RIP Carmen Basilio

[Yakuza Rich]

One of my top-5 favorite athletes of all time passed away. Even though he was 85 years old, this really bums me out.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.s..._boxing_c.html





YR

[ABQCOWBOY]

RiP Carmine Basilio.

Pretty good Boxer in both Welter and Middleweight Divisions. Not great, more of a journeyman but he fought all comers and he fought them all tough.

[Yakuza Rich]

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

RiP Carmine Basilio.

Pretty good Boxer in both Welter and Middleweight Divisions. Not great, more of a journeyman but he fought all comers and he fought them all tough.

He's in the boxing Hall of Fame. Won the world title and beat Sugar Ray Robinson.





YR

[ABQCOWBOY]

Originally Posted by Yakuza Rich

He's in the boxing Hall of Fame. Won the world title and beat Sugar Ray Robinson.





YR

He beat Robinson but Robinson was well passed his prime at 37. Yeah, he's in the Hall of Fame but he had a 56-16-7 record. A good fighter, not a great fighter IMO.

I'm not trying to knock the guy down. I liked his style. Tough little guy always game to fight. That's how I see him.

[Yakuza Rich]

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

He beat Robinson but Robinson was well passed his prime at 37. Yeah, he's in the Hall of Fame but he had a 56-16-7 record. A good fighter, not a great fighter IMO.

I'm not trying to knock the guy down. I liked his style. Tough little guy always game to fight. That's how I see him.

He only got to Robinson because he didn't want to play the mob's game and couldn't get any real shots even though he had greatly earned it. And his record back then was excellent, given that the fighters would fight so frequently which often made matches anybody's game. I think any boxing expert would view him as a great fighter and worthy of being in the HoF.





YR

[ABQCOWBOY]

Originally Posted by Yakuza Rich

He only got to Robinson because he didn't want to play the mob's game and couldn't get any real shots even though he had greatly earned it. And his record back then was excellent, given that the fighters would fight so frequently which often made matches anybody's game. I think any boxing expert would view him as a great fighter and worthy of being in the HoF.





YR

OK. I don't view him as one of the greats but I certainly would not have any issue with anybody who would say that they viewed him as such.


As I said earlier, I don't want to take anything away from the guy. I liked him.

I hope he finds peace.

[Mr_Bill]

Originally Posted by Yakuza Rich

One of my top-5 favorite athletes of all time passed away. Even though he was 85 years old, this really bums me out.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.s..._boxing_c.html





YR

Basilio was a great fighter with an even greater heart. Perhaps too great. He dealt out a lot of punishment, but took a lot in return, and was usually dripping blood from the scar tissue around his eyes long before a fight ended.

I always liked to watch his fights, and rooted for him every time.

Rest in peace, mighty warrior.

[Yakuza Rich]

Originally Posted by Mr_Bill

Basilio was a great fighter with an even greater heart. Perhaps too great. He dealt out a lot of punishment, but took a lot in return, and was usually dripping blood from the scar tissue around his eyes long before a fight ended.

I always liked to watch his fights, and rooted for him every time.

Rest in peace, mighty warrior.

Much agreed. One of my favorite fighters to watch. Very intelligent and technically masterful in the ring, but he would just flat out fight guys. I know ABQ isn't trying to be mean or a contrarian, but he's a fighter that is in the HoF and every boxing expert believes he should be there. I just don't see somebody being in the HoF if they were a 'pretty good journeyman.'

On a meaningless side note, my 94 year old grandmother got to dance with him a few times.





YR