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Pete Herman (b. February 12,1896, d. April 13,
1973) was one of the all time great bantamweight
world champions.  Herman was born Peter Gulotta in
New Orleans, Louisiana, and fought from 1912 until
1922.  He retired with a record of 69 wins (19 by
KO), 11 losses, 8 draws and 61 No Decisions in 149
Bouts.

Herman was a smooth boxer and great body puncher. 
He fought his first pro fight at the age of 16,
and two years later held his own during a 10-round
No Decision bout against world bantamweight
champion Kid Williams. Herman eventually won the
title from Williams, even though Williams was
allowed to pick his own referee for the match.
Nevertheless, referee Bill Rocap awarded Herman
the decision and the bantamweight title after 20
rounds of fighting.

Herman's most memorable match was fought against
Jimmy Wilde, the legendary English flyweight
champion of the world.  The two fought in in 1920,
three weeks after Herman lost his bantamweight
title in Madison Square Garden to Joe Lynch. 

The Wilde-Herman fight was staged in London. 
Herman used his weight advantage and body punching
to wear Wilde down.  Herman hurt Wilde in the 15th
and knocked him through the ropes three times in
the 17th round to end the fight. The classy Wilde
made no excuses. He stated after the fight "I can
sincerely say that Herman beat me because he was
the better boxer."  

On July 25, 1921 Herman fought Lynch in a rematch
for the world bantamweight title in storied Ebbets
Field.  This time Herman easily outpointed Lynch
to regain the crown fueling speculation that he
had thrown the first fight. He lost his
championship two fights later when he was
outpointed by Johnny Buff. 

Herman had begun losing sight in one eye, and he
claimed to have been blind in that eye when he
fought Buff.  He fought five more times, knocking
out number one contender Packy O'Gatty in one
round, and retired in 1922.

Herman eventually became completely blind.  After
his retirement from the ring, he owned and
operated a club on the famed New Orleans French
Quarter.  Pete Herman's was a New Orlean's
landmark until Herman's retirement.