The Top 100 Greatest Boxers Pound per Pound of All-Time

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We ended the career of the great Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles. Next, we are into the new position at #55 with one of the toughest and roughest fighters that ever lived. His name is The Canastota Onion Farmer, the great Carmen Basilio!

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Now, this is the countdown so far:
100. Jersey Joe Walcott
99. Sonny Liston
98. Vicente Saldivar
97. Gene Fullmer
96. Mike Tyson
95. Eusebio Pedroza
94. Benny Lynch
93. Jack Britton
92. Tommy Ryan
91. Mike McCallum
90. James Toney
89. Tiger Flowers
88. Joe Brown
87. Ted "Kid" Lewis
86. Peter Jackson
85. Beau Jack
84. Lennox Lewis
83. Abe Attell
82. Holman Williams
81. Azumah Nelson
80. Erik "El Terrible" Morales
79. Luis Manuel Rodriguez
78. George Dixon
77. Ricardo "Finito" Lopez
76. Manuel Ortiz
75. Marco Antonio Barrera
74. Bob Foster
73. Pancho Villa
72. Jimmy Barry
71. Packey McFarland
70. Miguel Canto
69. Carlos Zarate
68. Wilfred Benitez
67. Carlos Ortiz
66. Jack "Kid" Berg
65. Freddie Miller
64. Battling Battalino
63. Wilfredo Gomez
62. Fidel LaBarba
61. Maxie Rosenbloom
60. Billy Conn
59. Fighting Harada
58. Barbados Joe Walcott
57. Pascual Perez
56. Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles

And at position #55 in the countdown, is the great Carmen Basilio! The Canastota Onion Farmer!

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#55. Carmen Basilio
Record: 56-16-7 with 27KOs
KO Pct = 48%
Career: 1948-61
World Titles Held: World Welterweight Champion (1955-56, 1956-57), World Middleweight Champion (1957-58)

Highlights:. Two-time Welterweight and one-time Middleweight World Champion.........After a shaky start in his pro boxing career of first 42 bouts, (28-10-4 with 14KOs), rebounded by losing once in his next 24 fights from September 1952 to November 1955 (Record in that period was 20-1-3 with 8KOs)........Was involved in 5 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year from 1955 to 1959..........Beat 7 out of 9 world champions (Record vs world champions is 8-6, 4KOs)..........Beat 5 out of 7 Hall of Fame boxers. (Record vs HOFs is 6-5-1, 2KOs)......The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1957.

Historical Impact: One of the greatest welterweights of all-time, proved with hard work and perseverance could achieve to great heights.......One of the toughest and roughest fighters of any era, was an action-packed pleasing brawler that was involved in 5 consecutive Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year.

Defining Fight: W15 Sugar Ray Robinson....... September 23, 1957"Jumped up in weight class and beat the best fighter of the decade"

Other Defining Fights: W12 Billy Graham (II) , L15 Kid Gavilan , WTKO12 Tony DeMarco (II), WTKO9 Johnny Saxton (II), L15 Sugar Ray Robinson (II) and LTKO14 Gene Fullmer

Your thoughts on this great champion.

[elmersalsa]

#55. Carmen Basilio
Record: 56-16-7 with 27KOs
KO Pct = 48%
Career: 1948-61
World Titles Held: World Welterweight Champion (1955-56, 1956-57), World Middleweight Champion (1957-58)

Highlights:. Two-time Welterweight and one-time Middleweight World Champion.........After a shaky start in his pro boxing career of first 42 bouts, (28-10-4 with 14KOs), rebounded by losing once in his next 24 fights from September 1952 to November 1955 (Record in that period was 20-1-3 with 8KOs)........Was involved in 5 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year from 1955 to 1959..........Beat 7 out of 9 world champions (Record vs world champions is 8-6, 4KOs)..........Beat 5 out of 7 Hall of Fame boxers. (Record vs HOFs is 6-5-1, 2KOs)......The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1957.

Historical Impact: One of the greatest welterweights of all-time, proved with hard work and perseverance could achieve to great heights.......One of the toughest and roughest fighters of any era, was an action-packed pleasing brawler that was involved in 5 consecutive Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year.

Defining Fight: W15 Sugar Ray Robinson....... September 23, 1957....."Jumped up in weight class and beat the best fighter of the decade"

Other Defining Fights: W12 Billy Graham (II) , L15 Kid Gavilan , WTKO12 Tony DeMarco (II), WTKO9 Johnny Saxton (II), L15 Sugar Ray Robinson (II) and LTKO14 Gene Fullmer

Your thoughts on this great champion.

[elmersalsa]

Chuck Davey, a talented undefeated southpaw boxer from Detroit, MI, was 33-0-2 with 23 knockouts on the night of Wednesday, July 16, 1952 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, IL.

His opponent? Was a rugged and determined former onion farmer from Canastota, NY named Carmen Basilio.

Basilio, at 26 years of age, had already 8 losses in 40 fights. He didn't seem like a world beater to no one. All what the people and fans appreciate about him was that he was valiant. He was ready to rumble at any time with anyone at any cost. Basilio's record was 28-8-4 with 15 knockouts. And his best win to date was against an over the hill former lightweight champion and future hall of famer Lew Jenkins of Sweetwater, Texas. He beat Jenkins by a ten round points win in March 1950.

In the fight before this one, he drew with Davey in Basilio's backyard of Syracuse, NY two months earlier. The fight ended in a draw.

Davey of 27 years of age was also tall and stylish. It was the fight between a slugger and a clever stylist.

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Chuck Davey showed more class than Carmen Basilio the entire fight. The right jab, lateral movement and southpaw boxer stance confused Basilio.

In the middle rounds, Basilio did some scoring, but after the 7th, it was all Davey's again. Chuck Davey won the fight outright. This was their second meeting. The first meeting ended in a draw. They never fought each other again after these two meetings.

Davey improves to 34-0-2, with 23KOs and is online to fight the Welterweight World Champion, the great Kid Gavilan of Cuba in February 1953.

Basilio drops to 28-9-4, with 15KOs. He got a lot to improve for at least being a top 5 contender. He did just that. He fought 9 fights in the year of 1952. Basilio won 6, lost 2 and drew once.

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The year 1953 was a very productive one for Carmen Basilio. He beat former Lightweight World Champion, the great Ike Williams in his backyard of Syracuse, NY in January by decision in 10.

In April, he beat Carmine Fiore of Brooklyn, NY by knockout in 9 rounds also in Syracuse. And decisioned and drew with future hall of famer Billy Graham.

He is next in line to challenge the great Kid Gavilan of Cuba for Gavilan's World Welterweight Crown. The title bout was set for September 18, 1953 at the Memorial War Auditorium in Syracuse. It will be Basilio's first title fight and his sixth fight of that year.

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It was Friday night of September 18, 1953 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse, NY. A jammed packed house to see their local hero, Carmen Basilio to wrestle away the crown from the magnificent Welterweight World Champion Kid Gavilan of Cuba.

Gavilan, a black youth at 26 years of age, was already a ten-year ring veteran that fought great competition in his 111 professional bouts. Among his great fights and wins he lost to the great Sugar Ray Robinson twice by decision. In their first meeting, many people booed the decision and thought that Gavilan won the fight. The rematch was for the World Welterweight Crown in July 1949.

But Gavilan had some outstanding wins. He beat the great Ike Williams two out of three fights. He also beat top contenders like Tommy Bell of Youngstown , OH(W10), Rocky Castellani of Luzerne, PA(W10), the great former two-time lightweight champion Beau Jack of Macon, GA (W10), Billy Graham of New York (three out of 4), Ralph "Tiger" Jones of Brooklyn, NY (W10), Tony Janiro of Youngstown, OH (WTKO4), splits with Eugene Hairston of New York City, Laurent Dauthuille of France (W10) and Eduardo Lausse of Argentina (W10).

Since May 1950, Gavilan had only lost twice in 40 fights. And had an unbeaten streak of 28 bouts from November 1950 to April 1953.

Along the way, the Cuban Hawk, from Camaguey, won the World Welterweight Crown on May 1951, beating champion Johnny Bratton of Chicago, IL by decision. He became Cuba's second ever boxing world champion.

Since winning the title, he has made 5 successful defenses. The most brutal of those title defenses was on July 7, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA when he stopped the local and undefeated star prospect Gil Turner in 11 rounds. It was one of the most brutal and violent fights in boxing history.

Gavilan came to Syracuse to defend the crown for the sixth time.

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The jammed-packed house at the War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse, NY were waiting for their local favorite son, Carmen Basilio of 25 years of age, to take the Welterweight World Crown from the great Kid Gavilan of Cuba.

It was Friday, September 18, 1953. It's the fight between the former onion farmer Basilio against the sugar cane cutter Gavilan.

In the first round, the champion Gavilan scored some hard shots to Basilio's anatomy with that famous bolo punch. A punch that Gavilan said that he perfected it in his youth by cutting sugar canes in the fields of his country Cuba. He even buckled Basilio with a uppercut to the chin.

Basilio dropped Gavilan with a surprising left hook to the jaw in round two. It was crisp. Perfect. Beautiful. It was only the second time, that this great strong and slick boxer, Gavilan, ever knocked down. The crowd cheered wildly.

From rounds three to the seventh, Basilio won most of the rounds and was in control, overwhelming the champion. But, after the seventh round, a change of pace happened. The great champion Gavilan put it to another gear. He won 6 of the last 8 rounds to keep his title.

When the announcement began, it was unanimous for Gavilan. Basilio could not believe it in disgust. He thought that he uncrowned Gavilan. The winner and still the Welterweight Champion of the World!.....Kid Gavilan of Cuba!

It was a terrific fast paced fight. Gavilan won in my view by the score of 145-142 or 8 rounds to 4 with 3 even.

Gavilan improves to 95-13-4, with 26 knockouts. He defended the crown successfully once more. On his eight defense, he lost the Welterweight Crown to Johnny Saxton of Newark, NJ. Before that tile defense, Gavilan tried to take the Middleweight World Championship from Carlos "Bobo" Olson of Honolulu, HI. He lost to Olson by a 15-round verdict.

Gavilan retired in 1958 with a record of 107-30-6 with 27 knockouts. He was never stopped in 143 bouts. And was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY, Basilio's hometown, in 1990.

As for Basilio, he dropped to 35-11-5, with 18 knockouts. It was his first world title bout.

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One interesting note in that Carmen Basilio vs Kid Gavilan fight in 1953, was perhaps the first time that Gavilan came into the ring introducing and wearing his white boxing shoes. Gavilan was something.

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The title fight with the great Kid Gavilan was perhaps a learning curve for Carmen Basilio. A learning experience.

Started the year 1954, Basilio fought 8 times, winning 7 and drew once. The only fight available on YouTube of those 8 fights was his rematch with Carmine Fiore of Brooklyn, NY.

On September 10, 1954 at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York City, Basilio EASILY whupped Fiore again by decision in 10 rounds. The fight was almost over in the very first round when Basilio dropped Fiore to the canvas twice. But, somehow, Fiore survives the round.

Basilio really kicked his ass! He coasted to the next 9 rounds and won almost every round in my view, except the third, fourth and eighth rounds. Rounds 3 and 8 I saw them even.

Basilio improves to 41-11-7, with 20 knockouts. And is ready for another title shot by the next year 1955.

Fiore only wins one fight of his next five. And retired in 1957.

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The year 1954 was a great year for the future great Carmen Basilio of Canastota, NY. It was a year that he polished his skills and learned a lot.

Basilio fought 8 times in 1954, winning his last 7 fights of that year. He had a draw at the beginning of the year against a tough Italian named Italo Scortichini in January. In the rematch in May against Scortichini, Basilio won on points in ten rounds.

Basilio had also second meetings with Pierre Langlois and Carmine Fiore, winning both fights by decision in 10 rounds.

Now, by 1955, Basilio will have one of the best years of his career.

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The year 1955 came and Carmen Basilio quickly got busy into action. In January, Basilio had a middleweight ten-rounder against Peter Mueller of Cologne, Germany. Basilio won on points.

Now, since losing his fight against Kid Gavilan of Cuba for the World Welterweight Crown, Basilio fought 11 times and was unbeaten in those 11 contests. He drew twice and won 9.

That prompted Basilio to be the #1 contender for the new champion Tony DeMarco of Boston, MA, who took the welterweight crown from Johnny Saxton of Cleveland, OH in April. Saxton took the crown controversially from the great Kid Gavilan of Cuba on October 1954.

DeMarco, who's real name is Leonardo Iotta, started his career in October, 1948, the same year that Basilio became professional.

He came to Syracuse, NY to defend his World Welterweight Crown against the local favorite son Basilio at the War Memorial Auditorium on June 10, 1955.

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Tony DeMarco, the World's Welterweight Champion had a record of 46-5-1 with 29KOs. A left-hooker with power. The guy can really put you to sleep with that lethal left hook.

He started his career in 1948, the same year as Basilio started. Among his great wins and fights were against Paddy DeMarco (no relation) of Brooklyn, NY. He beat Paddy on points in ten rounds in 1953. Paddy became World Lightweight Champion in 1954.

DeMarco also beat Teddy "Red Top" Davis also of Brooklyn on points. He beat Carlos Chavez of Los Angeles, CA also on points. He also stopped George Araujo of Providence, RI in five. He drew with three-time lightweight king Jimmy Carter of Aiken, SC in ten and took the welterweight crown from Johnny Saxton of Cleveland, OH by knockout in 14 rounds in Boston, MA.

DeMarco was nicknamed The Boston Bomber because of his terrific punching power. He hasn't lost a fight in 3 years, and was unbeaten in his last 17 fights, winning 16 of them, and won 15 in a row from June 1953 to November 1954.

The atmosphere at the War Memorial Auditorium was electric. The packed house knew that they were going to see a fantastic battle between two magnificent brawlers. It was Friday, June 10, 1955.

DeMarco started fast and won clearly the first 3 rounds. But, after round 4, DeMarco in my view, didn't win another round. Carmen Basilio was in control ever since. Some rounds of this fight wasn't available, so I scored those rounds even.

The 10th round was a brutal round in which Basilio dropped DeMarco twice in the canvas. DeMarco was in bad shape. Basilio's crisp punching and stamina was the difference. DeMarco couldn't take it anymore and the American referee, Harry Kessler, stopped the contest in the 12th round. The winner by TKO in round 12 and new Welterweight Champion of the World!..... Carmen Basilio of Canastota, NY!

By the time of the stoppage, I had Basilio winning 107-104 on points and 4-3-4 in rounds.

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Carmen Basilio of Canastota, NY, the Upstate Onion Farmer, finally reached to the top. It was a long lasting dream since he was a young boy. At 27, and all that he went through in 63 professional fights, now he is the champion of the world!

It was looking very bleak in his first 5 years as a professional. But, with will, perseverance and determination, he proved that no matter what in your setbacks and bumps in the road, you keep pushing it. Just keep going. And everything will come through. Hard work, perseverance and dedication made him a champion of the world.

Basilio improves to 45-11-7 with 22 knockouts.
DeMarco went back to Boston sullen and dejected dropping his crown and his record to 46-6-1 with 29 knockouts.

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After Carmen Basilio beat Italo Scortichini of Italy in the rematch in New York City in August 1955, Gil Turner of Philadelphia, PA was in line in the champion Basilio's schedule in September. This fight was a non-title affair for ten rounds.

Turner, 24, came to the War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse, NY to face Basilio with a record of 48-8-1, with 33 knockouts. He started his career in 1950. Back in 1952, Turner was an amazing and undefeated young prospect that challenged the great Kid Gavilan of Cuba for Gavilan's World Welterweight Crown in Philadelphia. It was a fight that it went 11 rounds. It was so brutal that Gavilan could have killed Turner after more than 22 blows when the referee finally intervened. Turner probably wasn't the same fighter after that. He was bouncing between welterweight and middleweight and never again fought for the world title. Still dangerous for anybody, though.

Among other highlights of Turner's career, he beat twice the former two-time lightweight king, the great Beau Jack of Augusta, GA, twice. He also stopped the great former lightweight champion Ike Williams of Newark, NJ in ten.

He also beat Del Flanagan (W10), Bernard Docusen (WTKO6), Chico Varona (WTKO6), Bobby Dykes (W10) in their second meeting, Joe Miceli (WTKO6), and future NBA World Middleweight Champion Gene Fullmer of Utah in their first meeting by decision in 10 rounds.

And the fight was as good as advertised. Both fighters came out throwing leather at each other. The first 4 rounds of the fight was dominated by Turner. Maybe they split two rounds a piece. But after round 5, Turner got tired and it was all Carmen Basilio after that. Basilio won by majority decision on points. It was a good strap.

Basilio improves to 47-11-7 with 22 knockouts.
Turner drops to 48-9-1 with 33 knockouts.

Turner kept winning and losing until he retires 3 years later with a record of 56-19-2 with 35 knockouts.

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Sometimes, the sequel to a fight becomes better than the original one. That was the case at the famous Boston Garden in Boston, MA on the night of Wednesday, November 30, 1955 when the great Carmen Basilio defends his World Welterweight Crown against former champion Tony DeMarco.

Boston was DeMarco's hometown. The first fight, that was in Basilio's backyard at the War Memorial Auditorium of Syracuse, NY, in June, Basilio won the crown from DeMarco by a thrilling 12th round knockout stoppage.

Since losing his belt to Basilio, DeMarco had 1 fight. He stopped in one round top welterweight contender Chico Vejar of Stamford, CT at the Garden in September. It was a title elimination fight. Now, DeMarco has his eyes for revenge against the man that took his crown.

Basilio in the other end, didn't just rest in his laurels when he won the crown. He got busy and back to work twice more in August and September beating by decision in 10 rounds to Italo Scortichini and Gil Turner. He made sure that he was in great shape for the rematch.

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It was a packed house at the Boston Garden in Boston, MA on Wednesday, November 30, 1955, when Carmen Basilio defended the crown for the first time against the man he took the welterweight crown from: Tony DeMarco.

Both guys came to prove without a shadow of a doubt, that who was the best fighter between the two. Two Italian American boxers that always give their best when the title is on the line.

The bell rang and excitement began. Quickly. DeMarco, started fast with the crowd behind him. Basilio, also a fast starter, took it much easier. DeMarco won the first two rounds rocking Basilio with left hooks.

From the fourth round on, they traded momentum and blows and Basilio, the champion, is cut close to the left eye. But, his cornermen, lead by legendary trainer Angelo Dundee of Miami, FL, made sure that the bleeding didn't go further by his great work of cuts fixing experience.

But in round 7, something happened to Basilio that had never ever happened to him before. DeMarco, a great puncher with the left hook, rocked Basilio on the chin. Basilio is in bad shape, but he doesn't goes down by any means. His heart, will, determination and great conditioning saved him from it. The crowd went wild in that round and wanted their hometown fighter to finish Basilio right there and then. But the bell saved Basilio. There's no knockout win for DeMarco. But it was the first time in his career that Basilio was in queer street.

DeMarco won round 8 also. Basilio has not recovered from that left hook yet. But he refuses to go down. In the next round, the 9th, Basilio looks like recovered from the cobwebs and started working and chopping DeMarco up with precise combinations. He was chopping DeMarco little by little. It was much more evident on the 10th and 11th rounds that DeMarco started to wilt and Basilio was getting stronger and stronger as the seconds got by.

In round 12, DeMarco looked exhausted and wilted. The champion took charge, like knowing that his opponent was wilting little by little. Basilio started throwing some wicked combinations of left and rights. A left-right combination puts the tiring DeMarco down. The crowd at the Garden was in disbelief. DeMarco gets up but, he just took tired. Basilio ended up with another left-right combination and DeMarco is down for good. The referee, Mel Manning of Boston didn't even count the second knockdown. It was over.

The winner by TKO in round 12 and still the Welterweight Champion of the World!..... Carmen Basilio!

The champion proved that he was better, indeed. At 28, with a cut in his right eye, successfully defended his Welterweight Crown. Elated, he improves to 48-11-7 with 23 knockouts.

DeMarco, dejected and down for the defeat at age 23 drops to 47-7-1 with 30 knockouts.

The fight was voted by The Ring Magazine as the Fight of the Year of 1955. What a fight!

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What was next for former champion Tony DeMarco? Well, he wasn't the same fighter after losing to Carmen Basilio. But, after Basilio left the welterweight crown and moved up to middleweight to challenge the great Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957, DeMarco fought unsuccessfully 4 times for the welterweight belt, losing twice by knockout to Virgil Adkins of St Louis, MO and twice by decision against Don Jordan of Los Angeles, CA.

DeMarco, The Boston Bomber, hang up the gloves for good in 1962 with a record of 58-12-1 with 33KOs. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY in 2019, two years before his death.

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Next? We're going to examine and review the great Carmen Basilio's 3 fights with Johnny Saxton of Cleveland, OH.

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It was a packed house at the Boston Garden in Boston, MA on Wednesday, November 30, 1955, when Carmen Basilio defended the crown for the first time against the man he took the welterweight crown from: Tony DeMarco.

Both guys came to prove without a shadow of a doubt, that who was the best fighter between the two. Two Italian American boxers that always give their best when the title is on the line.

The bell rang and excitement began. Quickly. DeMarco, started fast with the crowd behind him. Basilio, also a fast starter, took it much easier. DeMarco won the first two rounds rocking Basilio with left hooks.

From the fourth round on, they traded momentum and blows and Basilio, the champion, is cut close to the left eye. But, his cornermen, lead by legendary trainer Angelo Dundee of Miami, FL, made sure that the bleeding didn't go further by his great work of cuts fixing experience.

But in round 7, something happened to Basilio that had never ever happened to him before. DeMarco, a great puncher with the left hook, rocked Basilio on the chin. Basilio is in bad shape, but he doesn't goes down by any means. His heart, will, determination and great conditioning saved him from it. The crowd went wild in that round and wanted their hometown fighter to finish Basilio right there and then. But the bell saved Basilio. There's no knockout win for DeMarco. But it was the first time in his career that Basilio was in queer street.

DeMarco won round 8 also. Basilio has not recovered from that left hook yet. But he refuses to go down. In the next round, the 9th, Basilio looks like recovered from the cobwebs and started working and chopping DeMarco up with precise combinations. He was chopping DeMarco little by little. It was much more evident on the 10th and 11th rounds that DeMarco started to wilt and Basilio was getting stronger and stronger as the seconds got by.

In round 12, DeMarco looked exhausted and wilted. The champion took charge, like knowing that his opponent was wilting little by little. Basilio started throwing some wicked combinations of left and rights. A left-right combination puts the tiring DeMarco down. The crowd at the Garden was in disbelief. DeMarco gets up but, he just took tired. Basilio ended up with another left-right combination and DeMarco is down for good. The referee, Mel Manning of Boston didn't even count the second knockdown. It was over.

The winner by TKO in round 12 and still the Welterweight Champion of the World!..... Carmen Basilio!

The champion proved that he was better, indeed. At 28, with a cut in his right eye, successfully defended his Welterweight Crown. Elated, he improves to 48-11-7 with 23 knockouts.

DeMarco, dejected and down for the defeat at age 23 drops to 47-7-1 with 30 knockouts.

The fight was voted by The Ring Magazine as the Fight of the Year of 1955. What a fight!

Back to this fight, the former champion, Tony DeMarco, interestingly was ahead in the scorecards of the three judges. Referee Mel Manning had it scored 106-103. Judge Joe Santarpio, had it scored also 106-103 and the other judge, Joe Santoro, had it scored 104-97. All judges and the referee were Americans.

I had it scored 106-105 for DeMarco also.