The Hebrew Hammer Mark Weinman Dies

Mark Weinman died on February 8 in Mesa, Arizona at the age of 62. Weinman was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease, and given three to five years to live. That was a dozen years ago.

Mark Pate Weinman was born on August 5, 1962 in Jacksonville, North Carolina. His parents, Clyde and Eva, had gotten married at Camp Lejeune that February. Mark was raised in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens, New York where he and his brother David learn box. Mark became a decorated amateur, racking up a record of 42-4; his career culminating in an appearance in the 156-pound final of the 1983 New York Golden Gloves.

Nicknamed the "Hebrew Hammer," Weinman turned pro on November 21, 1985. Possessing a muscular upper body and massive thighs, the 5'8" junior middleweight was a come-forward fighter and dedicated body puncher. Commentator Randy Gordon once said, "I put Weinman, as a body puncher, in the same class as Mike Tyson." Usually wearing a yellow Star of David on his trunks and trained by Tommy Gallagher, the Hammer could've been a solid defensive fighter, but he chose to throw caution to the wind and exchange with his opponents in the pocket, which created exciting fights.

Weinman reeled off five straight knockouts to start his career and eleven victories in total, developing a vocal following along the way. He fought primarily at the famed Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York. In his eighth pro fight, Weinman was an underdog against the hard-punching Charles Bullock. In the third round, the Hammer landed a short right to score a knockdown. He built upon his advantage in the fourth and forced a stoppage in the fifth.

"He looked like a world beater," promoter Steve Tannenbaum told Cliff Brunt of the AP. "He was known in the gyms all around. I mean, he fought everybody. He would beat everybody in the gyms. Just beat them up. He was that good."

Mark married his bride Susan in 1987 before fighting LC Robinson, who Weinman knocked down twice in the first round with right hands. In the third, a left hook floored Robinson and a right scored the fourth and final knockdown of the fight. His record was then 11-0.

Weinman then lost two fights by knockout within two months. He took four years off before suffering a third knockout loss. "I think he was mishandled tremendously by management," his brother David told Brunt.

Weinman didn't get back into the ring for 21 years, the eighth longest layoff in boxing history according to a list compiled by Mike DeLisa and shared with the IBRO. In the interim, Weinman worked as a boxing trainer and lived in Melbourne, Florida and Petrolia, California among other places.

On September 7, 2012, a 50 year old Weinman resumed his career with a second round stoppage victory against Elvis Martinez. He no longer had a mustache or hair on his head, and also had a different mentality. "I figured I’m different than I was when I was back in my 20s," Weinman told Ray Aspuria of the Times Standard. "I came out really aggressive in the first round. This time, I came out nice, calm, and cool so I could feel him out." Weinman said he would've come back a year earlier, but he had been bitten by a rattlesnake.

Just four months later, Weinman was back in the ring. He faced Jahaad Wingfield, an 0-6-1 fighter. Wingfield punished Weinman to win by first round stoppage. Mark vowed to fight on. "I have to," he said. "I have to rectify this debacle."

But he didn't. Around this time, he was diagnosed with IPF. In later years, Weinman had unfortunate brushes with the law. He was arrested for criminal damage in Arizona in 2018 and for corporal injury to spouse/cohabitant in 2023 in California.

As humans, we are all imperfect, some more than others. As a boxer, Mark Weinman's story was one of promise, disappointment, and ultimately redemption. May peace be upon him.

The JBB's 2012 A Look Back: Mark Weinman

Weinman Vows to Keep Fighting

Last September, Mark Weinman's name was splayed across internet sports sites. Here was a 50-year old man coming back into the ring after a 21-year layoff. And he won! It was the type of feel good story that we all cling to; a man successfully exorcising the demons of what could have been.

The thought of 'what if' gnaws at most of us. For two decades, Weinman had been wondering what would happen if he came back to boxing. But rarely does anyone have the courage to actually attempt to recover their failed dreams. Not only did Weinman step back into the ring; his victory was an inspiration to those jaded souls who have long given up the pursuit of their childhood aspirations.

But on January 19 at Amos' Southend in Charlotte, North Carolina, Weinman suffered a first round stoppage at the hands of a previously winless fighter. Jahaad Wingfield improved his record to 1-6-1 by landing one of his wild punches on his elder's face. The 26-year old then pushed Weinman to the ropes and began raining down untamed blows on his foe. The referee waved off the contest a mere two minutes and four seconds after it began.

And the feel good story has seemingly come to a crashing end. For his part, Weinman (12-4, 10 KOs) believes it was a premature stoppage and asserts that he wasn't hurt. He told Ted Fleming of Examiner.com that he will fight again, "I have to. I have to rectify this debacle."

A Look Back: Mark Weinman

In an effort to link the past with the present, The Jewish Boxing Blog will present monthly a short biography of notable former Jewish boxers.

Mark Weinman represents that effort better than anyone. A prospect who saw his career derailed over two decades ago, Weinman triumphantly returned to the ring at the age of 50 last week.

Weinman was born on August 5, 1962 and raised in Queens, New York. There, he developed a love for boxing along with his younger brother, David. Mark found success in the amateurs. He won the Spanish Golden Gloves and was a three-time Police Athletic League champion. In 1983, Weinman came up short against Dennis Milton in the New York Golden Gloves 156-pound final.

On November 21, 1985, Weinman, a junior middleweight, made his professional debut. It resulted in a second round stoppage victory over Ted Dancey in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Weinman, nicknamed the "Hebrew Hammer," saw his next four bouts also end inside the distance. All were victories.

On July 10, 1986, Weinman easily outpointed Eric Holland despite giving up six and a half pounds to his opponent. Holland was winless at the time, but would later win a minor world title at middleweight. In his next bout, Weinman cruised to a unanimous decision victory over another winless fighter.

The Hammer then returned to his power-punching ways. Charles Bullock (5-1 at the time) was stopped 1:23 into the fifth round by Weinman in January of 1987. Weinman improved to 8-0. His next two matches resulted in 5th round TKOs as well. Undefeated Dennis Dickerson was one of the victims. L.C. Robinson was knocked down twice in first round of his August 20, 1987 bout with Weinman before the fight was stopped. Bernie "Schoolboy" Friedkin, a popular Jewish fighter from years before, was a judge.

With his amateur pedigree and 11-0 record (nine KOs), Weinman looked the part of a future champion. Mark featured a devastating left hook to the body, his signature punch. He took a step up to fight undefeated Warren Williams in Las Vegas, Nevada. It marked the first time Weinman was to fight outside of New York or New Jersey. For the first time in his career, Mark lost. He was stopped in the seventh. The careers of both fighters then hit a downward spiral.

Weinman tried to get right back into the ring, but was stopped again two months later. He took time away from the sport until returning at middleweight against Kelvin Prather on September 20, 1991. He was stopped again.

Weinman then retired and became a trainer. One of his charges was heavyweight Richie Melito (27-1, 25 KOs), who he guided from the Parrot Gym in Queens, New York. He has continued to shape young men since.

But a year ago, Weinman had a revelation. It seemed he had more desire than some of his boxers. So, he planned a comeback. Mark claimed, "I feel fresh; I had only 14 pro fights, so I'm not shopworn. I can still punch like a mule. I have been training for this comeback since the summer of 2011 and have boxed over 500 rounds. My left hook is back and their are no weight problems anymore. My stamina feels great."

Last Friday, Weinman entered the ring as a combatant for the first time in 21 years. Lights beamed off his now-hairless head. He faced 36-year old veteran journeyman Elvi "El Burrito" Martinez. A mere 39 seconds into the second round, referee Frank Gentile waved off the fight. Weinman had gained some redemption with his first victory in 25 years.

After the bout, Mark explained, "I didn't like the way my career ended. I started out 11-0 as a pro with nine knockouts, but things didn't go well after that. I wanted to try it again." He is now 12-3 with 10 KOs.

Update: For Weinman's obituary, visit here.


Bibliography
Baker, Al. "There is a contender..." New York Daily News. March 5, 1995.
Folstad, Rick. "Return to ring a victorious one." Tamps Bay Online. September 8, 2012.
Nussbaum, James Ford. "50-year old makes boxing comeback after 21-year absence tomorrow." GP MEDIA-Galileo Productions, LLC blog. September 9, 2012