Carmen Basilio
Carmine "Carmen" Basilio ( born April 2, 1927 in Canastota, New York, † November 7, 2012 in Rochester, New York ) was an American boxer.
Life
The son of an onion farmer with Italian roots in 1948 pro. In 1952, he boxed a draw against the undefeated Chuck Davey and lost once. Against Billy Graham was defeated. Nevertheless, he was known by these struggles. Very popular was his style: Attack boxes with good impact strength, superior taker skills and defensive weaknesses, which is almost always guaranteed action-packed fights. In 1953, he beat the lightweight Ike Williams, in two other battles against Graham get him a point win and a draw.
On September 18, 1953, he boxed for the first time to the world welterweight championship, but lost to the defending champion Kid Gavilan of Cuba on points, although he was able to achieve a low blow to the known good borrower in the second round.
In January 1955, he defeated the German Peter Müller. His second shot at the title Basilio received on 10 June 1955 He also met his Italian-American arch-rivals and reigning world champion Tony DeMarco. The defending champions dominated initially, although the events, then Basilio came on, however, and was able to win in the twelfth round by KO. He also won the rematch, then lost the title but in March 1956 by a point defeat to Johnny Saxton. Again, a direct rematch was scheduled, Basilio, as well as the subsequent third duel, won prematurely.
In 1956 he laid the tracks down voluntarily to weiterzuboxen at middleweight. On September 23, 1957, he asked the 38 -year-old Sugar Ray Robinson out and also won in this weight class the World Cup, but lost the title already in the rematch back to Robinson.
1959 and 1960 he was defeated twice prematurely against Gene Fullmer. After one defeat against Paul Pender he eventually ended his career in 1961. Then Basilio worked 25 years as a physical education teacher at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.
Basilio died on 7 November 2012 at the age of 85 years. He left behind his wife, four children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
The later world champion Billy Backus was Basilio's nephew. Ed Brophy founded the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, in order to specifically assess the boxers born there Basilio and Backus.