1938 Churchman's Cigarettes Boxing, #11, Al Delaney, Canadian Boxer

Al Delaney was the Canadian Heavyweight Boxing Champion. During a ten-year professional career in the 1930s and ’40s, he shared the ring with several formal world champions, including Joe Louis.

Over the course of his career, Delaney fought several opponents with ties to world boxing titles. He fought to a draw with George Nichols, the World Light Heavyweight Champion, in 1932. In 1935, he also drew with Tommy Loughran, who had held the same title from 1927 to ’29. The following year, he easily defeated “Two Ton” Tony Galento, who would later (in 1939) enjoy a World Heavyweight Title fight with Joe Louis. In 1940, he defeated Gus Lesnevich, the World Light Heavyweight Champion from 1941 to ’48, in an eight-round bout in Brooklyn. Lesnevich also went on to fight Ezzard Charles for the Heavyweight belt in 1949. In 1944, Delaney fell to Freddie Mills, who would go on to hold the World Light Heavyweight title from ’48 to ’50. He also shared the ring with Buddy Baer and Bob Pastor, both of whom contested the World Heavyweight crown with Joe Louis.

Delaney hung up his gloves in 1944 at the age of 28. He left boxing with a career record of 48 wins and 29 losses.

Al Delaney passed away on April 25, 1994.