[professordp]

After actually writing this idea out and posting it above, I began to reflect. Why not do the full monty and start Papp in 1948 after he wins his first gold medal at twenty-two? This would account for all of the "lost years". It would also allow me to incorporate Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano, and Dave Sands, among others, as potential opponents.

So 1948 it is!