I'm beginning to think this guy may be the most underrated trainer in history. He isn't in the Hall of Fame. You almost never hear of him.
I was reading a book about Floyd Patterson. He was really Patterson's principal trainer for several years in the middle of his career. The book gave Florio a lot of credit for his plan to beat Johannson in the rematch.
The author also gave him credit for turning Jersey Joe Walcott's career around. He trained several other world champions as well.
Just wondering what people thought of him and any thoughts of why he is so little known.
Dan Florio
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Ambling Alp II
- Super Middleweight
- Posts: 15178
- Joined: 04 Nov 2012, 18:31
Re: Dan Florio
I am now more convinced that this guy is underrated. Amazing that someone can train Walcott, Patterson, Tony Canzoneri, Bat Battalino, and many others and no one has a thing to say about him.
It's almost as if time has forgot about him. He isn't in the Hall of Fame either.
Yet somehow people like Gil Clancy and Cus D'Amato are well known.
It's almost as if time has forgot about him. He isn't in the Hall of Fame either.
Yet somehow people like Gil Clancy and Cus D'Amato are well known.
Re: Dan Florio
I agree...lastarza was one of his too i think...freddie miller??
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Tuan_Jim
- Heavyweight
Re: Dan Florio
Strange isn't it. Trained two of the smoothest, most skillful heavyweight champions in history, Walcott and Patterson, and I believe was even involved with Gene Tunney. And yet he gets one mention in the Stillman's Gym chapter of Fried's classic 'Corner Men', and Arcel gives him a name check in Anderson's classic 'In the Corner'. He deserves to be held in the highest esteem.
As an aside, I still remember the scene in 'Victory Over Myself'. Florio and the newly crowned Patterson were in the midwest to box an exhibition. Walcott was in the same city to referee a wrestling match. The three of them were reduced to having to eat in Jersey Joe's bedroom because no restaurant would serve Walcott and Patterson's kind. The oldest heavyweight champ in history and the youngest heavyweight champ in history, treated like a pair of vagrant winos. Utterly astonishing.
As an aside, I still remember the scene in 'Victory Over Myself'. Florio and the newly crowned Patterson were in the midwest to box an exhibition. Walcott was in the same city to referee a wrestling match. The three of them were reduced to having to eat in Jersey Joe's bedroom because no restaurant would serve Walcott and Patterson's kind. The oldest heavyweight champ in history and the youngest heavyweight champ in history, treated like a pair of vagrant winos. Utterly astonishing.
Re: Dan Florio
Dan trained Gene Tunney along with Whitey Bimstein, and had 11 World Champions that I can think of in an era of only one Champion per division, and I do believe he should be in the Hall of Fame as well.