Muldoon, William

▪ American athlete

byname  Iron Duke  

born May 25, 1852, Caneadea, N.Y., U.S.

died June 3, 1933, Purchase, N.Y.

      American wrestling champion and boxing trainer.

      Muldoon was a policeman from 1876 to 1882, won the New York Police heavyweight title, and in 1880 the American Greco-Roman wrestling title. He became well known when he began to tour the United States as a boxing promoter and coach of John L. Sullivan (Sullivan, John L.). Muldoon was chairman of the New York Boxing Commission from 1921 to 1924. A proponent of strict physical conditioning, Muldoon established his notable gymnasium on East 22nd Street in New York City and later developed a training camp and health resort in White Plains, N.Y. He also invented the medicine ball. He and boxer Gene Tunney established the bronze heavyweight trophy on July 28, 1928.

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