Joey Giardello vs. Chico Vejar (1st meeting)
Joey Giardello 159 lbs beat Chico Vejar 159 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1957-07-17
- Location: Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Referee: Dan Leslie 48-44
- Judge: Tom Nuckles 47-44
- Judge: Walter Beck 50-46
"Post bout verbal clashes produced almost as much excitement last night as the nationally televised fight in which Joey Giardello took a unanimous - but unpopular - decision over Chico Vejar. After the nearly 5,000 fans at Freedom Hall shouted their disapproval of the decision, the action continued on into the dressing room where Steve Ellis, who handled Vejar, announced he had been tossed out of Giardello's dressing room. Ellis, in a verbal battle with Tony Ferrante, Giardello's manager, challenged the winner to a rematch - winner take all, which Ferrante accepted. Vejar, an unranked middleweight, played a hit and run game. Giardello, the heavy puncher of the pair and favorite had the fight carried to him many times, but waited for the opening for a bout-ending punch that never came." -Associated Press
- Unofficial AP scorecard - 46-44 Giardello
Post fight comment
- "Giardello never will fight here again as long as he has anything to do with Tony Ferrante." -Promoter Bill King, who claimed Ferrante tried to shake him down before the bout for 30% of the gate rather than the agreed upon 25%.