Dickie DiVeronica - The Man With The Cigar
He was the friendly, grandfather-like man who sat quietly, a cigar in his mouth, smiling at strangers, greeting everyone who came close with a smile and handshake, signing autographs without fanfare when asked. Dickie DiVeronica may have faded from boxing’s consciousness altogether if he hadn’t lived in Canastota. But as he resided in ‘boxing’s hometown’, he was a fixture at every induction weekend held at the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was given a name tag, like the stars who were in attendance and being inducted and he was introduced as they were, even though his claims to fame were not as strong.
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