Paul Pender did not only inflict one of boxing's greatest upsets by outpointing Sugar Ray Robinson to claim the world middleweight crown in January 1960; he proved it was no fluke by again beating Robinson in their rematch five months later.
Despite this, and a couple of hard-fought triumphs over Britain's eternally popular Terry Downes, Pender - who has died aged 72 - remains one of boxing's forgotten champions, his name invariably eclipsed by the exploits of fellow 160lb kings Rocky Graziano, Jake la Motta, and Randolph Turpin.
What is often overlooked is that Pender, fondly remembered by older British fight fans for his spectacularly bent nose, achieved his greatest triumphs at the tail-end of a career which was almost ruined by hand injuries.
While Robinson was certainly past his prime when the pair clashed twice in Boston in 1960, Pender himself was 31, having fought just 15 times in the last seven years. His wins over Robinson rank alongside Ken Norton's unexpected victory over Muhammad Ali in 1973 and Evander Holyfield's masterful performance against Mike Tyson two decades later.
Pender, a Boston fireman, fought and beat the best at a time the middleweight division bristled with talent. Unlike so many of his contempories he also managed to retire as a legitimate world champion. He went on to become a pioneering spokesman on boxers' rights, once famously observing that: "The worst thing that happened to managers was when boxers learnt to read and write."
The son of a fireman, Pender was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, and went professional after winning the New England amateur welterweight title. His paid career began promisingly, but the hand injuries that would blight his progress surfaced in his 14th fight - Pender unknowingly entering his next seven bouts with a broken right hand.
Over the next two years Pender suffered three losses as he battled contstant pain. After being knocked out by Jimmy Beau in March 1952 he quit to join the US Marine Corps, only to be forced to leave early because of his hands. Following an operation to remove a chipped bone, he continued to fight sporadically until a change of diet erased the severe calcium deficiency which was found to have contributed to his brittle fists.
Although almost 30, Pender returned to the ring with vigour, hammering out nine straight wins to capture the New England middleweight title and secure a shot against world champion Robinson, who expected an easy night. The unsung challenger proved a revelation, however, overcoming a cautious start to punish the champion with his relentless left jab and earn a split decision. Robinson was widely expected to gain revenge in the rematch, but Pender again summoned up all his renowned ringcraft by going to the body and breaking up Robinson's momentum with his persistent jab.
The older man faded in the final rounds and Pender, after landing countless straight right hands in the closing stages, again triumphed on a split decision.
Seven months later Pender began his long rivalry with Downes when he stopped the brawling young Londoner in seven rounds at Boston. It was a different story in July 1961 when Downes produced a barnstorming display at Wembley to open up cuts above Pender's eyes. The American corner threw in the towel at the end of the ninth. Pender's breathing had been affected by a heavy cold, although he refused to use this as an excuse.
Pender won the decider in Boston in April 1962, which proved a somewhat uninspired affair. Downes set a furious pace only to fade in the later rounds as Pender seized control through his straight right hands and short, hurtful hooks to the body. After 15 rounds Pender was adjudged a deserved victor, yet he never fought again.
In the following months, Pender grew frustrated as matches fell thorough. He announced his retirement in May 1963: "This is no real way of living. A man is away from his family too much to make it all worthwhile," he said.
Pender latterly became recreation co-ordinator for the Walpole correctional institution in Norfolk, Massachusetts as well as working as a security officer.
In 1999 he suffered a serious stroke and his last years were spent battling Alzheimer's Disease. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
· Paul Pender, boxer, born June 20 1930, died January 12 2003