Joey Giardello


Carmine Orlando Tilelli was an American boxer who was the world middleweight champion from 1963 to 1965. He adopted the name Joey Giardello in order to join the U.S. Army while underage, and continued to use the pseudonym throughout his boxing career.

Early life

Giardello was born in Brooklyn, but lived most of his life in the Lower Moyamensing area of South Philadelphia. He joined the U.S. Army while underage towards the end of World War II, using a cousin's friend's name, and volunteered for airborne duty. During his military time, he took part in Army boxing matches, and after his discharge in 1948, began boxing professionally. He continued to use the name he had enlisted under, Joey Giardello, in his boxing career.

Professional career

During his early career, he had a scuffle at a gas station which cost him $100,000 in prize fight money and five months in jail.
As a pro, he quickly racked up a 15–1–2 record in his first 18 fights while facing less-than-stellar opposition. His only loss was a decision to undefeated boxer Jimmy Morton. During this time, he fought just three men who had previously won a fight. It caught up with Giardello on January 16, 1950, when he was handed his second defeat by Joe DiMartino, a journeyman with a 6–10 record.
After that embarrassment, he began to face better opposition and by 1951, was beating some of the better middleweight boxers on the Philadelphia scene. On June 4, 1954, Los Angeles-based heavyweight boxer Clarence Henry, who was managed by Mafiosi Frank "Blinky" Palermo, was arrested in New York City for attempting to bribe Oakland middleweight Bobby Jones to throw his June 11 Madison Square Garden match with Giardello. Henry allegedly offered $15,000 to Jones to throw the fight. Once the third-ranked heavyweight contender, Henry was released after posting $2,000 bail and subsequently retired from the ring. Giardello beat Jones in a close decision.
Giardello's fight vs. Billy Graham was the next significant bout. The decision first was awarded to Giardello, then later reversed to a decision in favor of Graham, then reversed again, some time later as a result of litigation, in favor of Giardello. This fight is known in boxing lore as "The reversed reversal."
In 1960, Giardello received his first championship opportunity. On April 20, he faced Gene Fullmer for the National Boxing Association version of the world middleweight title. He missed out on the title when he and Fullmer fought to a draw over 15 rounds.
Giardello lost four of his next six fights, but then came back strong with an 8–1–1 record in his next 10, all of which were over some of the biggest names in the division at that time. One of his wins, a 10-round decision over Henry Hank on January 30, 1962, was chosen as Ring Magazine's fight of the year. Then, on June 24, 1963, Giardello upset boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, and at the age of 33, was finally named as the No. 1 challenger for the world middleweight title.
On December 7, 1963, Giardello faced Dick Tiger in Atlantic City for the title and won a controversial decision in 15 rounds.
He reigned as world champion for nearly two years, winning four fights during that time. On December 14, 1964, he fought "Hurricane" Rubin Carter in a title defense. In the first three rounds, Carter stalked Giardello and was the aggressor, as the champion looked to stay away from Carter's left hook. In the 4th round, Carter opened a cut over Giardello's left eye and staggered him with several head shots. By the 13th round, Carter had begun to tire, and Giardello began pounding Carter's head and body, which continued through the 15th and final round. According to Carter, he dominated Giardello the first ten rounds, but Giardello was awarded a unanimous decision, an event dramatized in the 1999 film The Hurricane. Carter would later revise his claims, admitting he should have fought Giardello more aggressively.
In a rematch with Dick Tiger on October 21, 1965, the Nigerian won a unanimous decision over Giardello in 15 rounds to regain the belt. Giardello was described as "back pedaling for most of the fight." Giardello fought just four more times over the next two years before retiring.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
133WinJack RodgersSD10Nov 6, 1967Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
132Loss97–26–8 Jack RodgersUD10May 22, 1967Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
131Loss97–25–8 Nate CollinsTKO8 Dec 5, 1966Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, U.S.
130Win97–24–8 Cash WhiteUD10Sep 22, 1966Municipal Stadium, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
129Loss96–24–8 Dick TigerUD15Oct 21, 1965Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
128Win96–23–8 Gil DiazPTS10Apr 23, 1965Arena, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, U.S.
127Win95–23–8 Rubin CarterUD15Dec 14, 1964Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
126Win94–23–8 Juan Carlos RiveraUD10May 22, 1964Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
125Win93–23–8 Juan Carlos RiveraSD10Apr 17, 1964Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
124Win92–23–8 Dick TigerPTS15Dec 7, 1963Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
123Win91–23–8 Sugar Ray RobinsonUD10Jun 24, 1963Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
122Win90–23–8 Ernest BurfordUD10Mar 25, 1963Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
121Win89–23–8 Wilf GreavesSD10Feb 25, 1963Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
120Win88–23–8 Johnny MorrisSD10Nov 12, 1962Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
119Loss87–23–8 George BentonUD10Aug 6, 1962Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
118Win87–22–8 Jimmy BeechamUD10Jul 9, 1962Midway Stadium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
117Win86–22–8 Henry HankMD10Jan 30, 1962Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
116Draw85–22–8 Joe DeNucciMD10Dec 12, 1961Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
115Win85–22–7 Jesse SmithUD10Nov 6, 1961International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
114Win84–22–7 Jesse SmithUD10Sep 12, 1961Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
113Loss83–22–7 Henry HankUD10Jul 10, 1961Convention Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
112Win83–21–7 Wilf GreavesTKO9 May 15, 1961Alhambra A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
111Loss82–21–7 Ralph DupasUD10Mar 6, 1961Auditorium (New Orleans)|Municipal Auditorium], New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
110Loss82–20–7 Peter MüllerPTS10Dec 1, 1960Messesporthalle, Cologne, West Germany
109Loss82–19–7 Terry DownesPTS10Oct 11, 1960Empire Pool, London, England, U.K.
108Win82–18–7 Clarence HinnantTKO3 Sep 27, 1960Shrine Auditorium, Billings, Montana, U.S.
107Draw81–18–7 Gene FullmerSD15Apr 20, 1960Montana St. College Fieldhouse, Bozeman, Montana, U.S.For NBA middleweight title
106Win81–18–6 Dick TigerUD10Nov 4, 1959Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
105Loss80–18–6 Dick TigerUD10Sep 30, 1959Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
104Win80–17–6 Chico VejarSD10Aug 11, 1959Midway Stadium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
103Win79–17–6 Del FlanaganKO1 Jun 16, 1959Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
102Win78–17–6 Holley MimsSD10May 6, 1959Capitol Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
101Loss77–17–6 Ralph Tiger JonesSD10Jan 28, 1959Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
100Loss77–16–6 Ellsworth WebbTKO7 Nov 19, 1958Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
99Loss77–15–6 Joey GiambraSD10Jun 30, 1958Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
98Win77–14–6 Frank SzuzinaMD10Jun 11, 1958Shoreham Terrace, Washington, D.C., U.S.
97Win76–14–6 Rory CalhounUD10May 5, 1958Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
96Win75–14–6 Franz SzuzinaUD10Feb 12, 1958Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
95Win74–14–6 Ralph Tiger JonesUD10Dec 27, 1957Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
94Win73–14–6 Wilf GreavesUD10Nov 5, 1957Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
93Win72–14–6 Bobby LaneTKO7 Sep 27, 1957Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
92Win71–14–6 Chico VejarUD10Jul 17, 1957Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
91Win70–14–6 Joe GrayRTD5 Jul 2, 1957Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
90Win69–14–6 Rory CalhounSD10May 17, 1957Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
88Win68–14–6Randy SandySD10Feb 6, 1957Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
87Win67–14–6Charley CottonUD10Dec 14, 1956Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
86Win66–14–6Charley CottonUD10Nov 15, 1956Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
85Win65–14–6Bobby BoydKO5 Sep 28, 1956Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
84Win64–14–6Georgia KidTKO9 Aug 28, 1956Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
83Win63–14–6Franz SzuzinaUD10Jul 26, 1956Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
82Win62–14–6Tony BaldoniKO1 Jul 2, 1956St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
81Loss61–14–6Charley CottonSD10May 28, 1956St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
80Loss61–13–6Charley CottonUD10May 7, 1956St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
79Win61–12–6Joe ShawUD10Mar 27, 1956Town Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
78Win60–12–6Hurley SandersPTS10Mar 10, 1956Armory, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
77Win59–12–6Tim JonesTKO10 Feb 11, 1956Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
76Win58–12–6Peter MüllerKO2 Mar 1, 1955Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
75Win57–12–6Andy MayfieldTKO8 Feb 15, 1955Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
74Win56–12–6Al AndrewsUD10Jan 25, 1955Municipal Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
73Win55–12–6Ralph Tiger JonesUD10Sep 24, 1954Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
72Win54–12–6Billy KilgoreUD10Jul 7, 1954Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
71Win53–12–6Bobby JonesUD10Jun 11, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
70Loss52–12–6Pierre LangloisUD10May 21, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
69Win52–11–6Willie TroyTKO7 Mar 19, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
68Win51–11–6Walter CartierTKO1 Feb 5, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
67Win50–11–6Garth PanterTKO5 Jan 8, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
66Win49–11–6Tuzo PortuguezUD10Nov 23, 1953Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
65Win48–11–6Walter CartierUD10Oct 26, 1953Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
64Loss47–11–6Johnny SaxtonUD10Sep 29, 1953Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
63Win47–10–6Ernie DurandoUD10Jun 26, 1953Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
62Win46–10–6Hurley SandersPTS10May 30, 1953Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
61Win45–10–6Gil TurnerUD10Apr 7, 1953Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
60Loss44–10–6Billy GrahamUD12Mar 6, 1953Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
59Win44–9–6Harold GreenUD10Feb 2, 1953Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
58Win43–9–6Billy GrahamSD10Dec 19, 1952Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
57Loss42–9–6Joey GiambraUD10Nov 11, 1952Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
56Win42–8–6Joey GiambraUD10Oct 13, 1952Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
55Win41–8–6Georgie SmallUD10Sep 15, 1952Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
54Win40–8–6Billy GrahamSD10Aug 4, 1952Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
53Win39–8–6Pierre LanglisUD10Jun 23, 1952Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
52Win38–8–6Roy WoutersPTS6Jun 5, 1952Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
51Draw37–8–6Joe MiceliPTS10May 5, 1952Watres Armory, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
50Draw37–8–5Sammy GiulianiPTS8Mar 28, 1952Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
49Draw37–8–4Sal DiMartinoPTS10Jan 9, 1952Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
48Loss37–8–3Bobby DykesSD10Dec 12, 1951Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
47Loss37–7–3Rocky CastellaniMD10Nov 13, 1951Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
46Win37–6–3Tony AmatoKO7 Oct 8, 1951St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
45Win36–6–3Tommy BazzanoPTS6Sep 14, 1951Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
44Win35–6–3Johnny NoelUD8Aug 27, 1951Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
43Win34–6–3Otis GrahamUD8Aug 13, 1951Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
42Loss33–6–3Gus RubiciniPTS8May 25, 1951Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
41Win33–5–3Ernie DurandoUD10Apr 30, 1951Watres Armory, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
40Win32–5–3Roy WoutersUD8Apr 12, 1951Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
39Win31–5–3Primos CutlerPTS8Mar 29, 1951Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
38Loss30–5–3Roy WoutersMD8Mar 15, 1951Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
37Win30–4–3Tony WolfeKO3 Feb 24, 1951Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
36Win29–4–3Harold SampsonSD8Feb 22, 1951Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
35Win28–4–3Jan HenriUD8Jan 27, 1951Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
34Win27–4–3Freddie LottPTS8Jan 6, 1951Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, U.S.
33Win26–4–3Leroy ColemanKO5 Dec 18, 1950Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
32Draw25–4–3George RobertsPTS6Nov 27, 1950Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
31Loss25–4–2Harold GreenRTD6 Oct 26, 1950Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
30Win25–3–2Bruce UbaldoPTS8Oct 16, 1950South Main Street Armory, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
29Win24–3–2Ted DiGiammoKO1 Sep 26, 1950South Main Street Armory, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
28Win23–3–2Don BerryKO1 Aug 25, 1950Scranton Stadium, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
27Loss22–3–2Carey MaceTKO8 May 17, 1950St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
26Win22–2–2Hurley SandersUD8May 5, 1950Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
25Win21–2–2Tommy VarsosKO1 Apr 20, 1950Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Win20–2–2Steve SabatinoKO1 Mar 27, 1950Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
23Win19–2–2Armando AmaniniPTS8Mar 23, 1950Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
22Win18–2–2Johnny BernardoMD8Feb 9, 1950Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
21Win17–2–2Johnny BernardoPTS8Jan 26, 1950Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20Loss16–2–2Joe DiMartinoPTS8Jan 16, 1950Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
19Win16–1–2Johnny FryPTS6Jan 5, 1950Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
18Win15–1–2Jim DockeryKO2 Dec 5, 1949Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
17Win14–1–2Mitch AllenPTS6Nov 14, 1949Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
16Win13–1–2Leroy FlemingKO1 Jul 13, 1949Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S.
15Win12–1–2Ray HaasTKO3 Jun 20, 1949Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
14Win11–1–2Henry VonsavageTKO2 June 6, 1949Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
13Win10–1–2Emerson CharlesPTS4May 2, 1949Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
12Win9–1–2Joe AurilloPTS6Apr 28, 1949Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
11Win8–1–2Ray MorrisPTS4Apr 25, 1949South Main Street Armory, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
10Win7–1–2Bill MongomeryKO1 Apr 7, 1949Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
9Win6–1–2Johnny BrownPTS4Mar 29, 1949Little Palestra, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
8Win5–1–2Don EnnisKO4 Mar 15, 1949Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
7Draw4–1–2Clyde DiggsPTS6Feb 24, 1949Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
6Loss4–1–1Jimmy MortonPTS6Jan 13, 1949Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
5Win4–0–1Willie WigfallTKO1 Dec 30, 1948Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
4Draw3–0–1Bobby ThomasPTS4Dec 17, 1948Kingston Armory, Kingston, Pennsylvania, U.S.
3Win3–0Johnny MadisonKO1 Dec 16, 1948Hamid's Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0Jackie ColeKO1 Nov 16, 1948Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Jimmy LarkinKO1 Oct 10, 1948Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

After retirement, he went into private business and went back to his real name.
He was an insurance salesman and later joined the Misco International Chemical Company as their New York-Philadelphia-New Jersey distributor. He had married his wife Rosalie in 1950, with whom he had four children. He did work with the intellectually disabled, particularly for St. John of God School Community Services in Westville Grove, New Jersey, where his son, Carman, who had Down syndrome, lived for ten years. He met the pope and was invited to President John F. Kennedy's Inauguration. With his celebrity and title, he participated in countless fundraising events for the intellectually disabled and contributed his time and talent to the Special Olympics, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. At one event he taught the Special Olympians to jump rope.
He had a small role as a man from "The Syndicate" in the 1975 movie Moonrunners.
In 1996, he was invited to a Hungarian TV talk-show, in which he made appearance in Budapest, Hungary, to celebrate Laszlo Papp's 70th birthday, that was an honorary invitation because of eastern communist block did not let Papp to match with Giardello in 1966, therefore Giardello could keep holding the 2 world titles, while Laszlo Papp was forced by the communist Hungarian government to bring his boxing career to an end.
He later filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Pictures, Beacon Communications and Aloof Films, for unspecified damages, for its "thoroughly false depiction" of his bout with Rubin Carter in Norman Jewison's 1999 film The Hurricane. The case was settled out-of-court and the DVD version of the film included scenes from the actual fight, as well as Jewison's statement that Giardello "no doubt" was a great fighter.
He died on September 4, 2008, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He was 78 years old.

Honors

Giardello was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, the 3rd boxer to be inducted after Joe Frazier and Tommy Loughran. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. His career record was 101 wins, 25 losses and 7 draws. He was 5-3-1 against other boxers in the Hall of Fame, including a 2–2 mark against Tiger.
A public statue honoring Giardello is situated in the East Passyunk Crossing section of South Philadelphia.