Tony Canzoneri
Name: Tony Canzoneri
Birth Name: Anthony Canzoneri
Hometown: New York, New York, USA
Birthplace: Slidell, Louisiana, USA
Died: 1959-12-09 (Age:51)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 163cm
Reach: 165cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
- Manager: Sammy Goldman
- Trainers: Dan Florio Nick Florio & Lou Fink
- Tony Canzoneri Gallery
Tony Canzoneri fought 18 world champions and multiple Hall of Famers. He defeated such fighters as Baby Arizmendi, Benny Bass, Jackie (Kid) Berg, Kid Chocolate, Johnny Dundee, Johnny Jadick, Frankie Klick, Jimmy McLarnin, Billy Petrolle, Andre Routis, Battling Shaw, Al Singer and Bud Taylor.
Canzoneri, at age 18, fought Bud Taylor twice for the vacant NBA World Bantamweight Championship in 1927. The first fight was a ten-round draw, and Taylor won the second by a ten-round unanimous decision. Canzoneri also fought a third fight with Taylor in 1927 winning a ten-round unanimous decision. Canzoneri became the second boxer in history to win world titles in three weight divisions when he knocked out Jackie (Kid) Berg in 1931 to win the World Junior Welterweight Championship. At the time, Canzoneri held the World Lightweight Championship, and he had previously reigned as World Featherweight Champion. He was within a shade off being the third boxer in the history of boxing in holding three world championships at one time.
Canzoneri lost two close fights to Barney Ross in 1933 for the World Lightweight and Junior Welterweight Championships. Ross won the first fight by a ten-round majority decision and the second by a fifteen round split decision.
Before retirement Canzoneri managed to win bouts against both Andre Routis and Johnny Jadick whom had previously dethroned him. He died of a heart attack in Manhattan.
The Ring Magazine named Canzoneri, along with Barney Ross, Fighter of the Year for 1934.
The September 2001 issue of The Ring magazine ranked Canzoneri as the eighth greatest lightweight of all-time.
In 1999, The Associated Press ranked Canzoneri as the fourth best featherweight, the third best lightweight, and the third best junior welterweight of the 20th century.
Bert Sugar, in his book Boxing's Greatest Fighters, ranked Canzoneri as the 12th greatest fighter of all-time.
Canzoneri was inducted into The Ring Magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame in 1956 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
External Links
Cyber Boxing Zone Record
Unforgettable Greatness: Tony Canzoneri
Boxing's Greatest Fighters: Tony Canzoneri
Boxing Biographies
"Tony Canzoneri: Forgotten Great from the Golden Age of Boxing" by Bobby Franklin: [1]
| Preceded by: Louis (Kid) Kaplan Vacated |
NYSAC World Featherweight Champion 24 Oct 1927–28 Sep 1928 |
Succeeded by: Andre Routis |
| Preceded by: Benny Bass |
NBA World Featherweight Champion 10 Feb 1928–28 Sep 1928 |
Succeeded by: Andre Routis |
| Preceded by: Al Singer |
World Lightweight Champion 14 Nov 1930–23 Jun 1933 |
Succeeded by: Barney Ross |
| Preceded by: Jackie (Kid) Berg |
World Junior Welterweight Champion 24 Apr 1931–18 Jan 1932 |
Succeeded by: Johnny Jadick |
| Preceded by: Jackie (Kid) Berg |
NBA World Junior Welterweight Champion 24 Apr 1931–18 Jan 1932 |
Succeeded by: Johnny Jadick |
| Preceded by: Battling Shaw |
World Junior Welterweight Champion 21 May 1933–23 Jun 1933 |
Succeeded by: Barney Ross |
| Preceded by: Barney Ross Vacated |
World Lightweight Champion 10 May 1935–3 Sep 1936 |
Succeeded by: Lou Ambers |