Sorry, I was away from computer the last day or two. (getting the house ready for Xmas season).
I am truley sadden to learn of the death of Danny Nardico.
As stated by you all-a warrior all the way. A light heavyweight who wanted to fight the big guys so he tried to move up in weight. At his increased weight- He still had the necessary speed to compete with the bigger guys. If there was a fault it was in his defense. When he got tagged-he got mad, and this caused him to be a bit wild in the ring with his punches. This opened him up for more shots, but he was a very dangerous fighter to face in the ring. He possessed knockout power in the heavy division but the damage he took made for ferocious fighting and lots of connecting haymakers by both fighters.
He was 3rd ranked Lt-Heavy(gained lbs for the Norkus tilt though.) who was promised a fight with Rocky Marciano in Jan 54. Rocky's manager Al Weill called my father in along with Ghee Leico (Norkus mgr & trainer) and said he wanted my father to go down to Miami and fight Nardico first. My father was used by Weill to be a "policeman" for Rocky at that time. Rocky feared no man, but all opponents had to prove their ring worth to get a shot at him.
The fight was not on TV. As stated in my dads thread- TV cameras were on hand to televise the Maxim-Moore fight the following week in Miami Orangebowl. The TV people asked Chris Dundee if they can film the first Norkus/Nardico fight to have the TV people get a reading on lighting and
various lens shots of fighters. It was only meant to be filmed 3 Rds.
The director was a knowledgble fight fan. What he witnessed was big. He ordered more tape be brought in and the entire fight was captured with no sound. The fight was so big (Ring Magazines runner-up Fight of the Year 1954) that Big Fights Inc, had it overdubbed and was televised later that summer. Danny knew that Marciano was out of the question after the fight.
However, Mad Sq Garden Productions saw big money in an instant rematch-2 months later same place. It was on National TV. It was the first time the Miami Bch Aud was Sold out with numerous actors and baseball stars ringside.
The managers of both fighters asked the Fla. Comm to allow a 3x knockdown rule be enforced for this fight. It was NOT granted. Both fighters didnt want to get into another Pier Six Brawl like the last one. It was relatively a much calmer fight with Norkus on top again going the distance.
Notes: Both fighters were former Marines.My dad said that he thinks that is why there was alot of agressiveness on Danny's part. Also- Danny was lined up for a title shot. He put it all out there till the end. He couldn't ruffle my dad up to be too wild so he, Danny -my father said- was the only fighter to curse at him throughout the entire fight- which my father stated pissed my father off to no end and hence the agressiveness of my dad till the end. The film does not do the first fight justice.With few fight fans in the arena rooting for my dad (Danny was from Tampa)- it was a very bloody battle.
Miami Herald after fight: Norkus had a new fan come up to him in a white suit after the fight. It was blotted with blood from both fighters from the
brawl that just transpired. "Hey Norkus" the fan exclaimed "I'm never going to get this suit cleaned. It from the best fight I ever seen". Later it was learned that the fan sat in the 3rd row ringside.
My father said Danny was not the same again. He tried contacting him but to no avail. I can tell you personally that, over the years, the two have been connected by that fateful night. That one fight is still very much written about in todays boxing journals. My father received fan mail right up until his death in 1996 and with out a doubt-the most mentioned subject in the letters.
In 1985 The Miami Sentinel ( I gotta look up the right name of paper) held a a poll in which it asked Miamians and surrounding area what the most memorable Florida sports events that ever taken place. 1985 mind you.
# 1 Dolphins undefeated Super Bowl year. #2 Ali- Liston. #3 Norkus-Nardico first fight.
2005 interview with Angelo Dundee: Most Favorite fight he ever saw.
Norkus/ Nardico 1. (Angelo was my fathers cutman in his corner during the 2nd fight on TV.
God Bless you Danny Nardico. May you Rest In Peace.
Charlie & Danny before their first fight

My father got up after a solid right by Danny (First Fight).
Last one, Rematch photo
