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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This article originally appeared on dmboxing.com on August 6, 2013
By Steve Corbo
In December, 2012 I lost a good friend, Johnny Lira, to liver disease. He campaigned as a lightweight back in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. At one time he was the WBA’s #1 rated lightweight in the world. He also won the USBA lightweight title in spectacular fashion when he knocked out the undefeated Andy Ganigan. Nicknamed the “Hawaiian Punch”, Ganigan had a record of 25 – 0, with 23 wins by KO and he was looking to keep busy, while waiting for a shot at then champion, Roberto Duran. Johnny seemed a safe enough tune-up, he was only 14-0-1 with 8 wins by KO. The smart guys figured he’d go a few rounds, give Ganigan a little work and in short order become KO victim number 24. But the smart guys never could get a handle on the tough kid from Grand Avenue on the west side of Chicago.
Lira got his shot at a world championship in front of a home town crowd, when he took on WBA Lightweight Champion Ernesto Espana in 1979. The fight was televised on the old ABC Wide World of Sports with Howard Cosell calling the action. What a fight it was! Cosell called it even after five. Lira knocked down the champ in the seventh and it looked like he was going to put him away. But Espana fought back hard. That’s what champions do! Lira was dropped near the end of the 8th, then suffered a severely lacerated right eye and picked up a broken jaw. The ringside doctor stopped the fight after the ninth round.
There were more ring wars to come. After Espana, Lira’s career included losses to Willie “Fireball” Rodriguez, Howard Davis, Jr. and Alfredo Escalera . There were also wins over rugged Bobby Plegge, Al Ford and Sammy Matos! Lira finally hung up the gloves in 1984 with a record of 29-6-1 with 15 wins by KO.
L to R: John Trombino, Steve Corbo, Lenny LaPaglia, John Nocita
I am now sad to report the loss of another friend and Chicago fighter, Lenny LaPaglia. He passed away at home, on July 06, 2013. Like Lira, Lenny was also a westsider, from Melrose Park. Lenny had a pro career that spanned 15 years. His record stood at 36-9 with 33 wins by KO. He was the Illinois State Light Heavyweight Champion and the first IBO World Champion, when he was crowned IBO Light heavyweight Champ in 1993. He also fought and lost to Tommy Hearns for the WBU Cruiserweight Title
But if you are from Chicago, Lenny will forever be linked with fellow Chicagoan, John Collins and their war for the Illinois State Middleweight Title. This was one of the last great, probablythelast great, fights held in Chicago. The bout took place March 20, 1983. Collins was a Southside Irish American, the son of a Chicago Police Lieutenant. He had a record of 26-0 with 24 wins by KO. LaPaglia was a Westside Italian American, with a record of 19-0 with 18 wins by KO. Los Angeles may have had Danny “Little Red” Lopez vs. “School Boy” Bobby Chacon, but Chicago had LaPaglia vs. Collins!
