Tony DeMarco
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Tony DeMarco (January 14, 1932 – October 11, 2021), born Leonardo Liotta,[1] was an American boxer and Undisputed World Welterweight Champion.[2] Born to Sicilian immigrants from Sciacca (AG), Vincent and Giacomina, DeMarco grew up in the North End neighborhood of Boston.
DeMarco was also, for a short time, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona,[3] where he was a business owner and where he suffered the death of his young son by way of a car-bicycle collision.
Career
Due to the minimum age of eighteen, in order to box professionally, Liotta used the baptismal certificate of Tony DeMarco so that he could compete.[4] DeMarco had his first professional fight when he was sixteen years old. On October 21, 1948, he knocked out Mestor Jones in one round.
DeMarco fought the top fighters in his division during the 1950s and defeated top contenders and champions like Paddy DeMarco, Teddy "Red Top" Davis, Chico Vejar, and Don Jordan. The highlight of his career came on April 1, 1955, when he scored a technical knock out (TKO) over Johnny Saxton in the 14th round of their title bout to capture the world's welterweight title.
Despite winning many bouts to become champion, he is best remembered for his two championship matches with hall of famer Carmen Basilio in 1955. Both fights were toe to toe slugfests with several ebbs and flows that kept the fans at the edges of their seats. Both fights ended in the 12th round with DeMarco suffering a TKO. In their first bout, DeMarco was the defending champion. He risked his title by taking on Basilio, who was the top ranked contender. Although Basilio prevailed, the fight was so exciting that the pair were rematched. The second fight was almost a carbon copy of the first with Basilio wearing down DeMarco, but not before a wicked DeMarco left hook had Basilio out on his feet. DeMarco was unable to capitalize on this advantage and lost the match on a 12-round TKO.
Legacy
DeMarco's legacy is an undying part of Boston's history. Training under Boston greats such as Frankie Waters, DeMarco was able to sell out the Boston Garden, breaking attendance records. Mayor Thomas Menino even honored DeMarco with a street, named after him, in Boston's famous North End. The street, which is perpendicular to Atlantic Avenue, is named "Tony DeMarco Way".
DeMarco received many honors, including an induction in the Official National Italian American Hall of Fame in Chicago. Looking back on his career, DeMarco remarked "Mainly I consider myself a slugger." DeMarco once fought on the undercard to Rocky Marciano. Boxing, Boston and Tony DeMarco In his last bout, DeMarco won a ten-round decision over Stefan Redl in Boston on February 6, 1962.[5]
A statue of DeMarco unveiled on October 20, 2012, at the corners of Hanover and Cross Streets[6] in Boston's historic North End was designed by sculptor Harry Weber, and a full-length documentary by filmmaker Marino Amoruso based on DeMarco's autobiography Nardo: Memoirs of a Boxing Champion is in the works. DeMarco was also featured in "The Flame and Fury of Fleet Street," a segment of the documentary, Boston's North End: An Italian American Story.
DeMarco was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2019.[7]
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | Win | 58–12–1 | Stefan Redl | UD | 10 | Feb 6, 1962 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 70 | Win | 57–12–1 | Don Jordan | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 19, 1961 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 69 | Loss | 56–12–1 | Denny Moyer | TKO | 2 (10) | Feb 10, 1960 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 68 | Win | 56–11–1 | Edward G. Connors | UD | 10 | Apr 20, 1959 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 67 | Win | 55–11–1 | George Monroe | TKO | 8 (10) | Mar 11, 1959 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 66 | Loss | 54–11–1 | Virgil Akins | TKO | 12 (15) | Jan 21, 1958 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | For Massachusetts world welterweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 65 | Loss | 54–10–1 | Virgil Akins | KO | 14 (15) | Oct 29, 1957 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | For vacant Massachusetts world welterweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 64 | Win | 54–9–1 | Walter Byars | MD | 10 | May 25, 1957 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 63 | Win | 53–9–1 | Larry Boardman | UD | 10 | Mar 30, 1957 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 62 | Win | 52–9–1 | Gaspar Ortega | UD | 10 | Feb 9, 1957 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 61 | Loss | 51–9–1 | Gaspar Ortega | SD | 10 | Dec 21, 1956 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 60 | Loss | 51–8–1 | Gaspar Ortega | SD | 10 | Nov 23, 1956 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 59 | Win | 51–7–1 | Kid Gavilán | UD | 10 | Oct 13, 1956 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 58 | Win | 50–7–1 | Vince Martinez | UD | 10 | Jun 16, 1956 | Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 57 | Win | 49–7–1 | Arthur Persley | UD | 10 | Apr 28, 1956 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 56 | Win | 48–7–1 | Wallace Bud Smith | TKO | 9 (10) | Mar 5, 1956 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 55 | Loss | 47–7–1 | Carmen Basilio | TKO | 12 (15) | Nov 30, 1955 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 54 | Win | 47–6–1 | Chico Vejar | TKO | 1 (10) | Sep 14, 1955 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 53 | Loss | 46–6–1 | Carmen Basilio | TKO | 12 (15) | Jun 10, 1955 | War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 52 | Win | 46–5–1 | Johnny Saxton | TKO | 14 (15) | Apr 1, 1955 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 51 | Template:DrawDraw | 45–5–1 | Jimmy Carter | PTS | 10 | Feb 11, 1955 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 50 | Win | 45–5 | Pat Manzi | TKO | 1 (10) | Nov 6, 1954 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 49 | Win | 44–5 | Chris Christensen | TKO | 6 (10) | Sep 25, 1954 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 48 | Win | 43–5 | George Araujo | TKO | 5 (10) | Jul 12, 1954 | Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 47 | Win | 42–5 | Johnny Cesario | UD | 10 | May 22, 1954 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 46 | Win | 41–5 | Carlos Chavez | UD | 10 | Apr 24, 1954 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 45 | Win | 40–5 | Wilbur Wilson | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 15, 1954 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 44 | Win | 39–5 | Wilbur Wilson | UD | 10 | Jan 18, 1954 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 43 | Win | 38–5 | Teddy Davis | UD | 10 | Dec 12, 1953 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 42 | Win | 37–5 | Paddy DeMarco | SD | 10 | Oct 10, 1953 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 41 | Win | 36–5 | Chick Boucher | TKO | 6 (10) | Sep 19, 1953 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 40 | Win | 35–5 | Bertie Conn | TKO | 1 (10) | Sep 10, 1953 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 39 | Win | 34–5 | Terry Young | TKO | 5 (10) | Aug 3, 1953 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 38 | Win | 33–5 | Pat Demers | TKO | 6 (10) | Jul 18, 1953 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 37 | Win | 32–5 | Jimmy Redding | KO | 2 (8) | Jun 25, 1953 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 36 | Win | 31–5 | Ken Parsley | KO | 6 (8) | Jun 13, 1953 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 35 | Loss | 30–5 | Gene Poirier | PTS | 8 | May 15, 1952 | Forum, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 34 | Loss | 30–4 | Brian Kelly | UD | 8 | May 1, 1952 | Forum, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Puggy Brown | KO | 5 (6) | Mar 6, 1952 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 32 | Win | 29–3 | Jackie O'Brien | SD | 8 | Mar 1, 1952 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 31 | Win | 28–3 | Abdoul Ali | KO | 2 (4) | Feb 26, 1952 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 30 | Win | 27–3 | Freeman King | SD | 8 | Feb 18, 1952 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 29 | Win | 26–3 | Julio Colon | KO | 3 (6) | Jan 26, 1952 | Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Llewellyn Richardson | PTS | 6 | Jan 15, 1952 | Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 27 | Win | 24–3 | Manny Santos | TKO | 2 (6) | Dec 17, 1951 | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 26 | Win | 23–3 | Joe Torrens | PTS | 4 | Dec 7, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 25 | Win | 22–3 | Stanley Hilliard | KO | 4 (6) | Nov 27, 1951 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 24 | Win | 21–3 | Freeman King | SD | 6 | Oct 1, 1951 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 23 | Loss | 20–3 | Chick Boucher | TKO | 4 (4) | Mar 12, 1951 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Reggie Martina | KO | 1 (4) | Feb 19, 1951 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 21 | Win | 19–2 | Larry Griffin | UD | 8 | Jan 18, 1951 | Exposition Building, Portland, Oregon, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 20 | Win | 18–2 | Ken Murray | KO | 2 (8) | Jan 11, 1951 | Exposition Building, Portland, Oregon, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 19 | Win | 17–2 | Ken Murray | UD | 6 | Dec 11, 1950 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Joe Wright | UD | 6 | Oct 30, 1950 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 17 | Win | 15–2 | Des Shanley | UD | 4 | Oct 9, 1950 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | Bobby Weaver | TKO | 3 (4) | Sep 25, 1950 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Ricky Ferreira | PTS | 6 | Sep 19, 1950 | Page Arena, New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Roger Ringuette | TKO | 1 (4) | Jul 10, 1950 | Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 13 | Win | 11–2 | Bobby Veal | KO | 2 (6) | Feb 20, 1950 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 12 | Loss | 10–2 | Art Suffoletta | RTD | 5 (6) | Jan 9, 1950 | New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Frankie Steele | TKO | 3 (4) | Dec 19, 1949 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Frankie Steele | SD | 4 | Nov 14, 1949 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Vic Young | TKO | 1 (6) | Oct 21, 1949 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 8 | Loss | 7–1 | Jay White | PTS | 6 | Oct 7, 1949 | Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Roger Lessard | KO | 5 (6) | Sep 12, 1949 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ray Dulmaine | RTD | 1 (6) | Feb 17, 1949 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Joe Palaza | TKO | 2 (6) | Jan 14, 1949 | Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | George Silva | PTS | 6 | Dec 14, 1948 | North Street Arena, Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Billy Shea | TKO | 3 (4) | Dec 10, 1948 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Meteor Jones | KO | 2 (4) | Nov 16, 1948 | Salem Arena, Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Meteor Jones | KO | 1 (6) | Oct 21, 1948 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Titles in boxing
Major world titles
- NYSAC welterweight champion (147 lbs)
- NBA (WBA) welterweight champion (147 lbs)
The Ring magazine titles
- The Ring welterweight champion (147 lbs)
Undisputed titles
See also
References
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Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
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