Hall of Fame
Les Black was a celebrated boxer and track and field athlete, who continued to make an impact at the University of Toronto long after his dominance in the ring ended.
As a boxer Les accumulated five consecutive intercollegiate championships from 1920-24, including an impressive victory at the West Point U.S. Military Academy during his final competitive year at U of T. The former Canadian Boxing Champion was also the president of the Varsity Boxing Club in 1923-24.
Outside the squared circle, Les was a key part of Medicine's interfaculty track team for three years; a squad that captured the Interfaculty Championship during the 1925-26 season with Les handling the weights, discus and javelin duties.
On the international stage, the highlight of Les's athletic career came during the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. In the middleweight division he reached the semifinals and finished third. However, under the rules at the time he did not receive the bronze medal he had earned.
During the twenties, the ever-versatile athlete was a Canadian and American champion in pistol shooting, while also participating in interfaculty rugby and football at U of T. Les returned to the Varsity Blues boxing program as a coach from 1934-40.
Dr. Black also had a distinguished career at Toronto East General Hospital as the Chief Orthopedic Surgeon and then the Chief of Surgery. He was recognized as a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Medicine in 1971.
