Eric Seelig Elected to Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame

Erich "Eric" Seelig was elected to the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame in the pioneer category as part of its 2024 class. Seelig began boxing professionally at the age of 21 in 1931. Eleven months into his career, he won the German middleweight title. A month after Hitler gained power in 1933, and a day before the Reichstag fire, Seelig won the German light heavyweight title. The Nazis soon stripped him of his titles and sent him into exile. That expulsion ultimately saved his life.

Seelig fled to France where he lost two decisions to Marcel Thil, but otherwise performed well. In 1935, Seelig immigrated to the United States. A top contender, he lost close decisions to Billy Conn and Fred Apostoli. Eric received a shot at the world middleweight title in 1939. The champion, Al Hostak, stopped him in one. Seelig's best win was a seventh round TKO victory in 1935 over an older Mickey Walker, a legendary two-division world champion.

After he retired from boxing 1940, Eric moved to Atlantic City with his wife where he trained fighters. He passed away in 1984. Seelig is also a member of the the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1992) and the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame (1999).

Erich Seelig

Other Jewish inductees include Sampson Lewkowicz, Randy Gordon, and Jay Larkin, who were all elected in the special contributor category this year for the Atlantic City Hall.