Carmine Vingo
Carmine Vingo was an Italian-American professional boxer, best remembered for his career-ending bout against heavyweight contender Rocky Marciano in December 1949. It's one of the earliest bouts filmed during Marciano's undefeated career.
Professional career
Nicknamed 'Bingo Vingo' for his willingness to take chances to win in the ring, Vingo started his career by winning 16 of his first 17 professional bouts, losing only a questionable decision to undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Joe Lindsay in White Plains, New York, in 1948. Vingo won 12 consecutive fights, including a unanimous decision over highly regarded 16–2 contender Joe Modzele on a boxing card at Yankee Stadium in August 1949. A second round knockout of Al Robinson at Sunnyside Garden Arena in Queens, New York, propelled Vingo into the world heavyweight rankings, and a crossroads bout with rising star Rocky Marciano.Fight with Rocky Marciano
On December 30, 1949, at Madison Square Garden, Vingo, then 16–1, and Marciano, 24–0, fought a slugfest. Marciano put Vingo down in the first and second rounds. Vingo fought back well, and by the end of the fifth round, was hurting Marciano with right hand power shots, and seemed to be gaining momentum. Marciano would later describe his bout with Vingo as "The toughest fight of my career."At 1:46 of round six, Vingo was knocked out by an uppercut. Unconscious, he was carried on a stretcher to a hospital two blocks away as no ambulance was available at the scene. Marciano paced the corridors of the hospital, praying for Vingo's life, in what became a public media event. Administered last rites by a priest, and given only a 50–50 chance of survival after slipping into a coma, Vingo underwent brain surgery, eventually recovering and returning home from the hospital two months later in February 1950. His left side was slightly paralyzed and his vision was affected in both eyes, ending his promising boxing career. Marciano waited for Vingo to recover before resuming his career.