1. Stefano "Tami" Mauriello was an American professional boxer and actor of Italian descent who was world ranked in two divisions during the 1940s.
27 Facts About Tami Mauriello
1. 2.
Tami Mauriello thrice challenged for world titles, fighting Gus Lesnevich and Joe Louis for the world's Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight titles, respectively.
3.
Tami Mauriello went undefeated in his first 24 fights, with 15 knockout wins.
4.
Tami Mauriello lost his condition as an undefeated prospect when he faced future NYSAC world Middleweight champion Billy Soose, who himself had come off a close split decision victory over Ken Overlin and a unanimous decision victory against Tony Zale.
5.
Tami Mauriello-Soose took place on January 3,1941, at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
6.
The event marked the third time that Tami Mauriello boxed as a professional in the arena.
7.
Tami Mauriello proceeded by taking on tough Bill McDowell barely 5 weeks after the defeat to Soose, on February 11,1941, at the New York Coliseum in the Bronx.
8.
Two fights later, Tami Mauriello fought young veteran Steve Belloise on March 14,1941.
9.
Tami Mauriello knocked Belloise out at 2:59 of the first round.
10.
Tami Mauriello then fought Gus Lesnevich, who was the National Boxing Association's Light-Heavyweight champion of the world, for the NBA's and the vacant NYSAC's version of the championship.
11.
Tami Mauriello dropped Turner twice before the fight was stopped in the first round.
12.
Tami Mauriello proceeded that by beating Gunnar Barlund, by a knockout in 8, and the very experienced Buddy Knox, by a technical knockout when Knox could not come out of his corner to fight round 2.
13.
Once again, Tami Mauriello survived an early knockdown against Bivins, this time in the second round.
14.
Six months later, Tami Mauriello knocked out Gunnar Barlund in eight rounds in a rematch.
15.
Tami Mauriello recovered and gave Baksi a serious test the rest of the way, but Baksi prevailed by a ten-round unanimous decision.
16.
Tami Mauriello then fought the famous British fighter, Bruce Woodcock, May 17,1946 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
17.
In front of 14,000 fans, Tami Mauriello stopped Woodcock in round five, earning his third world title shot and first shot at the world's Heavyweight title.
18.
On September 18,1946, Tami Mauriello received his third world championship shot, and his first try at the world Heavyweight title, when he met Joe Louis at the Bronx's Yankee Stadium.
19.
Tami Mauriello failed to beat the count after the second knockdown.
20.
Tami Mauriello caused controversy after the fight when he told a reporter on live radio, "I guess I'm just an unlucky son of a bitch".
21.
Tami Mauriello then fought Jimmy O'Brien January 8,1947 in Chicago, scoring a first-round knockout.
22.
Angry at the bout's stoppage, Tami Mauriello hit one of the ringside officials and was suspended for his actions.
23.
Tami Mauriello defeated Dominic by a sixth-round knockout after downing him four times during the course of this fight.
24.
In what would turn out to be his final victory as a professional boxer, Tami Mauriello took Jacobs out in round eight.
25.
Tami Mauriello finished his career with 82 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw in 96 professional boxing matches, with 60 wins coming by knockout and 4 losses by knockout.
26.
Tami Mauriello later went into wrestling, working in New York and New Jersey.
27.
Tami Mauriello acted in the boxing-themed film On the Waterfront in 1954, playing "Tillio".