Category Archives: Steve Corbo

A Great Fight … A Great Event

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Middleweights, Steve Corbo, Video

***** FLASHBACK *****

This article was originally published on www.dmboxing – March 14, 2018

By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

I have enjoyed boxing for almost 60 years and I always enjoy a good fight.  Recently, I watched the video of a bout that took place a few years ago.  Felix Strum defended his WBA Super World Middleweight Title against Martin Murray.  The fight took place in Mannheim, Germany on December 2, 2011.  The ring announcer was Steve Corbo from Chicago, who did an outstanding job.  Hall of Fame referee Stanley Christodoulou was the third man in the ring. 

This is as fine an exhibition of the sweet science as you will ever see.  The fight was televised throughout the world, but it has never been televised in the USA.  Please Note: due to programming, there is no sound for 67 seconds during the playing of the German National Anthem.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy – click on the following link to watch a video of the bout.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ff9lEl6AF8w%3Ffeature%3Doembed

The Airborne Champion

Guest Post, History, Middleweights, Steve Corbo

By Steve Corbo

The young kid pictured above lied about his age to get into the military at the end of WW II. He used the birth certificate of a friend’s cousin to fool the recruiters and at the age of 16, entered the Army under a name other than his own. Born Carmine Orlando Tilelli, he would become known to the world as Joey Giardello.

He became a paratrooper. And although he entered the service too late to see combat in WW II, he served with the elite 82nd Airborne Division. Discharged from the Army in 1948, he kept his assumed name, and this super tough 18-year-old turned pro, launching a ring career which would span 19 years.

A master boxer known for his ability to take a punch, he “fought ‘em all”, racking up wins against some of the top contenders of the day including Ralph Tiger Jones, Bobby Boyd, Al Andrews, Holly Mims, and Del Flannigan. He even beat a past-his-prime Sugar Ray Robinson in a ten-round decision.  His majority decision win over contender Henry Hank was voted by Ring Magazine as “The Fight of The Year”! In what has been described as a foul-filled street fight, he got a shot at Middleweight Champ Gene Fullmer. With the World Championship on the line, they battled for 15 rounds to a split draw. 

Finally, after toiling in the game for 15 years, he climbed to the top of the mountain beating Dick Tiger on December 07, 1963, in Atlantic City, to capture the WBC Middleweight Championship of the World.

Continue reading The Airborne Champion →

USC Boxing: Bringing A Whole New Dimension To The Words “Fight On”

Boxing Events, DMBoxing News, FLASHBACK, Steve Corbo

***** FLASHBACK *****

This article feature was originally published for viewing on www.dmboxing.com courtesy of Steve Corbo from Chicago, on November 14, 2023

On Thursday November 9th boxers from the University of Southern California blew into the Windy City to compete in an Intercollegiate Boxing Show, featuring five Universities. The event was sanctioned and approved by USA Boxing and The United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association. That’s right… Trojan Boxers! Along with all its other fabled sports, boxing is alive and well at USC.

Front Row Left to Right: YC, Noah “Sting” Ng, Parker Chang, Jade Brewer

Back Row Left to Right: Coach Cesar Lopez, Assistant Coach Brian Robillard, Ring Announcer and USC Alumnus Steve Corbo, Head Coach Omar Lopez and Patrick Carbone

Together with boxers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Xavier University in Cincinnati, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, four USC fighters stepped into the ring to compete against some of the best collegiate boxers in the Midwest. The event took place at the magnificent Union League Club in the heart of downtown Chicago. Initially, it was hard to find anybody cheering for Cardinal and Gold. But fighting in this environment only seemed to motivate the Trojans on to victory.

First to fight for USC was Patrick Carbone. He took on Kobe Rogers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Being amateur boxing, all the bouts were scheduled for three rounds of action, with this one being in the 176-pound weight division. Carbone used his superior reach and height to dominate a very tough Rogers, who threw everything he had and never quit trying to find the key to get to Carbone. In the end it was Carbone who won on every judge’s scorecard to take home a unanimous decision victory.

Continue reading USC Boxing: Bringing A Whole New Dimension To The Words “Fight On” →

Night at the Movies

FLASHBACK, Middleweights, Movies, Steve Corbo

FLASHBACK / This article originally was published on dmboxing website April 4, 2022

This previously published movie review appears courtesy of the Author and the Italian American Veterans Museum – iavmuseum.org – for viewing on www.dmboxing.com

By Steve Corbo

“Somebody Up There Likes Me”

This 1956 movie, directed by Robert Wise, is based on the autobiography by boxer Rocky Graziano . Starring Paul Newman as Rocky and Pier Angeli as his wife, it also features appearances by Sal Mineo and Steve McQueen.

Raised on New York’s Lower East Side, Rocky was a gang member and criminal by his early teens . As a child, his father made him fight for the entertainment of adults in the neighborhood. He soon developed a talent for knocking down anybody that stood in his way . In and out of reform schools, Rocky was on a fast track to the graveyard or the penitentiary. If you thought his stint in the Army might straighten him out, think again .

Despite his lengthy criminal record, he was drafted during WW II. The Army didn’t have a chance. He refused to train, was constantly in trouble and when push came to shove, he shoved back hard . He crossed the line when he beat up his commanding officer. Now in serious trouble, Rocky went AWOL back to the streets of New York. Hiding out and wanted by the authorities, he wandered into Stillman’s Gym hoping to make a couple of bucks as a sparring partner. As he prepared to climb into the ring to face a pro fighter, he’s told to make sure he has the protective cup all boxers wear. Unfamiliar with the world of pro boxing, Rocky replies, “I don’t need no cup, I’ll drink out of the bottle.”  He then proceeds to knock the other fighter out with his sledgehammer right hand.

Continue reading Night at the Movies →

Boxing Nicknames

dmboxing.com, Guest Post, Steve Corbo

By Steve Corbo

(Part #1 of 2)

Three groups of people, seem to come by nicknames naturally. First, the kids from my old neighborhood. Second, gangsters. And third, the group with the most colorful nicknames of all, professional boxers! 

I started to list my ten favorite boxer nicknames. That list quickly grew to 15, then 20, and then I couldn’t stop. I finally called a halt at 150. As with the kids in my neighborhood, some fighters become so identified by their nicknames… we forget their real names. Case in point, Canelo! I’ve run into many a fight fan who when asked what they think of Saul Alvarez, say “Who’s he?”

Test your knowledge and see how many nicknames you can match with the boxer’s real name. This list is certainly not complete, I actually came up with more than 150 but had to draw the line somewhere! There is no preference in ranking or order. They are simply at random as they came to me when putting this together. The numbers are there only as a point of reference. Comment about fighters, and their nicknames, not on this list. Or ask questions about those who are! I welcome your feedback. 

Continue reading Boxing Nicknames →

USC Boxing: Bringing A Whole New Dimension To The Words “Fight On”

Boxing Events, DMBoxing News, dmboxing.com, Steve Corbo

On Thursday November 9th boxers from the University of Southern California blew into the Windy City to compete in an Intercollegiate Boxing Show, featuring five Universities. The event was sanctioned and approved by USA Boxing and The United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association. That’s right… Trojan Boxers! Along with all its other fabled sports, boxing is alive and well at USC.

Front Row Left to Right: YC, Noah “Sting” Ng, Parker Chang, Jade Brewer

Back Row Left to Right: Coach Cesar Lopez, Assistant Coach Brian Robillard, Ring Announcer and USC Alumnus Steve Corbo, Head Coach Omar Lopez and Patrick Carbone

Together with boxers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Xavier University in Cincinnati, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, four USC fighters stepped into the ring to compete against some of the best collegiate boxers in the Midwest. The event took place at the magnificent Union League Club in the heart of downtown Chicago. Initially, it was hard to find anybody cheering for Cardinal and Gold. But fighting in this environment only seemed to motivate the Trojans on to victory.

First to fight for USC was Patrick Carbone. He took on Kobe Rogers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Being amateur boxing, all the bouts were scheduled for three rounds of action, with this one being in the 176-pound weight division. Carbone used his superior reach and height to dominate a very tough Rogers, who threw everything he had and never quit trying to find the key to get to Carbone. In the end it was Carbone who won on every judge’s scorecard to take home a unanimous decision victory.

Continue reading USC Boxing: Bringing A Whole New Dimension To The Words “Fight On” →

West Coast Fighters Bring Heat To The Windy City

FLASHBACK, Guest Post, Steve Corbo, Upcoming Fights

FLASHBACK *** This article was originally published on April 6, 2014 on dmboxing.com

Left to Right: Roger Romo, James Dominguez, Steve Corbo, Mike Gavronski, John Nocita

By Steve Corbo

Veterans Park District’s Leyden Boxing Gym in suburban Chicago was the scene of some hot and heavy action last week as a couple of undefeated fighters from the West Coast got in some work with a spirited sparring session.

Roger Romo from Oxnard, California brought his professional record of 5-0-3, and a wealth of experience, into the gym to work with Tacoma, Washington’s Mike Gavronski, who sports a professional record of 13-0-1. In addition to having worked with the likes of Sergio Martinez and Kelly Pavlik, Romo has grown up in boxing as the younger brother of two time world champion Fernando Vargas.

Gavronski will be in action April 14, in Chicago, on a show televised by Fox Sports Monday Night Boxing. With 10 of his 13 wins by knockout, he is quickly becoming a fan favorite who hopes to crack into the middleweight division’s top ten rankings sometime within the next year. Sportswriters, from the Seattle – Tacoma, area, voted him the Northwest Region’s Fighter of the Year for 2013. And, he just returned from San Diego where he got in some more good ring work with Andre Dirrell and Mike Lee.

Continue reading West Coast Fighters Bring Heat To The Windy City →

Gina Rodriguez is a Winner!

FLASHBACK, Guest Post, Steve Corbo

FLASHBACK ***** This article was originally published on www.dmboxing on February 7, 2015

By Steve Corbo

She has been called “This Television Season’s It Girl”. She just won a Golden Globe Award for “Best Actress In A Television Series Musical Or Comedy”. She just had a full page picture of her, with her Golden Globe and that winning smile splashed across the pages of  People  Magazine! She’ll be on the cover of the March 2015 issue of Latina Magazine. Gina Rodriguez seems to be everywhere, riding high on a wave of success based on her portrayal of Jane Villanueva in the hit TV series “Jane The Virgin”. And quite frankly… it couldn’t happen to a nicer person! She’s bright, articulate, she hasn’t forgotten her roots and she’s a role model.  

Now here is the tie into boxing… if her name sounds familiar it is because her father is Chicago referee “Geno” Rodriguez. Boxing fans have seen Geno in the ring refereeing some of the game’s top fighters. Most recently he was in China refereeing the Manny Pacquiao – Chris Algieri bout. He also did Pacquiao – Brandon Rios. And over the years fight fans have seen him refereeing bouts with Wladimar & Vitali Klitschko, Joe Calzaghe, Nigel Benn, Hector Comacho and dozens of other champions and top contenders.

Continue reading Gina Rodriguez is a Winner! →

Night at the Movies

DMBoxing News, Middleweights, Movies, Steve Corbo

This previously published movie review appears courtesy of the Author and the Italian American Veterans Museum – iavmuseum.org

By Steve Corbo

“Somebody Up There Likes Me”

This 1956 movie, directed by Robert Wise, is based on the autobiography by boxer Rocky Graziano. Starring Paul Newman as Rocky and Pier Angeli as his wife, it also features appearances by Sal Mineo and Steve McQueen.

Raised on New York’s Lower East Side, Rocky was a gang member and criminal by his early teens. As a child, his father made him fight for the entertainment of adults in the neighborhood. He soon developed a talent for knocking down anybody that stood in his way. In and out of reform schools, Rocky was on a fast track to the graveyard or the penitentiary. If you thought his stint in the Army might straighten him out, think again.

Despite his lengthy criminal record, he was drafted during WW II. The Army didn’t have a chance. He refused to train, was constantly in trouble and when push came to shove, he shoved back hard. He crossed the line when he beat up his commanding officer. Now in serious trouble, Rocky went AWOL back to the streets of New York. Hiding out and wanted by the authorities, he wandered into Stillman’s Gym hoping to make a couple of bucks as a sparring partner. As he prepared to climb into the ring to face a pro fighter, he’s told to make sure he has the protective cup all boxers wear. Unfamiliar with the world of pro boxing, Rocky replies, “I don’t need no cup, I’ll drink out of the bottle.”  He then proceeds to knock the other fighter out with his sledgehammer right hand.

Continue reading Night at the Movies →