First boxer to win gold medals in different weight divisions at different Olympic Games

Hungary's László Papp (b. 25 March 1926, d. 16 October 2003) was the first boxer to win Olympic gold medals in two different weight divisions at different Games. The Budapest-born southpaw won the middleweight (-73 kg) title in London, UK, in 1948 and the light-middleweight (-71 kg) crown in Helsinki, Finland, in 1952. Papp retained his light-middleweight title in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956 to become the first boxer to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals. Papp defeated John Wright (UK) 3-0 in the London final, Theunis Jacobus van Schalkwyk (South Africa) by the same score in Helsinki and José Torres (USA) 2-1 in the Melbourne final. He was unbeaten in 13 successive Olympic bouts. Papp was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2001. In a 1988 Boxing Illustrated poll, he was voted the second greatest Olympic boxer of all time. The following year, WBC President José Sulaimán gave Papp an award for Best Amateur and Professional Boxer of All Time. See also the related Oliver Kirk record - first boxer to win gold medals in different weight divisions at the same Olympic Games. Boxing made its Olympic debut in 1904.