Carmen Basilio

Carmen Basilio
Basilio after defending the world title in 1955
Born	(1927-04-02)April 2, 1927 Canastota, New York, U.S.
Died	November 7, 2012(2012-11-07) (aged 85) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Other names	The Upstate Onion Farmer
Statistics
Weight(s)	Welterweight Middleweight
Height	5 ft 6+1⁄2 in (169 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	79
Wins	56
Wins by KO	27
Losses	16
Draws	7

Carmen Basilio (born Carmine Basilio, April 2, 1927 – November 7, 2012) was an American professional boxer who was the world champion in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions, beating Sugar Ray Robinson for the latter title. An iron-chinned pressure fighter, Basilio was a combination puncher who had great stamina and eventually wore many of his opponents down with vicious attacks to the head and body.

In 1957, The Ring magazine named Basilio Fighter of the Year and he won the Hickok Belt, a trophy that was awarded to the top professional athlete of the year. The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1955 and 1957. Basilio also holds the distinction of being in The Ring magazine's Fight of the Year in five consecutive years (1955–59), a feat unmatched by any other boxer.

In 2002, Basilio was voted by The Ring magazine as the 40th greatest fighter of the last 80 years. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.

Boxing career

Journeyman

Basilio began his professional boxing career by facing Jimmy Evans on November 24, 1948, in Binghamton, New York. He knocked Evans out in the third round, and five days later he beat Bruce Walters in only one round. By the end of 1948, he had completed four bouts.

He started 1949 with two draws, against Johnny Cunningham on January 5 and against Jay Perlin 20 days later. Basilio campaigned exclusively inside the state of New York during his first 24 bouts, going 19-3-2 during that span. His first loss was at the hands of Connie Thies, who beat him in a six-round decision on 2 May 1949. He fought Cunningham three more times during that period. Basilio won by knockout in two rounds on their second meeting, Cunningham won by a decision in eight in their third fight, and Basilio won by a decision in eight in their fourth.

In the middle of that 24-bout span, 1950 rolled over and Basilio met former world champion Lew Jenkins, winning a 10-round decision.

For fight number 25, Basilio decided that it was time to campaign outside of New York state, so he went to New Orleans, where he boxed his next six fights. In his first bout there, he met Gaby Ferland, who held him to a draw. He and Ferland later had a rematch, Basilio winning by a knockout in the first round. He also boxed Guillermo Giminez there twice, first beating him by knockout in eight and then by knockout in nine. In his last fight before returning home, he lost by a decision in 10 to Eddie Giosa.

For his next seven bouts, Basilio only went 3–3–1, but he was able to avenge his loss to Giosa by winning a ten-round decision over him in Syracuse.

In 1952, Basilio went 6–2–1. He beat Jimmy Cousins among others that year, but he lost to Chuck Davey and Billy Graham. The draw he registered that year was against Davey in the first of the two meetings that year.

Rise in the ranks

In 1953. Basilio started winning big fights and rose in the welterweight division rankings. He secured his first world title fight, against Cuba's Kid Gavilán for Gavilán's world welterweight championship.

Before fighting against Gavilan, he beat former world lightweight champion Ike Williams and had two more fights with Graham, avenging his earlier loss to Graham in the second bout between them with a 12-round decision win and drawing in the third. Basilio lost a 15-round decision to Gavilan and went for a fourth meeting with Cunningham, this time winning by a knockout in four. Then he and French fighter Pierre Langois began another rivalry with a 10-round draw in the first bout between the two.

In 1954, Basilio went undefeated in eight bouts, going 7-0-1 with 2 knockouts and defeating Langois in their rematch by decision.

World Champion

In 1955, Basilio began by beating Peter Müller by decision. After that, Basilio was once again the number one challenger, and on June 10 of that year he received his second world title try, against world welterweight champion Tony DeMarco. Basilio became world champion by knocking out DeMarco in the 12th round.

After winning the title, Basilio had two non-title bouts, including a ten-round decision win over Gil Turner, before he and DeMarco met again, this time with Basilio as the defending world champion. Their second fight had exactly the same result as their first bout: Basilio won by a knockout in 12.

For his next fight, in 1956, Basilio lost the title in Chicago to Johnny Saxton by a decision in 15. Saxton's manager, mafioso Frank "Blinky" Palermo", was later jailed along with his partner Frankie Carbo for fixing fights. Basilio said of losing his title to the referees' decision: "It was like being robbed in a dark alley." In an immediate rematch that was fought in Syracuse, Basilio regained the crown with a nine-round knockout, and then, in a rubber match, Basilio kept the belt with a knockout in two.

After that, he went up in weight and challenged ageing 36- year-old world middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson, in what may have been his most famous fight. He won the middleweight championship of the world by beating Robinson in a 15-round split decision on September 23, 1957. The day after, he had to abandon the welterweight belt, in accordance with boxing's then rules. In 1957 Basilio won the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year.

Decline

Basilio against Robinson in 1958

Basilio testifies to U.S. Senate about mafia in 1960

In 1958, he and Robinson met in a rematch on March 25 and Robinson barely regained the title with a controversial 15-round split decision. The judges scored 71 to 64,5 and 72 to 64 Robinson while the referee scores 66 to 69 Basilio. Although Basilio's left eye was totally swollen shut from the 6th round on, many of the ringside press thought Basilio won the fight.

From that moment, and until his retirement in 1961, he fought only sporadically, but three of his last fights were attempts to recover the world middleweight title, losing twice to Gene Fullmer: by a TKO in 14 at San Francisco and by a TKO in 12 in Fullmer's home state of Utah (in Salt Lake City), and also later, when he lost a 10-round decision to defending world champion Paul Pender.

In between those fights, he was able to beat Art Aragon, by knockout in eight and former world welterweight champion Don Jordan by decision in ten. His fight with Pender for the title was also his last fight as a professional boxer.

Senate Testimony

In 1960, Basilio testified before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust and the Monopoly during its investigation of the International Boxing Club of New York and the influence of organized crime on boxing. Basilio told the Subcommittee about Frankie Carbo and Frank "Blinky" Palmero and Carbo's aide, Gabriel Genovese, a cousin of Mafia Don Vito Genovese who was convicted in 1959 of being an unlicensed boxing manager. He called for a house cleaning of professional boxing. His testimony revealed that his former managers had to pay off organized crime for his title shots and that he essentially had a behind the scenes manager in Genovese.

Evidence submitted to the subcommittee showed that Basilio's on-the-record managers, John DeJohn and Joseph Netro, paid Carbo frontman Gabriel Genovese $39,334.41 and approximately $25,000, respectively, during the time Basilio fought for and defended his welterweight and middleweight titles.

Record

Carmen Basilio retired with a ring record of 56 wins, 16 losses and 7 draws, with 27 wins by knockout.

Post-boxing life

After his retirement, Basilio worked for a time at the Genesee Brewery in Rochester, NY. Later Carmen, a high-school dropout, taught physical education at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. Basilio, who was also a member of the United States Marine Corps at one point in his life, was able to enjoy his retirement. Carmen was associated with a sausage company, frequently confused with a separate sausage company run by his brother Paul, for which he was a salesman.

During the 1970s, his nephew Billy Backus became world welterweight champion after having a shaky start to his own boxing career, and Basilio declared on the day that Backus became champion that, to him, Billy's winning the title was better than his winning it himself.

In 1990, Ed Brophy decided to build the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, to honor the two world champions who were born there: Basilio and his nephew. Although Backus isn't a member of the Hall of Fame, Basilio is, along with many of the fighters he met inside the ring.

In the late 1990s, Basilio became seriously ill, requiring triple bypass heart surgery. Doctors were able to repair his heart.

Basilio was interviewed for an HBO documentary on Sugar Ray Robinson called "The Bright Lights and Dark Shadows of a Champion". He mentioned that although he respected Robinson's talents in the ring, he did not like him as a person.

In 2010, "Title Town USA, Boxing in Upstate New York" by historian Mark Allen Baker was published by The History Press in 2010 and identifies Canastota as the epicenter of Upstate New York's rich boxing heritage. The book includes chapters on both Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus. The introduction was written by Edward P. Brophy Executive Director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He died aged 85 in 2012, and is survived by his wife Josephine Basilio.

Championships and accomplishments

• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Boxing Honoree (1994)

Professional boxing record

79 fights	56 wins	16 losses
By knockout	27	2
By decision	29	14
Draws	7

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
79	Loss	56–16–7	Paul Pender	UD	15	Apr 22, 1961	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.	For NYSAC and The Ring middleweight titles
78	Win	56–15–7	Don Jordan	UD	10	Mar 11, 1961	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
77	Win	55–15–7	Gaspar Ortega	UD	10	Jan 7, 1961	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
76	Loss	54–15–7	Gene Fullmer	TKO	12 (15)	Jun 29, 1960	Derks Field, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.	For NBA middleweight title
75	Loss	54–14–7	Gene Fullmer	TKO	14 (15)	Aug 28, 1959	Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.	For vacant NBA middleweight title
74	Win	54–13–7	Arley Seifer	TKO	3 (10)	Apr 1, 1959	Bell Auditorium, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
73	Win	53–13–7	Art Aragon	TKO	8 (10)	Sep 5, 1958	Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
72	Loss	52–13–7	Sugar Ray Robinson	SD	15	Mar 25, 1958	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Lost NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring middleweight titles
71	Win	52–12–7	Sugar Ray Robinson	SD	15	Sep 23, 1957	Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.	Won NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring middleweight titles
70	Win	51–12–7	Harold Jones	TKO	4 (10)	May 16, 1957	Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
69	Win	50–12–7	Johnny Saxton	TKO	2 (15)	Feb 22, 1957	Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.	Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles
68	Win	49–12–7	Johnny Saxton	TKO	9 (15)	Sep 12, 1956	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.	Won NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles
67	Loss	48–12–7	Johnny Saxton	UD	15	Mar 14, 1956	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Lost NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles
66	Win	48–11–7	Tony DeMarco	TKO	12 (15)	Nov 30, 1955	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.	Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles
65	Win	47–11–7	Gil Turner	MD	10	Sep 7, 1955	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
64	Win	46–11–7	Italo Scortichini	UD	10	Aug 10, 1955	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
63	Win	45–11–7	Tony DeMarco	TKO	12 (15)	Jun 10, 1955	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.	Won NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles
62	Win	44–11–7	Peter Müller	UD	10	Jan 21, 1955	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
61	Win	43–11–7	Ronnie Harper	RTD	3 (10)	Dec 16, 1954	Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
60	Win	42–11–7	Allie Gronik	UD	10	Oct 15, 1954	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
59	Win	41–11–7	Carmine Fiore	UD	10	Sep 10, 1954	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
58	Win	40–11–7	Ronnie Harper	TKO	2 (10)	Aug 17, 1954	Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
57	Win	39–11–7	Al Andrews	UD	10	Jun 26, 1954	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
56	Win	38–11–7	Italo Scortichini	UD	10	May 15, 1954	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
55	Win	37–11–7	Pierre Langlois	UD	10	Apr 17, 1954	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
54	Draw	36–11–7	Italo Scortichini	PTS	10	Jan 16, 1954	Dinner Key Auditorium, Coconut Grove, Florida, U.S.
53	Draw	36–11–6	Pierre Langlois	PTS	10	Dec 19, 1953	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
52	Win	36–11–5	Johnny Cunningham	KO	4 (10)	Nov 28, 1953	Civic Auditorium, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
51	Loss	35–11–5	Kid Gavilan	SD	15	Sep 18, 1953	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.	For NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles
50	Draw	35–10–5	Billy Graham	PTS	12	Jul 25, 1953	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.	Retained USA New York State welterweight title
49	Win	35–10–4	Billy Graham	UD	12	Jun 6, 1953	Memorial Stadium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.	Won inaugural USA New York State welterweight title
48	Win	34–10–4	Carmine Fiore	TKO	9 (10)	Apr 11, 1953	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
47	Win	33–10–4	Vic Cardell	UD	10	Feb 28, 1953	Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
46	Win	32–10–4	Ike Williams	UD	10	Jan 12, 1953	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
45	Win	31–10–4	Chuck Foster	TKO	5 (10)	Nov 18, 1952	Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
44	Win	30–10–4	Sammy Giuliani	KO	3 (10)	Oct 20, 1952	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
43	Win	29–10–4	Baby Williams	UD	10	Sep 22, 1952	Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
42	Loss	28–10–4	Billy Graham	UD	10	Aug 20, 1952	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
41	Loss	28–9–4	Chuck Davey	UD	10	Jul 16, 1952	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
40	Draw	28–8–4	Chuck Davey	PTS	10	May 29, 1952	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
39	Win	28–8–3	Jackie O'Brien	MD	10	Mar 31, 1952	South Main Street Armory, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
38	Win	27–8–3	Jimmy Cousins	UD	8	Feb 28, 1952	Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
37	Win	26–8–3	Emmett Norris	UD	10	Feb 4, 1952	South Main Street Armory, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
36	Loss	25–8–3	Ross Virgo	UD	10	Sep 26, 1951	Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
35	Win	25–7–3	Shamus McCray	PTS	8	Sep 17, 1951	War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
34	Loss	24–7–3	Johnny Cesario	UD	10	Jun 18, 1951	McConnell Field, Utica, New York, U.S.
33	Loss	24–6–3	Lester Felton	UD	10	May 29, 1951	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
32	Win	24–5–3	Eddie Giosa	UD	10	Apr 12, 1951	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
31	Win	23–5–3	Floro Hita	PTS	8	Mar 9, 1951	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
30	Loss	22–5–3	Vic Cardell	SD	10	Dec 15, 1950	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
29	Loss	22–4–3	Eddie Giosa	PTS	10	Aug 28, 1950	Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
28	Win	22–3–3	Guillermo Gimenez	RTD	8 (10)	Jul 31, 1950	Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
27	Win	21–3–3	Guillermo Gimenez	RTD	7 (10)	Jun 21, 1950	Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
26	Win	20–3–3	Gaby Ferland	KO	1 (10)	May 5, 1950	Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
25	Draw	19–3–3	Gaby Ferland	PTS	10	Apr 12, 1950	Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
24	Loss	19–3–2	Mike Koballa	UD	8	Mar 27, 1950	Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
23	Win	19–2–2	Lew Jenkins	MD	10	Mar 6, 1950	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
22	Win	18–2–2	Adrien Mourguiart	TKO	7 (10)	Feb 7, 1950	Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
21	Win	17–2–2	Cassell Tate	MD	8	Jan 24, 1950	Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
20	Win	16–2–2	Sonny Jim Hampton	UD	8	Jan 10, 1950	Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
19	Win	15–2–2	Johnny Parker	RTD	2 (8)	Sep 30, 1949	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
18	Win	14–2–2	Tony DiPelino	UD	8	Sep 7, 1949	Red Wing Stadium, Rochester, New York, U.S.
17	Win	13–2–2	Johnny Cunningham	PTS	8	Aug 17, 1949	MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
16	Loss	12–2–2	Johnny Cunningham	SD	8	Aug 2, 1949	Bennett's Field, Utica, New York, U.S.
15	Win	12–1–2	Sammy Daniels	UD	8	Jul 21, 1949	Bennett's Field, Utica, New York, U.S.
14	Win	11–1–2	Jesse Bradshaw	TKO	2 (6)	Jul 12, 1949	MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
13	Win	10–1–2	Johnny Cunningham	KO	2 (6)	Jun 7, 1949	MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
12	Win	9–1–2	Johnny Clemons	KO	3 (6)	May 18, 1949	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
11	Loss	8–1–2	Connie Thies	PTS	6	May 2, 1949	Sports Arena, Rochester, New York, U.S.
10	Win	8–0–2	Elliot Throop	KO	1 (6)	Apr 20, 1949	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
9	Win	7–0–2	Jerry Drain	TKO	3 (6)	Mar 18, 1949	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
8	Win	6–0–2	Luke Jordan	PTS	6	Feb 17, 1949	Sports Arena, Rochester, New York, U.S.
7	Win	5–0–2	Ernie Hall	KO	2 (6)	Jan 25, 1949	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
6	Draw	4–0–2	Jimmy Parlin	PTS	6	Jan 19, 1949	Kalurah Temple, Binghamton, New York, U.S.
5	Draw	4–0–1	Johnny Cunningham	PTS	6	Jan 5, 1949	Kalurah Temple, Binghamton, New York, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Rolly Johns	SD	6	Dec 15, 1948	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Eddie Thomas	KO	2 (6)	Dec 8, 1948	Kalurah Temple, Binghamton, New York, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Bruce Walters	KO	1 (4)	Nov 29, 1948	State Fair Coliseum, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Jimmy Evans	KO	3 (4)	Nov 24, 1948	Kalurah Temple, Binghamton, New York, U.S.

See also

• List of welterweight boxing champions
• List of middleweight boxing champions
• List of left-handed boxers

External links

• Boxing record for Carmen Basilio from BoxRec (registration required)

• Eastside Boxing
• Carmen Basilio's bio at the Internet Movie Database
• Carmen Basilio interviewed by Mike Wallace on The Mike Wallace Interview October 26, 1957
• N.Y. Times Obituary for Carmen Basilio
• Strange Days: The Johnny Saxton Story, The Cruelest Sport
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1953
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1955
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1956
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1957
• https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1958