There are 59.553 boxer records, at least 556.794 bouts and 9.571 news archived

Home Italy Schedule Results Ratings Amateur Records Amateur Encyclopedia Contacts Reserved Area

News

CARMEN BASILIO DIES AT 85

 

 

Carmen Basilio, who beat Sugar Ray Robinson, dies

 
By BEN DOBBIN
Associated Press /  November 7, 2012
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Carmen Basilio, a genial onion farmer’s son who wrested the world middleweight boxing crown from Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957 and lost an equally epic, razor-edge rematch six months later, died Wednesday at age 85.
Edward Brophy, executive director of the Boxing Hall of Fame in upstate New York, said Basilio died at a Rochester hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia.
Basilio lived in the Rochester suburb of Irondequoit and was among the first class of hall of fame inductees in 1990, a group that includes Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Jake LaMotta.
Basilio’s ferocious battles with the likes of Billy Graham and Kid Gavilan riveted a nation during the age of black-and-white television. Hindered on his ascent by a reluctance to deal with mobsters, he took the welterweight title from Tony DeMarco in 1955 and added the middleweight belt near the close of a 13-year career.
In his later years, Basilio still could conjure up dates of championship fights, the size of a purse, the name of a referee he loathed. But his mental agility had eroded, and his recollection of the round-by-round combat he waged in his climb to the top was mostly blank.
Basilio’s wife, Josie, traced his decline to heart-bypass surgery in 1992. An MRI scan revealed no brain damage from his prizefighting days, which Basilio acknowledged went on too long.
With his crouching style, the 5-foot-6½ slugger bored relentlessly into opponents, wearing them down with body blows. He had a straight-up, knuckle-rimmed uppercut all his own, a vicious hook and an ability to withstand terrible punishment. He rarely stepped backward.
‘‘I gave them action; they loved to see action. I moved in on fighters all the time,’’ he told The Associated Press in 2007, still filled with delight at earning The Ring magazine’s ‘‘Fight of the Year’’ designation five years in a row.
The two savage, seesaw 15-rounders against Robinson formed the capstone of his fame. But in the early 1950s, Basilio endured a bitter wait for a breakthrough in a sport then dominated by organized crime.
Outside the ring, Basilio was well-spoken, a farmer’s son whose droll humor could light up a town. His paeans to family and churchgoing earned him a ‘‘people’s champion’’ tag. Above all, he loved winding people up.
The late trainer Angelo Dundee remembered a cold day in Chicago waiting for Basilio, the first of his 15 world champions, to finish a morning run when a cop drove up and threatened to book him for loitering. As he turned to go, Dundee realized Basilio was watching from the back of the patrol car and cracking up.
Basilio’s storybook journey began on an onion farm in Canastota in central New York as one of 10 children of Italian immigrants. From age 5, he worked the rich black soil in all weathers, and the constant bending developed powerful thigh and stomach muscles.
After a stint in the Marines, Basilio turned pro in 1948. His early career was littered with setbacks: broken bones in his hand, mononucleosis, cuts to his craggy eyebrows. He took a factory job in Syracuse, adopted two nephews and, despite his fill of losses, told anyone who'd listen he would someday be No. 1.
Finally honing his physical prowess, he drew his first title shot in 1953 against Gavilan. He floored the Cuban great for the first time in his career, only to lose on a split decision. A rematch never came. Basilio ran into two years of gangland roadblocks.
The Fifties were a golden age for boxing when thrice-weekly ‘‘fight nights’’ helped sell TV sets. But it also was a dark diversion directed by mob bosses. Basilio said he refused to cooperate with them and, despite his growing supremacy as a welterweight, was repeatedly passed over.
Helped by a political outcry, his second chance finally arrived against the newly enthroned DeMarco in 1955 — and more than just childhood dreams were at stake. When he stopped DeMarco in the 12th round, Basilio knelt in his corner, repeating ‘‘I did it! I did it! I did it!’’
His real measure emerged in their next duel. A left hook from DeMarco almost lifted Basilio off his feet. He pirouetted, his legs buckled but somehow he stayed up. He KO'd DeMarco in the 12th.
Basilio stepped up to the 160-pound middleweight class against Robinson on Sept. 23, 1957. Four years earlier, after wresting the state welterweight title from Graham, Basilio was walking down Broadway in New York when he spotted Robinson with his entourage and introduced himself.
‘‘He gave me a brushoff, and I lost my respect for him right then and there,’’ he recalled. ‘‘People come up to speak to you, you have to be happy because it’s people that make you what you are. He was an arrogant guy.’’
He carried that grudge into their encounter in Yankee Stadium. During the referee’s instructions, Basilio was startled when Robinson leaned in snarling, baring his teeth like a wildcat. Basilio went back to his corner and burst out laughing, and it loosened him up.
‘‘You’re talking about the finest boxer of all time,’’ Dundee told the AP before his death earlier this year, ‘‘and Carmen outboxed the guy. He beat him soundly.’’
In the 11th round, Basilio clobbered Robinson with 34 straight punches, pinning him against the ropes. ‘‘I don’t know what kept Robinson up because Carmen nailed him some real good shots,’’ Dundee said.
Robinson rallied in the 12th but was hanging on at the end, and Basilio won on a 2-1 vote by the judges. Only one other modern-era welterweight champ had ever hoisted the middleweight belt — Robinson in 1951.
In the rematch in March 1958, Robinson regained the title on another razor-edge decision. A rupture above Basilio’s eye swelled to the size of a baking potato. ‘‘I had to change my stance a little bit so I could see him, but I thought I won the fight that night,’’ he insisted.
The most serious moment came at around 3 the next morning. After hours of icing, Dundee noticed blood seeping from the corner of Basilio’s eye and rushed him to the hospital. ‘‘Thank God we saved the eye,’’ he said.
While his determination was bottomless, Basilio’s susceptibility to cuts proved a recurring nightmare.
‘‘Carmen says he made me the greatest cut man on Earth because he used to bleed for me,’’ Dundee said. ‘‘He bled at press conferences.’’
To be a champion, though, ‘‘you got to cross that fine line, and Carmen crossed that line many times,’’ Dundee added. ‘‘He belongs in any era, any time. I would have to put him as one of the best.’’
Robinson’s refusal to fight a third time undermined Basilio’s drive, and his career (56-16-7 with 27 knockouts) petered out in 1961 after three unsuccessful title shots against Gene Fullmer and Paul Pendor.
He moved on to teach physical education at Syracuse’s Le Moyne College for 21 years and marketed beer for Rochester’s Genesee Brewing Co. His gift as a raconteur won him legions of new fans at charity banquets, and even old foes came to revere him.
When DeMarco’s son died in a car crash in 1975, Basilio showed up for the funeral in Boston. ‘‘You don’t forget things like that,’’ DeMarco said in 2007.
Their first bout, considered by many one of the century’s finest, ‘‘made us closer,’’ DeMarco said. ‘‘I lost my championship and the guy I lost to happens to be not only a great fighter but a great human being.’’

Sourcewww.boston.com/sports/other-sports/boxing/2012/11/07/carmen-basilio-who-beat-sugar-ray-robinson-dies/ozD5q7NWwtNqutXlq3UfgI/story.html

 

Carmen Basilio, Boxing Hall of Famer and Canastota native, dies at 85

By Charley Hannagan, The Post-Standard

Irondequoit, NY—Carmen Basilio, a former welterweight and middleweight boxing champion of the world, who was part of the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, died early this morning.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle is reporting that Basilio died around 3 a.m. at Rochester General Hospital, according to Tony Liccione, president of the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame.

Basilio was 85 and had lived in Irondequoit since 1985. He had been a physical education teacher at Le Moyne Coillege and was a spokesman for Genesee Beer.

 2012-06-10-sdc-boxinghallpa.JPG

Thousands lined the streets of downtown Canastota on June 10, 2012 for the Boxing Hall of Fame Parade that preceded the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies to see returning Hall of Fame members like former world champion and Canastota's own Carmen Basilio, who died early this morning.  -  Stephen D. Cannerelli/ The Post-Standard

Basilio was part of the International Boxing Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 1990 joining boxing greats such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jake LaMotta, Jersey Joe Walcott, Emile Griffith and Archie Moore.

Basilio and his nephew Billy Backus are natives of Canastota and are the reason the Hall of Fame is located there. Basilio won both the welterweight and middleweight titles. Backus was a welterweight champion.

AP570923079.JPG 

World middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson, right, gets through the guard of challenger Carmen Basilio and drives a right to the midsection in fifth round of middleweight title fight at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this Sept. 23, 1957 file photo. Basilio won the title with a 15-round decision over Robinson.  -  AP file photo

Sourcewww.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/carmen_basilio_former_boxing_c.html

 

Carmen Basilio, former boxing champ, dies at 85

 By: Associated Press | WHEC.com

Carmen Basilio, a genial onion farmer's son with a malevolent left hook who wrested the world middleweight boxing crown from Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957, has died. He was 85.
    
Edward Brophy, executive director of the Boxing Hall of Fame in upstate New York, says Basilio died early Wednesday morning in a Rochester hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia.
    
Basilio lived in the Rochester suburb of Irondequoit and was among the first class of hall of fame inductees in 1990, a group that included Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Jake LaMotta.
    
His career ended in 1961 with a 56-16-7 record that included 27 knockouts.
    
Basilio's family said he'd been in failing health since heart-bypass surgery in 1992.

Sourcewww.whec.com/news/stories/S2826183.shtml

 

 

 

 

Archive

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson March 10, Murcia, SPA: sl: Radouane Ammari, Spa W4-U Daniel Ibarguen, Col/Spa Mar. 10, Guastalla, ITA: ...

15/03/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson March 4, The Hague, NTH: sl Bryan Nisia, Nth W 6 Seiran Engel, Chi/Ger March 3, Valladolid, SPA: ...

06/03/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Feb 25, Wiesbaden GER, Black Wolves Fight Club 10x3, h: Viktor Faust, Ukr/Ger KO 3 Marcos Antonio Ahumada, Arg Ahumada was floored...

28/02/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Feb 17, Pertuis, FRA: 10x3, sw: Reda Kham, Fra KO 4 Ali Yammouni, Fra Kham retained the French super welter title. ...

21/02/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Feb 10. Debica, POL: 6x3, lh: Lukasz Plawecki, Pol W6-U Ladislav Nemeth, Slo 60-52x3. Feb...

15/02/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Feb 3, Hasselt, BEL: 10x3, sl: Hovhannes Martirosyan, Bel TKO 8 Tony Rashid, Tan Martirosyan added the IBO I-C title to his collection b...

07/02/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Jan 28, Deauville, FRA, Casino de Deaville 10x3, c: Brandon Glanton, US, TTKO 3 (not out) Emil Markic, B-H Glanton won the vacant ...

31/01/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Jan 20, Gilleleje, DEN, Gilleleje Hallen, 4x2: Sofie Vinther Rosshaug, 50,5, Den W 4 (40-36) Evelin Camporeale, 51,0, Ita Pro debu...

26/01/2024

Other news

02/10/2022 - EDER JOFRE DEAD 86
12/10/2021 - Tony DeMarco passes
15/03/2021 - RUMBLE IN DAR
14/12/2017 - R.I.P. KENNY BARR
09/03/2017 - LOU DUVA DIES AT 94
19/02/2017 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/02/2017 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/02/2017 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/01/2017 - EURO NEWS
20/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
15/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
08/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
02/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
28/11/2016 - EURO NEWS
24/11/2016 - EURO NEWS
21/11/2016 - EURO NEWS
19/10/2016 - EURO NEWS
12/10/2016 - EURO NEWS
06/10/2016 - EURO NEWS
04/10/2016 - NORDIC NEWS
28/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
24/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
20/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
15/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
06/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
30/08/2016 - EURO NEWS
26/08/2016 - EURO NEWS
18/08/2016 - NORDIC NEWS
28/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
05/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/06/2016 - GERMAN NEWS
21/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
24/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/05/2016 - ARSLAN BACK JUNE 4
19/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/01/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
29/12/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/12/2015 - THE TEPER CASE
18/12/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/12/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
24/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
12/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
28/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/08/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/08/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/08/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
31/07/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/07/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/07/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
28/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
22/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
05/06/2015 - THE REAL ROCKYS
01/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/05/2015 - IL FIGHTER D'ITALIA
04/05/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
29/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
16/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
01/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/01/2015 - MARSILI vs TATLI?
15/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/01/2015 - 2014 WBF AWARDS
11/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/01/2015 - SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
22/12/2014 - FRITZ SDUNEK PASSES
15/12/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/12/2014 - GERMAN NEWS
01/12/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/11/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/11/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/11/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
28/10/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/08/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/08/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/08/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/07/2014 - YANCHY vs SATCHELL
22/07/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/07/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
22/06/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/06/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/06/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
29/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
31/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
24/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/01/2014 - SPANISH NEWS
28/01/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/01/2014 - GYULA TOROK PASSES
12/01/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/01/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/12/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/12/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
12/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
22/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
16/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/09/2013 - MARCO HUCK INJURED
06/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/08/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/07/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/07/2013 - VARON STOPPED
10/07/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/07/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/06/2013 - CARAMELITO NEWS
21/06/2013 - PULEV vs DIMITRENKO
18/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/06/2013 - HOT ITALIAN SUMMER
10/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/05/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
12/05/2013 - NSUBUGA PASSES
12/05/2013 - MAGNUSSEN PASSES
07/05/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/04/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/04/2013 - OPI 2000 NEWS
08/04/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/03/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/03/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/02/2013 - BEDAK RETURNS
27/01/2013 - KASPERSKI RETIRES
26/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
01/01/2013 - HAPPY NEW YEAR
26/12/2012 - CHARR DEFEATS AIRIC
25/12/2012 - HAPPY HOLIDAYS
22/12/2012 - GROVES vs NDIAYE
16/11/2012 - RUMBLE OF THE KINGS
12/11/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
31/10/2012 - HASKINS vs JAMOYE
23/10/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/10/2012 - ROSSITTO vs BACURIN
11/10/2012 - SES SHOW NOV 16
11/10/2012 - BOYTSOV ILL
08/10/2012 - ABRAHAM vs BOUADLA
28/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/09/2012 - RABCHENKO vs VITU
24/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/09/2012 - SANTOS vs NADER
10/09/2012 - FIGHT 4 PEACE
06/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/09/2012 - RESULTS FROM YSTAD
26/08/2012 - KESSLER vs ABRAHAM?
21/08/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/08/2012 - HAAPOJA vs VERSACI
10/08/2012 - PARODI vs OBA
07/08/2012 - PIANTEA vs BOTHA
03/08/2012 - ZAVECK INJURED
30/07/2012 - WBC WEEKEND SUMMARY
26/07/2012 - ABOUT UNIVERSUM
17/07/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/07/2012 - BETTINI PASSES