Gene Fullmer vs. Rocky Castellani
Gene Fullmer 157 lbs beat Rocky Castellani 159 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1956-01-04
- Location: Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Referee: Lou Palmer 97-94
- Judge: Herb Williams 96-92
- Judge: Charley Bill 92-95
"The one judge who voted against him may cost young Gene Fullmer a chance for a rematch with Eduardo Lausse of Argentina. While Fullmer seemed to be breezing to a bruising 10 round victory Wednesday night over Rocky Castellani, judge Charlie Bill saw the fight as a Castellani victory. His score was at odds with those of the other judge and referee, both of whom had Fullmer on top by a comfortable margin. The winner of the bout was supposed to get a shot at Lausse. Because Fullmer gained only a split verdict, and because he brought out the tiger in Castellani in a rousing finish, a rematch between those same two seemed more probable. Fullmer, a wildcat who threw punches from everywhere, was at his best when he worked on Castellani's stomach. The Clevelander tried his usual style of grabbing for his opponent, but soon changed the tactic when Fullmer sailed in with the left, then followed with rights over the back." -United Press
- Unofficial UP scorecard: 98-91 for Fullmer
Post fight comment:
- "I just don't like to have someone running around who has beaten me, that's all. I'll get to Robinson in time." -Gene Fullmer, stating how he preferred a rematch with Eduardo Lausse than a shot at world middleweight champ Sugar Ray Robinson
Bout was action filled for all 10 rounds, it was the first live coast to coast radio & tv broadcast bout of 1956. The Ring named it the second best fight of 1956.