Chapter 4: The Promoter – Eli Ted Hanover

Building a Fight Town Dream

Eli Ted Hanover was a great promoter of boxing in Baltimore. He ran a gym located over a gentlemen’s club
called The Jewel Box where he trained boxers. His family helped out with running the boxing ring, and he was
a very charismatic and well loved member of the community. He was always willing to help others out.

Eli worked closely with matchmaker Eddie Hrica for many events.

Promotions & Collaborators

First promotion: September 23, 1965 — Steelworkers Hall, Baltimore, MD (Ricky Ortiz, Felix Morales,
Herbie Lee, Larry Middleton, Woody Goss, Monte McCoy).
Worked with Eddie Hrica as matchmaker for over 100 events (1965–1975).
Notable promotion: June 20, 1972 — Baltimore Convention Center.
Later collaborations included Abe Pollin:
March 4, 1974 — Capital Center, Landover, MD.
With Joe Poodles:
May 8, 1975 —
United Steelworkers Hall, Baltimore.
Worked independently at times:
May 22, 1975 — Steelworkers Hall.
Alongside Eric Hrica:
June 20, 1975 —
Baltimore Convention Center.
Last promotion:
July 23, 1975. Eli passed on August 19, 1975.

Radio & Newspaper Features

Eli Hanover feature image — WYPR: Gil Sandler’s Baltimore Stories

“Eli Hanover was a grizzled, ex-boxer who ran a gym over the Jewel Box Night Club down on the old and now infamous Block in East Baltimore…
Fighttown Baltimore, he called the dream. But it never happened. The dream died with the dreamer.”

In 1993, Gilbert Sandler wrote about Eli in
“A Dream of a Big Fight Town”,
including reflections from other gym owners about how much hands-on work Eli put into building the Steelworkers’ Hall fights.

Featured Video

Story about Eli Hanover’s career on Woodie’s World:

Award Mentions & Legacy

In 1985, the Washington Post
mentioned Bob Denning receiving the Eli Hanover Award, and includes a quote from William Donald Schaefer recalling Eli.

Eli was also featured in the book
Baltimore’s Boxing Legacy
by Thomas Scharf (see pages 108–109).

Baltimore's Boxing Legacy book cover — Baltimore’s Boxing Legacy

Excerpt (Baltimore’s Boxing Legacy, p.108)

Eli Hanover at Steelworkers Hall. Eli Hanover was a boxer, manager, and promoter from the 1930s to the 1970s in Baltimore.
Eli grew up in the Jewish Ghetto area of East Baltimore and had a brief professional career starting in 1939 and ending in 1941 due to wartime service.
On September 23, 1965, Eli switched from managing to promoting fights when he presented this Inaugural Professional Boxing Promotion at Steelworkers Hall on Dundalk Avenue.
The fight featured Irish Johnny Gilden winning a 10 round decision over Ricky Ortiz. Eli would spotlight his big shows at the Civic Center such as the Bob Foster versus
Mark Tessman light heavyweight championship bout in 1970. In 1974, he changed the site of his large productions to the Capitol Center in Landover, Maryland.

Baltimore Boxing Legacy page 108 — Book excerpt image (page 108)

Eli with other promoters — “Sign on the Dotted Line…” (photo caption from the page)

Voices from the Era

Eli’s story was featured in an article on Sherdog.

“This is the class street of the world,” Eli says… “If you want to find it, come to this street… you got the greatest people that walk God’s earth and you got some of the biggest stinkers.”

It is the wave of the champion that 52-year-old Eli Hanover… never was… “I wasn’t no great fighter,” he says. “I was just a preliminary boy.”

He paid his dues training and managing… before he began promoting… Baltimore… where the only places he could put on a show were tiny Steelworkers Hall or the 12,000-seat Civic Center…

Such confidence has deserted Hanover just once… When an attractive Civic Center card flopped in 1970, he went incommunicado for 18 months…

“Let’s face it,” he says. “I’m Mr. Boxing in Baltimore. This self-praise stinks, but we’re talking about actuality.”

“The people that come to Steelworkers don’t want no gimmicks,” says Hanover… “They want to see blood… As long as it isn’t theirs.”

One of the fights Eli dreamed of… and so Hanover must settle for fighters of lesser physical stature but equally strange reputation…

People Magazine
did an article on boxer Leo Saenz who Eli Ted Hanover promoted.

Leo Saenz, a 19-year-old 154-lb. middleweight, has clobbered all 14 challengers… “Lemme see,” mutters Eli Hanover…

Born to the vicious poverty endemic among American migrant farmers… Nights, he works out at Eli Hanover’s gym located above a strip joint on Baltimore’s tawdry Block…

Later Mentions & Community Memory

A JMORE Living article recalled a Charley Eckman quote referencing Eli Hanover:

“Recalling Old Times with Tommy the Younger”
.
Related mentions also appear in Baltimore Sun articles and tributes.

Eli was a dedicated member of the

International Veteran Boxers Association 101 Ring Chapter
.
Each year, a worthy boxer receives the

Eli Ted Hanover Boxing Hall of Fame Award

on Eli’s birthday, April 29.

Eli was close friends with

Mayor William Donald Schaefer

and helped establish Maryland Boxing Association Ring 101 (1973). He was inducted into the Maryland Boxing Hall of Fame (1975),
and in 1978 the Eli Ted Hanover Memorial Award was created in his honor.

Fighters & Family Traditions

Eli managed Lou Benson Jr. from 1973 to 1975.
Lou boxed for Eli at several events, including those held at the Civic Center and Capital Center. In 2008, Lou Benson won the Eli Hanover Award.
Competing in the heavyweight division, Lou fought professionally until 1992.

Sports Illustrated (March 4, 1979)

Eli’s building housed a gym that trained many fighters in the 1970s, possibly earlier. Eli’s nephew Paul continues this passion as a recreational boxer.
Eli and his club were even featured in Sports Illustrated on March 4th, 1979.

After the Fights

After matches, Eli and his family often dined at their favorite Italian restaurant,
Sabatino’s, where he was well-loved by staff and friends alike.
Another favorite spot was the
House of Welsh,
where Eli frequently enjoyed meals with his boxers.

Jerry Quarry was one of Eli’s favorite boxers.