The boxing world has lost another champion, former middleweight champion Al Hostak, who died of a stroke at age 90, according to the Associated Press. Born in Minneapolis, Hostak claimed the middleweight championship in 1938 with a first-round stoppage of Freddie Steele, who had 125 wins at the time.  Hostak had the honor of having his hand raised by the great Jack Dempsey, who refereed the fight. He lost the title but regained it by splitting two matches with Solly Kreiger, and then lost the title for good in 1940 to all time great Tony Zale. Hostak lost three times to Zale and, after serving his country in World War II, retired in 1949 with a record of 63-9-12. He was elected to the World Boxing Hall of Fame (not the one in Canastota, New York) in 1997. Hostak was a widower, but Boxingtalk sends its condolences to Hostak's children and grandchildren.  --Scott Shaffer