Hall of Fame Friday: Joey Giardello

THE RING magazine features a thumbnail biography of a ring great who has received the ultimate honor: induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y.


JOEY GIARDELLO
Birthdate: July 16, 1930
Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Weight class: Middleweight
Height: 5-10
Professional record: 100-25-7 (32 knockouts) with one no decision
Title: World middleweight (Dec. 7, 1963-Oct. 21, 1965)
Best performances: Dick Tiger (W 10, W 15), Gene Fullmer (D 15), Ruben Carter (W 15), Henry Hank (W 10), Billy Graham (W 10, W 10), Pierre Longlois (W 10), Joey Giambra (W 10), Gil Turner (W 10), Chico Vejar (W 10), Joe Shaw (W 10), Tuzo Portuguez (W 10), Holley Mims (W 10), Ray Robinson (W 10).
Year of IBHOF Induction: 1993
Background: Although he was born in Brooklyn, the cagey stylist was considered a Philadelphia fighter because he lived there throughout most of his career and had a large following among South Philly’s large Italian-American community … Developed a ducking, dodging style that featured an excellent left jab, but could also slug it out in the trenches … Prone to eye cuts, but the fact that he was only stopped four times in 133 pro bouts is a testament to his durability and chin ... Turned pro on Oct. 2, 1948, with a second-round KO of Johnny Noel in Trenton, N.J. … Went 2-1 in a famous three-bout series with Billy Graham during the early-1950s but had to go to the New York Supreme Court to keep the second bout in the win column after the New York State Athletic Commission changed one of the judge’s scores and reversed the decision. The court ruled that the commission did not have the authority to change the scorecard ... Held middleweight champion Gene Fullmer to a bruising 15-round draw in April 1960. It was one of the dirtiest middleweight title fights of all time, with both men ramming their heads into each other’s faces like a couple of bill goats … Blood-spattered 10-round decision over Henry Hank on Jan. 30, 1962 was THE RING’s Fight of the Year … Beat a badly faded Ray Robinson to earn a December ’63 crack at middleweight champion Dick Tiger, and, at age 33, finally won the title via 15-round decision … Made one successful defense, winning a close decision over Ruben “Hurricane” Carter before losing the 160-pound belt back to Tiger in October ’65 … Fought four more times, finally retiring after outpointing Jack Rodgers on Nov. 6, 1967 … Filed a federal lawsuit against the makers of The Hurricane, a biopic about Carter that Giardello alleged misrepresented their fight. The suit was settled out of court, with Giardello receiving a reported $300,000.