Alex Miteff, The Argentinian Rock, who came for Argentina with great amateur background, and numerous championships. Came to New York in April 1956, with a goal to get an opportunity to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship. Alex had size, 6' 1" height, bulk 202 lbs., strength and a punch. Through September 1957, 'The Argentinian Rock' had gone 12-0-0 (7 KO's), and was ranked as the #8 Heavyweight - by defeating top 10 Ranked opponents, John Holman and Willi Besmanoff. The 22 1/2 year-old - Alex was 'one-fight' away from a 1958 Championship Bout with Floyd Patterson. All Alex had to do, was defeat Mike De John in a October 9, 1957 - Nationally Televised bout, located at the War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse, New York - and the Championship Bout was his. Entering the ring versus Mike De John, Alex Miteff was a heavily bet 4-1 Favorite over the local Syracuse Heavyweight. The 26 year-old - 6' 1" 202 lb. - Mike De John was carrying a 33-3-1 (25 KO's) impressive record, but was considered primarily a 'glorified club-fighter'. The Fight In the opening round, for the first '50-seconds', the bout was 'Even'. Then Mike De John moved in and landed a nice right hand to the head, which for a 'flash' stunned the Argentinian. Sensing he may have hurt the 'undefeated' Miteff, Mike De John whipped in a hard left-hook at the 1:07 Mark, dropping Alex Miteff 'like-a-rock', where he was counted out at 1:17 of Round 1. This content is protected
