Al Hostak
Born
Albert Paul Hostak

(1916-01-07)January 7, 1916
Minneapolis, Minnesota
DiedAugust 13, 2006(2006-08-13) (aged 90)
Kirkland, Washington
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe Savage Slav
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Reach6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights84
Wins64
Wins by KO41
Losses9
Draws11

Albert (Al) Paul Hostak (January 7, 1916 – August 13, 2006), nicknamed "the Savage Slav," was an American middleweight boxer who fought from 1932-1949. Hostak twice held the National Boxing Association Middleweight title between 1938 and 1940. He was known as a hard puncher and had a record of 64 wins (41 knockouts), 9 losses (3 knockouts), and 11 draws. In 2003, Hostak made The Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.[1][2][3]

Early career and life

Hostak was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Slovak immigrants who eventually moved to Seattle, Washington when Hostak was two, settling in South Seattle's Georgetown District.[4] Having developed a stutter in his youth, Hostak was drawn to boxing after fighting several of his tormentors. He would begin his boxing career as a 16-year-old in 1932, fighting many of his bouts in nearby White Center. Hostak would go unbeaten for his first 27 bouts in the Seattle area, all four and six-rounders, before losing a decision to Jimmy Best. He would continue to fight preliminary matches through the end of 1936, while he worked as a sparring partner for 1936 middleweight title holder Freddie Steele of Tacoma, Washington.[1][2][5]

Rise to prominence

As 1937 began, middleweight champion Freddie Steele's handlers decided to show him on the East Coast away from his home in the Pacific Northwest. With Steele, Seattle's top boxing draw leaving town, Nate Druxman needed to develop another box office attraction, a role Hostak would fulfill in 1937.[2]

Hostak began the year by knocking out Newark middleweight contender Tony Fisher, in two rounds on January 12. A month later he knocked out Leonard Bennett, who had broken Steele's jaw in their first bout. In March and April, Hostak scored second-round knockouts of Johnny Sikes and Young Terry. This set up a bout with Eddie (Babe) Risko on July 13, 1937. Risko lost the middleweight title a year before to Steele, and had lost a rematch as well. Hostak gained national recognition when he knocked out Risko in the 7th round in Seattle. In a clear victory, Risko was floored by Hostak once in the third, and once in the fourth. Catching his opponent flat-footed with no defense, Hostak drove his right with great power into Risko's unguarded chin, followed with two rights to the ribs. Risko went down for the count.[6]

In August, he knocked out Allen Matthews in nine rounds. With three more knockouts in 1937, he stretching his streak to eleven. At the end of 1937, Ring Magazine ranked Hostak the #3 Middleweight in the world.[1]

A match with Steele in Seattle appeared likely for the summer of 1938. Steele suffered a setback in January, when Fred Apostoli stopped him in a non-title bout at Madison Square Garden. In the process, New York recognized Apostoli, not Steele as middleweight champion. Seattle promoter Nate Druxman continued with plans to pit Steele against Hostak that summer.[1]

Taking the NBA world middleweight championship, Freddie Steele, July, 1938

Hostak's bout with Steele was scheduled for July 26, 1938, at Seattle's Civic Stadium. It would be the largest attendance in Seattle's boxing history, with over 35,000 fans. Hostak used his own jab to parry Steeles's. Feinting with his jab to entice Steele to drop his right hand, he connected with a rapid left hook that travelled only eight inches, but knocked Steele down. Though Steele was up quickly from the initial knockdown, Hostak would send him back to the canvas three more times. Steele arose quickly from his third trip to the canvas, but after a stiff right, Steele was counted out by referee Jack Dempsey at 1:43 of the 1st round, officially giving Hostak his first NBA world middleweight championship. Hostak fought again in September 1938, stopping Young Stuhley in three rounds.[1][7]

Losing the NBA world middleweight title to Solly Krieger, September, 1938

He made his first title defense against Brooklyn's Solly Krieger on November 1, 1938, losing a fifteen round decision before a crowd of 10,000, in Seattle. Hostak broke both of his hands early in the bout. Krieger fought inside against Hostak, pounding his body. In the 14th round, Krieger sealed a majority decision victory, when he knocked down a tired Hostak for the first time in his career. With terrific body blows, and savage and effective infighting, Krieger wrested the championship from Hostak. Krieger employed a successful bob and weave strategy, which puzzled Hostak, and which he could not successfully defend, particularly in later rounds.[8]

Retaking the world middleweight championship, Solly Krieger, June, 1939

After his hands had healed, Hostak returned with a third-round knockout of Johnny Erjavec in Seattle, before facing Krieger before a huge crowd of 22,000 in a world middleweight championship rematch in Seattle on June 27, 1939. In the seven and a half months between their two bouts, Krieger boxed as a light heavyweight having a very difficult time making the 160-pound middleweight limit. Krieger was a shadow of his former self in the rematch, forcing himself to lose weight too quickly, and Hostak knocked him down four times. Hostak forced Krieger to take the lead, but when he took a defensive crouch, Hostak opened him up with blows to the midsection. In the fourth Hostak knocked Krieger to the canvas with a flurry of lefts and rights for a count of nine. On his second trip to the canvas, the referee called a fourth-round TKO. Hostak became the first boxer to regain the middleweight title since Stanley Ketchel in 1908.[9]

After an October 1939 non-title knockout over Charley Coates, Hostak signed for his first bout ever outside of the state of Washington, facing German-Jewish refugee Eric Seelig in Cleveland on December 11, 1939. On December 11, 1935 Seelig fought an NBA world middleweight title match against Al Hostak before an enthusiastic crowd of 10,000 at the Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, losing in a first round knockout of a scheduled fifteen rounds. Seelig sparred cautiously in the opening of the round, but was sent to the canvas from a crushing left hook to the right side of his jaw, and could not resume the bout until a count of nine was completed. A left and right put him to the canvas for the count 1:21 into the first round.[10][11]

Losing the NBA world middleweight title with injured hands to Tony Zale, July, 1940

Nate Druxman rematched Hostak and Zale for the middleweight title on July 19, 1940, before a crowd of 16,000, at Civic Stadium in Seattle. Once again Hostak injured his hands in the bout, while Zale wore him down with a devastating body attack. Before badly injuring his hands, Hostak had his best round in the fifth when he dished out his heaviest punches, and left Zale groggy.[12] With both of his eyes swollen, and his left hand apparently injured, Hostak was dropped in the 12th for a count of nine and again in 13th rounds, before the bout was stopped 1:20 in the thirteenth by referee Benny Leonard and Zale took the title from Hostak.[1][13] Zale's rushing attack with left hooks to the head, and occasional uppercuts to the chin, proved too much for Hostak, particularly in the second half of the bout.

Earlier on January 29, 1940, Hostak had unsuccessfully fought a non-title match before a crowd of 11,112 in Chicago against middleweight contender Zale at Chicago Stadium. It may be important to note that Hostak knocked Zale down in the 1st round, breaking two fingers in his left hand in the 5th round.[14] As a result, Zale swept the last five rounds to take a unanimous decision.[1]

Post-championship boxing career

After taking time for his hands to heal, Hostak returned in February 1941 with a knockout win in Chicago, followed up by two more knockouts in April and May in Seattle. He returned to Chicago to face Zale in a third fight on May 28, 1941. Hostak knocked down Zale early, but he was up before a count could be administered. In the 2nd round, Zale pounded Hostak to the body, dropping him eight times, before he was finally counted out. In November, Hostak would make his first and only appearance at Madison Square Garden, against former middleweight champion Ken Overlin. Overlin easily outboxed a befuddled Hostak, who threw very few punches before losing a lopsided decision.[1]

In Hostak's absence from Seattle, another middleweight attraction had been developed by Druxman, Harry (Kid) Matthews of Emmett, Idaho. The two would face each other on September 29, 1942, in Seattle, with Hostak knocking Matthews down twice, but again being outboxed, losing a majority decision. The two would fight to a draw in a November rematch in Seattle. This time both boxers performed more poorly than in their first bout, particularly Matthews, who spent much of the bout in retreat. Hostak's boxing career temporarily ended along with Druxman's after the bout, as both did service in World War II. Hostak joined the Army in 1942, and trained as a paratrooper, serving in the 101st Airborne. His overseas duty included acting as part of the occupying force in Japan, according to his son.[5][1]

Hostak had two bouts in 1944 while stationed in Houston, Texas, scoring a pair of knockouts. On June 21, 1944, he defeated Glen Lee in a third round knockout for the USA Texas Light Heavyweight championship while serving as a Corporal in the army. Both contestants were serving in the armed forces, and Jack Dempsey, a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy served as referee. The match raised millions in war bonds.[1][15]

He made his post-war return in June 1946, with four more knockouts against modest opposition. He took on middleweight contender Steve Belloise in Houston in January 1947. He sent Belloise to the mat in the 1st, but was knocked out in the 4th. After a 5th-round TKO over Anton Raadik in August 1947 in Chicago, Hostak avenged his loss to Belloise by winning a decision in Seattle before a crowd of 7,000 on August 26. Hostak put Belloise down for a seven count in the second, and had an edge in eight of the ten rounds with only one to Belloise and one even.[16] With the win, the 31-year-old Hostak again earned a rating and wide recognition as a middleweight contender.[1]

Hostak's resurgence would be short-lived, as he was held to a draw in a mixed decision on October 7, 1947 by George Duke, with many fans thinking Duke had outboxed him.[17] He then lost a split decision in Portland, Oregon, to Jack Snapp, followed by a draw to Paul Perkins. In December 1948, Hostak decisioned Perkins in a rematch, before finishing his career on his 33rd birthday by stopping Snapp in nine rounds in Seattle.[1]

Life after boxing

After boxing, Hostak held jobs as a bartender, a King County Jail guard, and a security guard at the Longacres Race Track. He even taught school-age kids how to defend themselves in fights. Hostak was married to Rose Francis in 1948. He died on August 13, 2006, in Kirkland, Washington, of complications from a stroke that he suffered ten days earlier, and was interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Seattle. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.[5][18][2]

Professional boxing record

84 fights 64 wins 9 losses
By knockout 41 3
By decision 23 6
Draws 11
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
84 Win 64–9–11 Jack Snapp KO 9 (10) Jan 7, 1949 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
83 Win 63–9–11 Paul Perkins UD 10 Dec 9, 1948 Armory, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
82 Draw 62–9–11 Paul Perkins PTS 10 Nov 26, 1948 Armory, Bellingham, Washington, U.S.
81 Loss 62–9–10 Jack Snapp SD 10 Mar 16, 1948 Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
80 Draw 62–8–10 George Duke MD 10 Oct 7, 1947 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
79 Win 62–8–9 Steve Belloise PTS 10 Aug 26, 1947 Civic Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
78 Win 61–8–9 Anton Raadik TKO 5 (10) Jun 6, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
77 Loss 60–8–9 Steve Belloise KO 4 (10) Jan 22, 1947 Houston, Texas, U.S.
76 Win 60–7–9 Benny Droll TKO 2 (10) Jan 7, 1947 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
75 Win 59–7–9 Sam Hughes KO 1 (10) Nov 12, 1946 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
74 Win 58–7–9 George Evans KO 1 (10) Oct 22, 1946 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
73 Win 57–7–9 Roman Starr KO 4 (10) Jun 4, 1946 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
72 Win 56–7–9 Glen Lee KO 3 (10) Jun 21, 1944 Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. Won vacant USA Texas light heavyweight title
71 Win 55–7–9 George Baratko KO 5 (10) Apr 4, 1944 Houston, Texas, U.S.
70 Draw 54–7–9 Harry Matthews PTS 10 Nov 6, 1942 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
69 Loss 54–7–8 Harry Matthews MD 10 Sep 29, 1942 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
68 Loss 54–6–8 Ken Overlin UD 10 Nov 21, 1941 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
67 Loss 54–5–8 Tony Zale KO 2 (15) May 28, 1941 Chicago Stadium Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. For NBA middleweight title
66 Win 54–4–8 Atilio Sabatino TKO 1 (10) May 5, 1941 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
65 Win 53–4–8 Ben Brown KO 3 (10) Apr 1, 1941 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
64 Win 52–4–8 George Burnette KO 1 (10) Feb 21, 1941 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
63 Loss 51–4–8 Tony Zale TKO 13 (15) Jul 19, 1940 Civic Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. Lost NBA middleweight title
62 Loss 51–3–8 Tony Zale UD 10 Jan 29, 1940 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
61 Win 51–2–8 Erich Seelig KO 1 (15) Dec 11, 1939 Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. Retained NBA middleweight title
60 Win 50–2–8 Charley Coates KO 3 (10) Oct 26, 1939 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
59 Win 49–2–8 Solly Krieger TKO 4 (15) Jun 27, 1939 Civic Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. Won NBA middleweight title
58 Win 48–2–8 Johnny Erjavec KO 3 (10) Mar 7, 1939 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
57 Loss 47–2–8 Solly Krieger MD 15 Nov 1, 1938 Civic Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. Lost NBA middleweight title
56 Win 47–1–8 Young Stuhley TKO 3 (10) Sep 19, 1938 Civic Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
55 Win 46–1–8 Freddie Steele KO 1 (15) Jul 26, 1938 Civic Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. Won NBA middleweight title
54 Win 45–1–8 Chief Parris KO 4 (10) Apr 12, 1938 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
53 Win 44–1–8 Swede Berglund TKO 2 (10) Mar 1, 1938 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
52 Win 43–1–8 Jack Hibbard TKO 1 (10) Jan 11, 1938 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
51 Win 42–1–8 Don La Rue KO 1 (10) Dec 2, 1937 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
50 Win 41–1–8 Bob Turner KO 2 (10) Nov 2, 1937 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
49 Win 40–1–8 Otto Blackwell KO 3 (10) Oct 14, 1937 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
48 Win 39–1–8 Allen Matthews TKO 9 (10) Aug 10, 1937 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
47 Win 38–1–8 Eddie Babe Risko KO 7 (10) Jul 13, 1937 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
46 Win 37–1–8 Young Terry TKO 2 (10) Apr 13, 1937 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
45 Win 36–1–8 Johnny Sikes KO 2 (10) Mar 9, 1937 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
44 Win 35–1–8 Leonard Bennett KO 8 (10) Feb 16, 1937 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
43 Win 34–1–8 Tony Fisher KO 2 (10) Jan 12, 1937 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
42 Win 33–1–8 Irish Johnny Smith KO 2 (6) Dec 15, 1936 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
41 Win 32–1–8 Jim Nealey KO 1 (10) Nov 10, 1936 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
40 Win 31–1–8 Don La Rue PTS 8 Oct 6, 1936 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
39 Win 30–1–8 Mike Bazzone TKO 4 (6) Sep 22, 1936 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
38 Draw 29–1–8 Irish Ed Bradley PTS 6 Sep 3, 1936 Armory, Spokane, Washington, U.S.
37 Win 29–1–7 Don La Rue PTS 6 Aug 20, 1936 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
36 Win 28–1–7 Billy Lancaster PTS 6 Jul 30, 1936 Gonzaga Stadium, Spokane, Washington, U.S.
35 Win 27–1–7 Sidney Brent PTS 6 Jul 11, 1936 Civic Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
34 Draw 26–1–7 Jimmy Best PTS 6 Jan 28, 1936 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
33 Win 26–1–6 Baby Joe Gans PTS 8 Dec 17, 1935 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
32 Win 25–1–6 Billy Lancaster PTS 6 Dec 3, 1935 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
31 Win 24–1–6 Billy Lancaster TKO 5 (6) Nov 19, 1935 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
30 Win 23–1–6 Eddie Ivory TKO 2 (6) Nov 5, 1935 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
29 Win 22–1–6 Wild Willie Walker PTS 4 Oct 29, 1935 Crystal Pool, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
28 Win 21–1–6 Sidney Brent PTS 4 Jul 30, 1935 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
27 Loss 20–1–6 Jimmy Best PTS 6 May 16, 1935 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
26 Draw 20–0–6 Dick Johnson PTS 6 Mar 21, 1935 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
25 Draw 20–0–5 Cecil Jordan PTS 6 Feb 21, 1935 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
24 Draw 20–0–4 Johnny Foster PTS 6 Feb 14, 1935 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
23 Draw 20–0–3 Jack Hibbard PTS 6 Feb 7, 1935 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
22 Draw 20–0–2 Jack Hibbard PTS 4 Jan 24, 1935 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
21 Win 20–0–1 Jimmy Ireland KO 2 (4) Aug 21, 1934 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
20 Win 19–0–1 Eddie Foster KO 2 (4) May 22, 1934 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
19 Win 18–0–1 Jimmy Hefferman PTS 4 Feb 6, 1934 Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
18 Win 17–0–1 Jimmy Kid Swanson PTS 6 Feb 1, 1934 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
17 Win 16–0–1 Bob F Jeffries KO 4 (4) Jan 11, 1934 Greenwich Coliseum, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
16 Win 15–0–1 Willis Over PTS 4 Dec 8, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
15 Win 14–0–1 Phil Beck PTS 4 Nov 23, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
14 Draw 13–0–1 Jack Hibbard PTS 6 Oct 1, 1933 Seattle, Washington, U.S. Uncertain of Date
13 Win 13–0 Alec Webber PTS 6 Apr 27, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Phil Gleason KO 2 (?) Apr 13, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Heinie Roberts PTS 4 Mar 9, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Eddie Umbertos KO 2 (4) Feb 16, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Heinie Roberts PTS 4 Feb 2, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Heinie Roberts PTS 4 Jan 19, 1933 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Heinie Roberts PTS 4 Nov 1, 1932 Seattle, Washington, U.S. Exact date unknown
6 Win 6–0 Heinie Roberts PTS 4 Oct 1, 1932 Seattle, Washington, U.S. Uncertain of Date
5 Win 5–0 Allen Franks PTS 4 Sep 22, 1932 Arena, White Center, Washington, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Hank Wharton PTS 4 Aug 8, 1932 Austin & Bishop Club, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Vern Moen PTS 4 Aug 1, 1932 Seattle, Washington, U.S. Uncertain of Date
2 Win 2–0 Al Brown KO 1 (4) Jul 1, 1932 Seattle, Washington, U.S. Uncertain of Date
1 Win 1–0 Jimmy Smith KO 3 (4) May 20, 1932 Seattle, Washington, U.S. Date uncertain

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Al Hostak Boxing Record". BoxRec. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Al Hostak BoxRec Bio". BoxRec. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Al Hostak CBZ Record". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Hostak (1920). "United States Census, 1920". FamilySearch.
  5. 1 2 3 "Seattle Times Obituary of Hostak". Seattle Times. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "Risko Takes Bad Beating From Hostak", The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 12, 14 July 1937
  7. ↑ Put down for the last time with a stiff right in "Freddie Steele Kayoed in First", Daily News, New York, New York, pg. 184, 27 July 1938
  8. ↑ "Hostak Loses to Krieger", Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 31, 2 November 1938
  9. ↑ Jones, George, "Hostak Stops Krieger to Regain Title", The San Bernardino County Sun, San Bernardino, California, pg. 19, 28 June 1939
  10. ↑ Becker, Fred, "Seelig is Stopped in Opening Stanza", The Evening Independent, Massillon, Ohio, pg. 10, 12 December 1939
  11. ↑ Left hook to jaw in "Champions Keep Crown in Tilts", Freeport Journal-Standard, Freeport, Illinois, pg. 15, 12 December 1939
  12. ↑ "Zale Crumples Hostak to Win NBA Title", The Times San Mateo, California, pg. 6, 20 July 1940
  13. ↑ "Tony Zale Beats Hostak", The San Bernardino County Sun, San Bernardino, California, pg. 14, 20 July 1940
  14. ↑ Broke two fingers in left hand, in "Hostak Will Lose Crack at Champ", The Columbus Telegram, Columbus, Nebraska, pg. 7, 20 January 1940
  15. ↑ "Sports Shorts", The Emporia Gazette, Emporia, Kansas, pg. 12, 22 June 1944
  16. ↑ Crowd of 7,000, and he took eight rounds in "Al Hostak Whips Steve Belloise", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 20, 27 August 1947
  17. ↑ Duke may have outboxed him in "George Duke, Hostak Draw", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, pg. 8, 8 October 1947
  18. ↑ "Seattle Post Intelligencer Obituary of Hostak". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
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