One of my favorite fighters of all time was the loud mouth, beer chugging, fat man known as "The New Jersey Night Stick", Tony Galento.
At 5'9" and weighing anywhere from 220 pounds to 240+ he held his own against finer tuned athletes and hit hard as hell and used every dirty trick in the book to win---he didn't box, he street fight!
Looking at him today you would say he was a bum, was off blanace, telegraphed his punches, threw haymakers, had no defense---but there were and still are critics who even say Ketchell was a crappy fighter---the difference was Galento, like Ketchell, was tough as nails and had an iron will and strong constitution.
He was always the showman, and did the most low things to get a psychological advantage, and if that didn't work, he would use his thumb to poke out a man's eye, use elbows, head butt, low blows...you name it he did it.
One of the funnier stories of "Two Ton" Tony Galento was when he was offered to face Joe Louis, to Galento's reply "Joe Louis? I never heard of the bum."
Ironically in round three of their Heavyweight bout, it appeared Galento was right in saying Louis was a pushover, as he dropped The Brown Bomber---but Louis returned in vengence and battered Galento and won by KO in the following round.
His overall record was 79-26-5 (56). He beat Lou Nova by KO. As did Abe Feldman, Natie Brown, Harry Thomas and hoards of others, albeit most were underclassed.
But even Joe Louis said, that Tony Galento was the man he hated most, and the most dangerous and toughest opponent he ever faced---and said once in an interview that Galento would have been a great Bare-Knuckle boxer if he had lived in the era.
Myself, Galento would fall short against some of the better fighters of today, or really of any era---but never once doubt that he wouldnt ALWAYS make a show of it every time out, and did whatever he could to win.
"Two Ton" Tony Galento
..galento used to call louis at joe's training camp before their fight and insult him and even make vulgar remarks about joe's wife. he wanted to infuriate louis and get him into a slugging match right away as he felt he would do better against the bomber in that kind of fight...as louis was a good boxer.
it almost worked. louis was so enraged he wanted to beat tony up and "make him suffer before knocking him out." he did go into the ring hating him. right at the begining of the first round tony shook joe up with a right hand...not the potent left hook. louis had tony down for a brief knockdown in the first or second...most people forget this. it was later that galento put louis on the floor....the only time i can think of that a fighter got off the canvas to hurt the bomber. as a rule when louis had you down it was soon after that he scored a kayo...the ultimate great finisher.
oh yeah...after the first round chappie blackburn really got on louis...yelled at him...."do you want to lose your title to a man like this??!?!?...forget that crap about making him suffer a while....knock him out !!!!!"
post script. i saw them years later together being interviewed on tv..which is where some of the above information comes from. they had become such good friends that when galento died it was a the time of louis' life when he himself was very fragile mentally....so joe was never told of tony's death as it would have distressed and saddened him too much.
it's past midnight as i write this....but i have a radio transcription of an interview with galento after the fight. .so i'll dig it out and write it verbatim for you. very funny. very galento.
i also remember some other galento moments...which i'll put on here when i get time .
it almost worked. louis was so enraged he wanted to beat tony up and "make him suffer before knocking him out." he did go into the ring hating him. right at the begining of the first round tony shook joe up with a right hand...not the potent left hook. louis had tony down for a brief knockdown in the first or second...most people forget this. it was later that galento put louis on the floor....the only time i can think of that a fighter got off the canvas to hurt the bomber. as a rule when louis had you down it was soon after that he scored a kayo...the ultimate great finisher.
oh yeah...after the first round chappie blackburn really got on louis...yelled at him...."do you want to lose your title to a man like this??!?!?...forget that crap about making him suffer a while....knock him out !!!!!"
post script. i saw them years later together being interviewed on tv..which is where some of the above information comes from. they had become such good friends that when galento died it was a the time of louis' life when he himself was very fragile mentally....so joe was never told of tony's death as it would have distressed and saddened him too much.
it's past midnight as i write this....but i have a radio transcription of an interview with galento after the fight. .so i'll dig it out and write it verbatim for you. very funny. very galento.
i also remember some other galento moments...which i'll put on here when i get time .
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dempseyfire
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 5534
- Joined: 29 Oct 2003, 22:56
Galento wasn't the most skilled guy but he wasn't a complete rough and tumble brawler. Like a short fighter should, he fought out of a very low crouch (unlike guys today like Sam Peter, who stand up and become target practice for taller sharp-shooters), and would feint his way into a position to launch his fairly quick left hooks and right crosses. He could also use a decent double jab when he wanted to. To boot, the man was an outstanding natural puncher, and had one of the hardest left hooks of all time.
He was like a Sam Peter of the 30s but a better all around fighter.
He was like a Sam Peter of the 30s but a better all around fighter.
Thanks! I borrowed your description to put in Galento's Wiki page:dempseyfire wrote:Galento wasn't the most skilled guy but he wasn't a complete rough and tumble brawler. Like a short fighter should, he fought out of a very low crouch (unlike guys today like Sam Peter, who stand up and become target practice for taller sharp-shooters), and would feint his way into a position to launch his fairly quick left hooks and right crosses. He could also use a decent double jab when he wanted to. To boot, the man was an outstanding natural puncher, and had one of the hardest left hooks of all time.
He was like a Sam Peter of the 30s but a better all around fighter.
http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Tony_Galento
http://www.boxrec.com/media/images/2/2d/38Aug.jpg
Having seen only two of his fights ,but read a considerable amount about him (and loved his colorful personality) I was very dissapointed with what I saw .He was slow ,wide open ,off balance ,zero footwork and from any decade say from the 1950,s onwards would never been a contender.Infact I would go as far as to say the much dismissed fat boy Don Cockell would have handled Galento with ease . Perhaps im missing something but I dont know what!