Carmen Basilio dead at 85
 

Heard a lot of stories about what a great action fighter he was from the kind of old people you find around betting parlors and racetracks.

Onion farmer from Central New York, he was involved in the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for a record 5 straight years from 1955 to 1959. In 1957, when he took the title away from Sugar Ray Robinson, he was voted the nations outstanding athlete among all sports.


I think Chris Christie is the ref in this picture:

Out of the onion fields of Canastota.. Had the real pleasure and thrill of getting to know him when I was writing for the Oneida Daily Dispatch. A great fighter and an amazing guy. RIP.

Watch a number of his fights here: http://sweetboxingvideos.wordpress.c...armen-basilio/

NYT Obit: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/sp...t-85.html?_r=0

Tribute by Lou Eisen: http://fightnetwork.com/news/34578:t...armen-basilio/

In a sport made for tough guys, he was among the very toughest.I remember my Father really liked him as a fighter.




Oddly enough.... when I was writing for Ring Magazine , I had him stop in my office to help me prepare a story about his career.He was retired for about 6 years.Good guy, but we had a difference of opinion about a certain fight and he got shirty with me.I beat the fucl< out of him.I promised I would never tell anyone and he thanked me.

That story spring boarded my career into inventing the vegetable....broccoli.

:tro:

Stevie,what can I say?


The Good Lord knows you've always been there for me.....somewhere.

I will cherish this trophy forever.



It will take its rightful place right next to the trophy for winning the the second Clydevivor contest .....that I never received.I guess, then, in reality it will have it's own special place, all by itself.

your TPS Reports are also very good :tro:

Just a real tough fighter. May he R.I.P...