Edward Curley, 87 Former prize fighter

Edward M. "Newsboy" Curley, a former prize fighter, referee, andnewspaper delivery man for the Boston Record-American, died Wednesdayin Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson, Fla. He was 87.

Mr. Curley was a New England featherweight champion in the 1920sand later refereed boxing matches across the country.

He was born Issac Morochnik in Russia and came to the UnitedStates at age 5; his parents settled in the West End.

He would later say that he learned to fight to protect himself asan immigrant Jewish boy in a mostly established and mostly Italianneighborhood.

Mr. Curley, who changed his name to the nickname he earned in thegyms because of his hair, turned professional in 1928, and madeenough money to move his extended family from what was an inner-cityghetto to a rambling house in Newton.

He lived in Newton until moving to Florida in 1977.

Before turning professional, Mr. Curley represented the UnitedStates in the 1926 Pan American Games. One of his first professionalbouts was fought in November 1928, on the opening night of the BostonGarden.

He began working for the Record-American in 1923 and worked thereoff and on for several decades. During that time, he also ran somenewsstands around the Boston area.

Mr. Curley leaves his wife, Jean M. (Roberts); two sons,Gerald M. of New Port Richey, Fla., and Steven M. of Holliston; threesisters, Annie Kramer of Worcester, Sophie Wolfe of Delray Beach,Fla., and Jennie Grummer of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; and fivegrandchildren.

The funeral will be held at noon tomorrow in Stanetsky MemorialChapels in Brookline. Burial will be in the Shepetovka Cemetery inWest Roxbury.

Edward Curley, 87 Former prize fighter

Edward M. "Newsboy" Curley, a former prize fighter, referee, andnewspaper delivery man for the Boston Record-American, died Wednesdayin Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson, Fla. He was 87.

Mr. Curley was a New England featherweight champion in the 1920sand later refereed boxing matches across the country.

He was born Issac Morochnik in Russia and came to the UnitedStates at age 5; his parents settled in the West End.

He would later say that he learned to fight to protect himself asan immigrant Jewish boy in a mostly established and mostly Italianneighborhood.

Mr. Curley, who changed his name to the nickname he earned in thegyms because of his hair, turned professional in 1928, and madeenough money to move his extended family from what was an inner-cityghetto to a rambling house in Newton.

He lived in Newton until moving to Florida in 1977.

Before turning professional, Mr. Curley represented the UnitedStates in the 1926 Pan American Games. One of his first professionalbouts was fought in November 1928, on the opening night of the BostonGarden.

He began working for the Record-American in 1923 and worked thereoff and on for several decades. During that time, he also ran somenewsstands around the Boston area.

Mr. Curley leaves his wife, Jean M. (Roberts); two sons,Gerald M. of New Port Richey, Fla., and Steven M. of Holliston; threesisters, Annie Kramer of Worcester, Sophie Wolfe of Delray Beach,Fla., and Jennie Grummer of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; and fivegrandchildren.

The funeral will be held at noon tomorrow in Stanetsky MemorialChapels in Brookline. Burial will be in the Shepetovka Cemetery inWest Roxbury.