Name: Joey Maxim Birth Name: Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli
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Name: Joey Maxim Birth Name: Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli Nationality: US American Hometown: Cleveland, OH Born: 1922-03-28 Died: 2001-06-02 Age at Death: 79 Stance: Orthodox Height: 6′ 1″ Manager: Jack Kearns Trainer: Vic Reberska & Al Del Monte (circa 1948) Photo #2 Factoids 1940 Won Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions (160 lb). 1940 Intercity Golden Gloves Champion (160 lb). 1940 National AAU Champion (160 lb). Only fighter to ever knock out Sugar Ray Robinson. Served in the US Army during World War II, stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. Became a greeter for Las Vegas hotels and casinos. Died of a stroke Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, (March 28, 1922 – June 2, 2001), was an American boxer. He was a light heavyweight champion of the world. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs. Early career. Maxim was born in Cleveland, Ohio, he learned to box at a very young age. Following a successful amateur career, during which he won the Golden Gloves, he turned professional in 1940. He boxed fairly regularly at exhibitions during the war years whilst serving as a military police officer at Miami Beach, Florida. Maxim becomes world champion It is somewhat surprising that Maxim had to wait so long for a world title shot, he was 28 and had already fought 87 times as a professional, considering his undoubted ability. His chance came on January 24, 1950, against British boxer Freddie Mills, who was making his first defense, at London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. Maxim, very much the underdog against the popular Englishman, won the fight by knockout in the 10th round. After the fight three of Mills's teeth were found embedded in Maxim's left glove, Mills never fought again. Maxim's next major fight was on May 30, 1951, when he made a bid for Ezzard Charles's world heavyweight title. Maxim was unsuccessful, losing on points. June 25 1952: Joey Maxim vs. Sugar Ray Robinson The most famous fight of Maxim's career was on June 25, 1952, when he made his second defense of his light heavyweight crown, against Sugar Ray Robinson at Yankee Stadium. The fight had originally been scheduled for June 23, but was postponed due to torrential rain. By the time the fight took place New York was in the midst of a record heat wave. During the fight Robinson built up a large points lead over the champion, but throughout the fight he gradually succumbed to hyperthermia. He collapsed to the canvas at the end of the 13th round, but managed to stagger back to his corner. However, Robinson failed to answer the bell at the start of the 14th, even though he only had to remain on his feet to win the fight and Maxim won by a technical knockout. This was the only time that Robinson was stopped in his 201-fight career. By this time the original referee, Ruby Goldstein, had himself been forced to retire from the fight after collapsing into the ropes complaining that he could no longer continue. This meant that a substitute referee, Ray Miller, had to be called out to finish to fight. Goldstein and Robinson were not the only people who had to be stretchered from the stadium: several dozen spectators also collapsed during the fight. Between them, the two fighters lost over 20 pounds in weight during the fight. Late career Despite winning, the Robinson fight took a heavy toll on Maxim. He lost his world title six months later to the veteran Archie Moore. Following this loss Maxim, formerly one of the division's most active fighters, fought only 14 fights in the remaining 6 years of his career. These fights included two rematches with "The Old Mongoose," both of which Maxim lost. Maxim retired in 1958 after losing six consecutive fights. Maxim retired with a record of 82 wins (21 by KO), 29 losses, and 4 draws in his 115 fight career, he was knocked out only once. During his career he defeated such legendary figures as Jersey Joe Walcott, Jimmy Bivins, and Floyd Patterson. Nevada State Journal 18 December 1952 New Champion Batters Loser Over Full 15 Round Route ST. LOUIS, Mo, Dec. 17. Archie Moore, 36-year-old of San Diego, Calif, gave Joey Maxim a thorough battering tonight and wrested the world light heavyweight championship from him on a unanimous 15-round decision before 12,610 in the arena here.- Moore, who had been the scourge of the 175-pound division for nearly a decade without getting a title shot, made the most of his opportunity tonight in a fight that set a new Missouri gate record of $89,487. Moore, wearing a wee mustachio and a small goatee, bulled Cleveland Joey to the ropes in nearly every round and there gave Joey a terrific battering again and again. Archie drove him to the ropes three or four times in every round. Absorbs Blows Maxim was streaming Mood from gashes on both cheeks and from a cut at the corner of his left eye when the fight was finished. Although 30-year-old Maxim suffered a bad beating, he amazed the crowd by his ability to absorb staggering blows to body and head and then try to fight back. At 36, Moore was the second oldest man to win the title in the 49 year history of the light-heavy division. Bob Fitzsimmons won it at 41 on November 25, 1903, when he took a 20 round decision over George Gardner at San Francisco. Only the year before Bob had lost the heavyweight title to Jim Jefferies. Challenger Explosive Referee Harry Kessler scored tonight's bout surprisingly close after taking the fourth round away from Moore on a foul for two low blows. Kessler gave Moore 76 points and Maxim, 72. However, the judges saw it more lop-sidedly. Howard Hess registered 82 for Moore and 58 for Maxim. Fred Cornell favored Archie 87 points to 63. On a round-by-round basis, the United Press favored Moore, 12-2-1. ' Maxim, making his third defense of the crown he won from England's Freddie Mills on January 24, 1950, made his best showings in the third and sixth sessions. However, in most of the other rounds, the action showed a champion going down to defeat because he had a poor right hand whereas his challenger was explosive with both fists. A crocked elbow, resulting from an old break, prevents Maxim from throwing good, straight rights Maxim, an upright boxer but a weak hitter, tried to keep the bobbing and weaving challenger Moore at a distance with left jabs. But Moore marched in and "rode Joey like a horse." He forced the Cleveland Italian about the ring, always aiming for the ropes, where he could bend Joey back and rock him with lefts and rights to the head. During the forcing process, Moore battered Maxim's body until it was almost as red as his blood stained white trunks. Moore, favored at 8-5, has a return-bout contract for a defense against Maxim in 60 days. But whether the thoroughly beaten Maxim would demand the return was a question. His wounds certainly will not permit a return in 60 days. If Maxim does not demand the return, Moore may defend against Randy Turpin of England, former middleweight king. That defense would be at the end of six-months, permitting Dusky Moore to pick up some money in Argentina fighting non-title bouts. Although the bout was one-sided, the closing sessions. The fans appeared to enjoy it and to be delighted with the victory of Moore, who was born in Toledo, O., but who launched his professional career in St. Louis 16 years ago. The gate of $89,486 broke the former Missouri record of $56,907 attracted at St. Louis on January 16,1950, by the Willie Pep-Charley Riley featherweight fight. Promoter Emory Jones, the St. Louis representative of the International Boxing Club, was delighted with the receipts of. the seventh title fight In St. Louis history. Moore, who was evaded by previous champions Gus Lesnevich and Freddie Mills,, and who didn't get the shot at Maxim until the New York commission forced the fight, Will be stepping into the footprints of some great light-heavy champions in the past. They include Fitzsimmons, Jack Dillon, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Battling Siki, Paul Berlenbach and Tommy Loughran. In the dressing room, Maxim said he hadn't fought since his last defense against Sugar Ray Robinson on June 25, and that the nearly six months' lay-off was too long. "I needed this fight under my belt tonight," he said. "I'll be in much better condition for my return with Moore. Sure I want it.' Moore said, "I made up in 15 rounds what I had missed in 16 years." Maxim suffered a beating tonight, but he was well rewarded with a guarantee of $100,000. Moore will receive 10 per cent of the net" proceeds which will include $50,000 from television and radio. Moore was favored at 8-5 after many fluctuations in the wagering during the past 24 hours. The Times Record, Troy, N.Y 26 June 1952 Maxim TKOs Robinson in 14th Round New York (AP)— The glorious ring career of Sugar Ray Robinson may have come to an end in the blast furnace heat of Yankee Stadium just two rounds away from victory over Light Heavyweight champion Joey Maxim and a third jewel for his gleaming crown.