Throughout most of the sports history, there has never been an era without a big contribution from this unusually tough breed of people..
We can talk, Marciano, La Motta, Grazziano, Mancini, De Marco, Basillio & many more.. So how's about some P4P top tens for starters, & maybe some memories of the many classic match ups involving these guys.. Should be interesting!

Regards MM

Well the hell did all the Italian American fighters go?

Well the hell did all the Italian American fighters go?

Just like the Jewish fighters and the Irish {American} and many others that were able to seek opportunity in other fields. Boxing tends to be for the desperate.

Well the hell did all the Italian American fighters go?
I thought that while posting, & changed my wording, to throughout MOST of boxing history.. Yeah where are they now?? Malignaggi can't be out there on his own.. Surely??

Vinny Pazienza

Vinny Pazienza
He's part of my sig.. I'm big on Vinny.. Just watched a re run of him winning the WBA L/M title against Gilbert Dele.. Just b4 his accident.. This fight has it all.. Looping uppercuts, fainting, taunting, show boating, all culminating in an 11th rnd TKO.. Pazienza's conditioning was absolutely superb.. All done Hector Camacho style, kiss curl included.. Liked watching him bash ****y Honeyghan as well.. I think he'd have cut it in any era.. Paz rocks!

Just like the Jewish fighters and the Irish {American} and many others that were able to seek opportunity in other fields. Boxing tends to be for the desperate.
Don't really follow American sports have they moved into American Football or Baseball in any numbers?

Throughout most of the sports history, there has never been an era without a big contribution from this unusually tough breed of people..
We can talk, Marciano, La Motta, Grazziano, Mancini, De Marco, Basillio & many more.. So how's about some P4P top tens for starters, & maybe some memories of the many classic match ups involving these guys.. Should be interesting!

Regards MM

The best of the bunch was Tony Canzoneri, one of the best p4p fighters ever. But I've always been partial to the Gatt's, Mancini's and Pazienza's. Guys who get hit and just come back harder. Not the best fighters, but the most exciting and they never have a shortage of heart.

Willie Pep
Tony Canzoneri
Rocky Marciano
Carmen Basilio
Jake LaMotta
Johnny Dundee

(not in order)

Willie Pep
Tony Canzoneri
Rocky Marciano
Carmen Basilio
Jake LaMotta
Johnny Dundee

Good Lord, how did I forget Pep? Im ashamed! :guilty:

Good Lord, how did I forget Pep? Im ashamed! :guilty:

Pep sure wasn't the typical Italian-American fighter, then again neither was Canzoneri. I think there are many similarities between the two although Canzoneri did more showboating.

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Don't really follow American sports have they moved into American Football or Baseball in any numbers?

Italians have always been in a variety of sports. Even when they were in boxing, many great Italian athletes in baseball.

For example:

One of the greatest baseball players of All Time: Joe DiMaggio

http://www.mentalfloss.com/quiz/uploads/1242259607772.jpg



But overall, Italian-Americans have been able to branch out in other fields in America...in the Medical field, Political field, Entertainment, etc.

World War II may have been one of the biggest ice-breakers for the American culture. When you fight together, you can live together.

Long list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Italian-American_sportspeople


Don't forget the women either:

Bella :)

Gina Carano
http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/gina_carano_maxim.jpg


http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/6458/ginacaranovx6.jpg






My favorite, despite him not being an ATG as far as skilled talent, is still Gatti. I loved watching Gatti fight.
Note: Gatti was actually "Italian."
Born in Italy...raised in Canada from a boy.


Pep may be the most talented although there is such a long list to choose from.
Marciano, P4P, also has to be looked at.

continued:

NFL Hall of Fame talent:

http://www.sportsgalore.net/images/joe-montana01.jpg


http://www.bestsportsphotos.com/images/t_19279_07.jpg


Coaching as well:

Very touching speech

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For example:

One of the greatest baseball players of All Time: Joe DiMaggio



Even I have heard of him, Marylin's husband right? :)

Even I have heard of him, Marylin's husband right? :)

Hahaha...yeah. Sounds weird when you put it that way but she was a HUGE STAR that could out-shine him I guess.

http://content.foto.mail.ru/mail/orlushka73/7048/i-7327.jpg

1. Rocky Marciano
1. Willie Pep
3. Tony Canzoneri
4. Jake La Motta
5. Carmen Basilio
6. Rocky Grazziano
7. Vinny Pazienza
8. Willie Pastrano
9. Ray Mancini
10.Tony De Marco

Good Lord, how did I forget Pep? Im ashamed! :guilty:

probably because pep doesnt really sound very italian, im sure he changed his name for the same reason marciano did- so it would be easier to pronounce etc

probably because pep doesnt really sound very italian, im sure he changed his name for the same reason marciano did- so it would be easier to pronounce etc

I appreciate you trying to cover, but there is no excuse for me. I had met this man and covered much of his career. Ain't a big thing, but its a brain fart I didn't expect to make.:doh:

I appreciate you trying to cover, but there is no excuse for me. I had met this man and covered much of his career. Ain't a big thing, but its a brain fart I didn't expect to make.:doh:
lollollollol... Brain fart! Well at least you didn't follow through lol

A re run of CW's, Jason Robinson (young dude) Vs Saul Montana (veteran) is on my TV as I write.. Ray Mancini is doing the commentry.. It's close & I can't remember who wins... But Mancini is SO enthusiastic, and really likeable...

I appreciate you trying to cover, but there is no excuse for me. I had met this man and covered much of his career. Ain't a big thing, but its a brain fart I didn't expect to make.:doh:

lol, you met pep? is he dead now or is he still alive...i heard somewhere he was pretty punchy after he was done with boxing

Hahaha...yeah. Sounds weird when you put it that way but she was a HUGE STAR that could out-shine him I guess.

http://content.foto.mail.ru/mail/orlushka73/7048/i-7327.jpg
Benny! You're a good poster, but get ball games the f**k off my thread...

lol, you met pep? is he dead now or is he still alive...i heard somewhere he was pretty punchy after he was done with boxing

I met him at Foxwoods casino during a Vinny Pazienza fight. The way it was set up they had tables that were just about ring level. Anyway, he came walking by and I got his attention and he sat down with me and my friends for about 10 minutes. He didn't seem punchy to me, he just seemed like someones grandfather. Very nice man. He didn't seem to want to talk about boxing but was more interested in us as people.