Philly Boxing History

FEBRUARY 12, 1958

GIARDELLO BEATS SZUZINA AT ARENA

Joey Giardello beat Franz Szuzina on points at the Philadelphia Arena on this day in 1958. The 10-round victory was Joey's fifteenth in a row and upped his record to 78-13-5 with 1 ND. This was Giardello's second win over the German middleweight. He would beat him one more time later the same year. 

For Giardello, his long wait for a middleweight title shot would continue for two more years. In 1960, he received a crack at Gene Fullmer, but came away with a dissatisfying and controversial 15-round draw. 

Finally in 1963, Joey's moment would come in a bout with old rival Dick Tiger. Giardello won the World Middleweight Title by decision. 

At the end of his illustrious career, Giardello's overall record was 101-25-7-1 NC (33KO).

  1958 - Len Matthews KO4 Norman Young at the Arena in West Philly