Pete Latzo (August 1, 1902 - July 7, 1968) was the boxing world welterweight champion from 1926 to 1927. Latzo fought all the top welterweights of his era and won the title from hall of famer Mickey Walker on May 20, 1926. He lost the crown to Joe Dundee on June 3, 1927.

After losing the welter crown Latzo invaded the heavier ranks. For the duration of his career he fought middleweights, challenged for the world light heavyweight title and even fought heavyweights. Latzo fought many great fighters in his career, including future heavyweight champion Jim Braddock, Light heavyweight king Tommy Loughran, and middleweight champion Tiger Flowers.

Cartoonist Ham Fisher met Latzo outside a pool hall and, impressed by his personality, sportsmanship, and physique, was inspired to create his popular character Joe Palooka. Latzo resided in Marven Gardens in Margate, NJ.He was a popular figure at many of the affairs of the Veteran Boxer Association ring #9 and other rings around the state of New Jersey, where he made his home after his retirement from boxing in 1934. He died in Atlantic City in July 1968 at the age of 66.

Reference

Pete Latzo. (2014). Retrieved on April 27, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Latzo.