Coley Welch, who once fought Jake LaMotta and was boxing's third-ranked middleweight, died on Monday in Las Vegas of congestive heart failure. He was 81.
Mr. Welch, a body puncher who wore down opponents, had a career record of 100-22-2, with 35 knockouts. During the 1940s, he was the New England middleweight champion for six years.
He began his 12-year boxing career in Portland during the Depression as a lightweight amateur, training in a warehouse that made coffins. "He fought in an era of what they call hungry fighters," said his brother, Paul Welch.
Mr. Welch became a middleweight and was ranked No. 3 in 1941 by The Ring magazine. He had won 15 straight decisions before losing to Mr. LaMotta on St. Patrick's Day at Boston Garden in 1944.
Mr. Welch retired in 1948 and moved to Las Vegas, where he worked as a casino security guard. AP