John J. Walsh, 89; Boxing Coach at Wisconsin

John J. Walsh, 89, who coached the University of Wisconsin to eight NCAA boxing championships and 35 individual titles, died Thursday in Madison, Wis.

Walsh coached the Badgers’ boxing team for a quarter century, beginning in 1934. He scored so many victories that the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. team championship trophy was named in his honor.

“No other coach in the history of intercollegiate boxing even approached that kind of success,” E.C. Wallenfeldt wrote in his book on college boxing, “The Six-Minute Fraternity.”

Walsh retired as coach when Wisconsin boxer Charlie Mohr died after collapsing in the locker room after an NCAA tournament match in 1960. The NCAA dropped the sport after that death.