János Erdei

János Erdei started boxing in 1934 winning the Makó champion title in 1937, followed by the Szeged champion title and the Southern District champion title in 1938. Erdei did not lose a single match until 1939. That was when MAC noticed him and brought him to the capital with him winning his first Hungarian championship title in 1943. This was followed by his second Hungarian championship title in 1944. After the war he moved home to Makó, where he replaced his brother on the family farm, who had been taken prisoner by the Soviets. After a short break he continued boxing in the local team. Representing the colours of Makó, he won the provincial championship in 1948 and the Hungarian championship bronze medal.

From 1949 Erdei boxed again in the capital, this time in the colours of the FTC, to which he remained loyal until the end of his sports career. He won the national championship at featherweight three more times from 1949 to 1951. He also competed at featherweight at the 1951 European Boxing Championships in Milano, where he won bronze. At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Erdei competed at featherweight and finished fifth. In 1953, in the quarterfinals of the competition for the Budapest champion title, he suffered an optic nerve injury to his left eye. He continued boxing against domestic competitors and finally hung up his gloves in mid-1956.

In addition to boxing, in 1951 Erdei took on the position of President of the Makó district TSB in Makó and then was a sports organizer and consultant for the Kinizsi SE. Apart from these few years, he worked as a grinder, and later as a craftsman, until his retirement.

According to his request, Erdei was laid to rest in his Olympic uniform and during the playing of the National Anthem in the old Calvinist cemetery in his hometown.