1. 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.
29 Facts About Carmen Basilio
1. 2.
Carmen Basilio holds the distinction of being in The Ring magazine's Fight of the Year in five consecutive years, a feat unmatched by any other boxer.
3.
In 2002, Carmen Basilio was voted by The Ring magazine as the 40th greatest fighter of the last 80 years.
4.
Carmen Basilio was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.
5.
Carmen Basilio began his professional boxing career by facing Jimmy Evans on November 24,1948, in Binghamton, New York.
6.
Carmen Basilio knocked Evans out in the third round, and five days later he beat Bruce Walters in only one round.
7.
Carmen Basilio started 1949 with two draws, against Johnny Cunningham on January 5 and against Jay Perlin 20 days later.
8.
Carmen Basilio fought Cunningham three more times during that period.
9.
Carmen Basilio won by knockout in two rounds on their second meeting, Cunningham won by a decision in eight in their third fight, and Carmen Basilio won by a decision in eight in their fourth.
10.
For fight number 25, Carmen 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.
11.
Carmen Basilio boxed Guillermo Giminez there twice, first beating him by knockout in eight and then by knockout in nine.
12.
Carmen Basilio beat Jimmy Cousins among others that year, but he lost to Chuck Davey and Billy Graham.
13.
Carmen Basilio started winning big fights and rose in the welterweight division rankings.
14.
Carmen Basilio secured his first world title fight, against Cuba's Kid Gavilan for Gavilan's world welterweight championship.
15.
Carmen Basilio lost a 15-round decision to Gavilan and went for a fourth meeting with Cunningham, this time winning by a knockout in four.
16.
In 1955, Carmen Basilio began by beating Peter Muller by decision.
17.
Carmen Basilio became world champion by knocking out DeMarco in the 12th round.
18.
In 1957 Carmen Basilio won the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year.
19.
Carmen Basilio's fight with Pender for the title was his last fight as a professional boxer.
20.
In 1960, Carmen 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.
21.
Carmen 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.
22.
Carmen Basilio called for a house cleaning of professional boxing.
23.
Carmen Basilio's 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.
24.
Carmen Basilio retired with a ring record of 56 wins, 16 losses and 7 draws, with 27 wins by knockout.
25.
Carmen Basilio, who was a member of the United States Marine Corps at one point in his life, was able to enjoy his retirement.
26.
Carmen Basilio was associated with a sausage company, frequently confused with a separate sausage company run by his brother Paul, for which he was a salesman.
27.
Carmen Basilio was interviewed for an HBO documentary on Sugar Ray Robinson called "The Bright Lights and Dark Shadows of a Champion".
28.
Carmen Basilio mentioned that although he respected Robinson's talents in the ring, he did not like him as a person.
29.
Carmen Basilio died aged 85 in 2012, and is survived by his wife Josephine Basilio.