's heavyweight title.
After defeating another leading contender, John Holman, in Miami Beach Auditorium, Florida, on May 9, 1956, he lost a rematch with Jackson on September 26, 1956. Again by split decision. A majority of the ringside press felt Baker won, although the Associated Press scored it for Jackson.After 1957, his fighting skills diminished, although Baker defeated George Chuvalo, a future Canadian champion and multiple world heavyweight title contender in the 1960s and 1970s, by unanimous decision, on September 9, 1957 in Canada.
| Boxing record | |
|---|---|
| Total fights | 68 |
| Wins | 51 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 16 |
| Draws | 1 |
BobBaker served in the Navy prior to becoming a boxer.
He was an only child and had only one child himself, Robert Baker, Jr.
Born: 1926-10-26
Birthplace: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: 2002-04-23 (Age:75)
Nationality: US American
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Thank you George Rhino Lyon for bringing this Canonsburg Son to our attention.
