Philly Boxing History

MARCH 25, 1963

Joey Giardello was getting close - close to another shot at the middleweight title. At 33 years old and more than 100 bouts on his record, Giardello won a 10-round unanimous decision over Ernie Burford, on this day in 1963. The win moved Joey one step closer to his goal, although at the time it seemed like a championship bout would never materialize.

Against Burford, Giardello put on a clinic. He was in shape and it showed. Joey punched his way to victory with well-timed shots that piled up points and kept his dangerous foe at a distance for all ten rounds. Burford had KO'd Jesse Smith his last time out, but against Giardello he only caught air with his punches. The 33 year old Giardello used all the tricks in his bag to take the unanimous decision in this his 123rd bout. His vast edge in experience helped him to out-smart his foe over the course of the fight.

After this fight, Joey waited for his title opportunity, but found he had one more obstacle between him and the belt. Three months later Joey would face the great-but-by-then-faded Sugar Ray Robinson. After beating the legend by decision, it was onto Atlantic City for another battle with old rival Dick Tiger. That bout, their 3rd, was for the world middleweight crown, and Joey finally brought home the title after all those years of waiting.

  1940 - Gus Dorazio W10 Al McCoy at the Arena in West Philly

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