RIP Carmen Basilio

[elmersalsa]

On November 8th, 2012, I guess you all knew, that one of boxing's greatests warriors died at 85. Why nobody in the forum ever mentioned that? That was odd.

may you rest in peace and thank you for so many great memories in the history of the sport. Champs like these don't do them anymore.

I was glad to meet him in Atlanta, GA back in 1999. He was an old man with great humor. I was very glad to shake his hand. That made my day. I shook a hand of a boxing legend. He is to me, one of the top 50 greatest fighters of all-time pound per pound and would give any welterweight in history a great fight.

[misterpunch]

i wont comment on his standing in boxings ranks, thats for others to argue, but he was quite a guy and his mind was a sharp as a pin even at his age and through all the wars. great humour and a generous heart. his like will never come again

RIP Carmen

[HomicideHenry]

RIP Champion

I dont think he was an atg, I put him in the same class as Graziano, Gatti, Ward, etc. good fighters who were in epic wars, brutal contests, great fights.

[Controversial]

I dont think he was an atg

He beat some great fighters, albeit granted not all were at their bests. Wins over Ike Williams, Billy Graham, Sugar Ray Robinson, Tony DeMarco, Gil Turner, Johnny Saxton and Lew Jenkins plus he lost what some called a disputed SD to Kid Gavilan. There are some ATGs that didn't fight half as many great fighters than Basilio, let alone beat them.

[HomicideHenry]

I dont think he was an atg

He beat some great fighters, albeit granted not all were at their bests. Wins over Ike Williams, Billy Graham, Sugar Ray Robinson, Tony DeMarco, Gil Turner, Johnny Saxton and Lew Jenkins plus he lost what some called a disputed SD to Kid Gavilan. There are some ATGs that didn't fight half as many great fighters than Basilio, let alone beat them.

True. I'm just stating skill wise; that and tbh, it was sort of a snub at Saad who said that Camacho had no place in the HOF.

[elmersalsa]

Basilio was good skilled. He was not an easy target like some people think of him as a brute, no-class, forward kind of guy. He had a sneaky rihgt hand, great stamina and lots of heart.

He was twice the welterweight world champion, and one-time the world middleweight king, upsetting the great Sugar Ray Robinson of all things.

From 1955 to 1959, his fights with Tony DeMarco (2nd fight), Johnny Saxton (2nd fight), Robinson (I and II) and Gene Fullmer (Fight #1) were the Ring Fight of the Year

Basilio was also The Ring Fighter of the Year when he won all his 3 fights in 1957.

[elmersalsa]

He also beat and fought incredilble opposition his career.
He fought:
Lew Jenkins (W10)
Billy Graham (L10, W12)
Ike Williams (W10)
Kid Gavilan (L15)
Tony DeMarco (WTKO12 twice)
Gil Turner (W10)
Johnny Saxton (L15, WTKO9, and WTKO2)
Sugar Ray Robinson (W15, L15)
Art Aragon (WTKO8)
Gene Fullmer (LTKO14 and LTKO12)
Gaspar Ortega (W10)
Don Jordan (W10)
Paul Pender (L15)

That was a great resume. He beat 6 world champions and was also the New York State welterweight champ.

[Tomasino]

He also beat and fought incredilble opposition his career.
He fought:
Lew Jenkins (W10)
Billy Graham (L10, W12)
Ike Williams (W10)
Kid Gavilan (L15)
Tony DeMarco (WTKO12 twice)
Gil Turner (W10)
Johnny Saxton (L15, WTKO9, and WTKO2)
Sugar Ray Robinson (W15, L15)
Art Aragon (WTKO8)
Gene Fullmer (LTKO14 and LTKO12)
Gaspar Ortega (W10)
Don Jordan (W10)
Paul Pender (L15)

That was a great resume. He beat 6 world champions and was also the New York State welterweight champ.

If that's not an ATG resume, what is? Henry, you are well wide of the mark comparing him to Gatti. Aside from beating Sugar Ray, in the rematch he lost a tight disputed decision due to a horrific eye injury sustained early in the fight. He still gave Ray a real run for his money. One of the best conditioned fighters of all time. He would tear a swathe through boxing right now.