Middleweight (≤75 kilograms), Men

Eddie Crook had been considered a favorite to make the 1956 US Olympic boxing team until he broke his hand in an early trials bout, and although he continued, he lost in the finals. Between 1956-60 he won two Golden Gloves titles and the Eastern AAU crown, and qualified easily for Rome. In the eternal city, Crook had an easy time of it, winning three of his first four bouts by knockout or TKO to get to the final. In the final he faced the Pole Tadeusz Walasek, who had won silvers at the European Championships in 1957 and 1959, but Crook prevailed by a narrow decision, 3-2. Walasek would return to win the European Championship in 1961, but Crook never fought again at a high level. He joined the military, serving two tours in Vietnam as a command sergeant major. For his service he earned two Purple Hearts, one Silver Star, and one Bronze Star.