On this date in 1987, Virgil Hill was celebrated by The Forum’s editorial staff as the first North Dakotan to win a world boxing title, earning recognition for his athletic achievements and community involvement.
Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:
N.D. proud to claim Virgil Hill
Congratulations Virgil Hill. On Saturday Hill became the first North Dakotan to win a world boxing title. He knocked out light heavyweight champion Leslie Stewart in the fourth round at Atlantic City, NJ.
Hill obviously is proud of his North Dakota connection. He carried the North Dakota flag into the ring with him.
Both Grand Forks and Williston can claim Hill as their “own” because he lists them variously as his hometown. He spent his growing-up years in both towns.
See more history at Newspapers.com
Hill, although undefeated since turning professional after the 1984 Olympics, was a 5-1 underdog in his title fight. Being underrated is not new to him. In the Olympics he was one of the few U.S. boxers who were not given a good chance of winning a gold medal.
Still, he was runner-up for the middleweight crown and won a silver medal. Many boxing experts felt he deserved the gold, which was awarded to a Korean boxer in a split decision. Hill also was a national Golden Gloves winner.
Hill may well be the only world champion professional boxer in the history of our tri-state area. We welcome correction, but we cannot recall any world champ from North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota.
The legendary Billy Petrolle, a native of Dilworth who fought out of Fargo, lost to Tony Canzoneri in a lightweight title match in 1932. Petrolle, known as “The Fargo Express,” beat many of the top boxers of the day, including Canzoneri, whom he beat two years before the title bout.
Minnesota has had many top-rated fighters, including heavyweight Duane Bobick of recent years, the Flanagan brothers, Del and Glenn, of St. Paul, and Jackie Graves of Austin in the 1940s, and the Gibbons brothers of St. Paul in the 1920s. Tom Gibbons lost to heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey at Shelby, Mont., in 1923.
Hill has almost snuck up on the world of boxing. He has been the perennial dark horse who works hard and makes the best of his athletic gifts. He is a fine boxer who has gained punching strength as he’s moved into the heavier weights.
In addition to his boxing, Hill has a sense of community responsibility. This year he has been honorary chairman and ambassador for the Easter Seal Society of North Dakota. He also was active this summer in promoting North Dakota’s first Prairie Rose State Games, a kind of Olympic-style amateur event for 16 sports, held in Bismarck.
Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.