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Philly Boxing History |
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JUNE 24, 1963 |
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GIARDELLO TOPS FADED LEGEND SUGAR RAY On this day in 1963, the very patient middleweight contender Joey Giardello cleared the final hurdle needed to finally gain his long-awaited shot at champion Dick Tiger. But Joey's assignment on this day was no ordinary hurdle. No! To earn his title shot, Giardello had to face ring legend Sugar Ray Robinson at Philly's Convention Hall. Although this was a high-mileage, 42 year old, Robinson, the 154-12-3 former champ was still a formidable - and popular - foe. At almost 33 years old, the 93-23-7 Giardello was no spring chicken himself. Added trouble for Joey was that the power brokers of the day really preferred to match Robinson in yet another title bout instead of Giardello. But Joey would not be denied - or disappointed - again. He controlled the 10-round match and won a comfortable points victory. Six months later, his title opportunity against Tiger finally came, and Joey became undisputed champion. Robinson fought on another two years going 19-6-3-1. |
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| OTHER FIGHT RESULTS ON THIS DATE: | ||||
| 1929 - Dick Welsh W8 Eddie Cool at Atlantic City | ||||
| 1946 - George LaRover KO7 Tommy Jessup at West Springfield Dog Track in Springfield, MA | ||||
| 1961 - Marcel Bizien W6 Vic Diamond II at Madison Square Garden in New York | ||||
| 1963 - Leotis Martin W6 Johnny Alford at Convention Hall in Philadelphia | ||||
| 1968 - Joe Frazier TKO2 Manuel Ramos at Madison Square Garden in New York | ||||
| 1982 - Robert 'Bam Bam' Hines KO1 William Hodge at Resorts International in Atlantic City | ||||
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