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Maxie Berger (February 23, 1917 – August 1, 2000) was a Canadians boxer who fought as a flyweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight from 1935 to 1946. He squared off against many different Hall of Famers including the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Ike Williams, Beau Jack, Fritzie Zivic, Midget Wolgast, and Wesley Ramey. He held the Montreal version of the World Jr. Welterweight Title in 1939. His manager was Tommy Dio. Statistical boxing website BoxRec rates Berger as the 14th best Canadian boxer ever across all weight divisions. All-Time Pound-for-Pound Rankings (Canada). BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-18.
On July 6, 1937, Berger topped Midget Wolgast in an eighth round points decision before a crowd of 3,000 at New York's Coney Island Velodrome. Wolgast had held the World Flyweight Championship from 1930 to 1935."Berger Beats Wolgast", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 11, 7 July 1937 Berger floored Wolgast for a nine count in the fourth round with a right to the jaw."Maxie Berger Wins", Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana, pg. 8, 7 July 1937
On March 22, 1938, Berger defeated Enrico Venturi in an exciting upset before 12,000 at the New York Coliseum in an eight-round points decision. Venturi, who got in his best shots in the final round, was returning to boxing after a three-month suspension."Enrico Venturi Bows to Berger in Eight", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 24, 23 March 2938
On September 26, 1939, Berger won over Leonard Del Genio in a crowd pleasing eight round points decision at the New York Coliseum in the Bronx. He had lost to Del Genio on November 11, 1936, in an eight-round points decision at the New York Coliseum. It was a close bout and many in the crowd of 7000 were displeased with the verdict which ruined Berger's nearly perfect win record. Del Genio had an edge in the infighting which was noteworthy since he had a disadvantage of several inches in reach."Leonard Del Genio Wins Bout with Max Berger", Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 27, 11 November 1936
On October 29, 1940, Berger defeated Billy Beauhuld in an eight-round points decision before impressed fans at the New York Coliseum in the Bronx. Berger won a decisive points margin in the feature bout extending a streak of twenty matches without a loss. He came out aggressively in the first round opening cuts above Beahhuld's eyes and avenging a loss he took to Beauhuld on February 7, 1938, when Beahuld scored an eight-round points decision against him in St. Nicholas Arena."Berger Wins Over Beauhold", The Ottawa Journal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, pg. 19, 30 October 1940
Boxing at 143 3/4, on February 3, 1941, Berger defeated Bobby McIntire in an eight-round points decision at the New York's St. Nicholas Arena. He had previously defeated McIntire on two occasions in eight round points decisions on May 7 and June 10, 1940, at the Bronx's New York Colliseum.
On February 15, 1944, Berger lost to Beau Jack in a ten-round unanimous points decision at Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. In a rather one-sided bout Beau Jack took all but the sixth according to the Associated Press, and lost that only because of dealing a low blow. Berger was down for a two count in the seventh, which was easily Jack's best round."Beau Jack Gives Welter Opponent Neat Going Over", The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, pg. 6, 16 February 1944
On January 22, 1945, Berger lost to talented black boxer Ike Williams in a fourth-round knockout, 2:51 into the round, at the Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before a crowd of 5,451. In the first three rounds, Berger was able to elude Williams's constant barrage of left hooks and right crosses by swiftly stepping away out of reach, but the crowd responded more favorably in the fourth when Williams began to connect with his blows at the urging of the referee for the boxers to make more contact. A left hook by Williams flush to Berger's jaw ended the bout. Berger was nine pounds heavier than his opponent, but Williams conditioning and age of 22 to Berger's 28 probably made more a difference in the bout.Care, Bill, "Ike Williams Kayoes Berger in 4th Round", The Gettysburg Times, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, pg. 6, 23 January 1945 The telling blow was to the jaw."Williams Kayoes Maxie Berger", The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, pg. 7, 23 January 1945 Williams became the World Lightweight Champion on August 4, 1947.
| Loss | Ike Williams | |||||
| Loss | Beau Jack | |||||
| Loss | Fritzie Zivic | |||||
| Loss | Sugar Ray Robinson | |||||
| Win | Wesley Ramey | |||||
| Win | Wesley Ramey | |||||
| Loss | Wesley Ramey | |||||
| Loss | Wesley Ramey | |||||
| Win | Midget Wolgast | |||||
| Win | Dave Castilloux | |||||
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