Home > Joey Giardello

Tilelli was born in Brooklyn, but lived most of his life in Philadelphia, where as a young man he joined many other Italian-Americans in the city in taking up boxing. He turned professional in 1948, not long after his 18th birthday.

As a pro, he quickly racked up an 18-0-1 record in his first 19 fights while facing less-than-stellar opposition. He fought just three men who had previously won a fight during that time. It caught up with Tilelli on January 16, 1950, when he was handed his first 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. He continued to do so for years afterward, but was blocked from receiving a shot at the world championship by the underworld figures who controlled the sport at that time.

It wasn't until 1960 that Tilelli, now known as Giardello, received any kind of 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 30January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 335 days remaining, (336 in leap years). Events 1595 William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is performed for the first time. 1649 King Charles I of England is beheaded. 1781 Artic, 1962Events January January 1 Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand January 3 Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro January 4 New York City introduces a train that operates without a crew on-board January 8 Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is e, was chosen as Ring MagazineRing Magazine is a boxing magazine that was first published in 1922. Ring Magazine first edited by hall of famer Nat Fleischer, has opened boxing scandals, made unknown fighters become famous worldwide and covered boxing's biggest events of all time.'s fight of the year. Then, on June 24June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. Events 1128 Battle of St. Mamede, near Guimaraes. Portuguese forces led by Afonso I beat his mother D. Teresa and D. Fernao Peres de Trava., 1963Events January-March January 11 The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. January 14 George Wallace becomes governor of Alabama. January 22 Elysee treaty between France and Germany January 28 Black student Harvey, Giardello upset boxing legend Sugar Ray RobinsonWalker Smith Jr. May 3, 1921 April 12, 1989), better known in the boxing world as Sugar Ray Robinson was a boxer who was a native of Detroit, Michigan. Robinson is the holder of many boxing records, including the one for the most times being a champion in, and at the age of 33, was finally named as the No. 1 challenger for the world middleweight title.

He didn't waste the opportunity. On December 7December 7 is the 341st day (342nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 24 days remaining. Events History 1732 The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden, London. 1787 Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United Stat, Giardello faced Dick Tiger in Atlantic City for the title and won, taking the world championship by decision in 15 rounds and drawing with Tiger in two others.

He reigned as world champion for nearly two years, winning four fights during that time. The most notable was a December 14, 1964 title defense against Rubin Carter, which many today believe he won on an unjust decision because of the fight's portrayal in the 2000 movie The Hurricane. However, most boxing experts of the time believed he deserved the victory.

Giardello gave Tiger a rematch on October 21, 1965 and this time, the Nigerian decisioned Giardello over 15 rounds to regain the belt. Giardello fought just four more times over the next two years before retiring.

After retirement, he went into private business and went back to his real name, keeping a generally low profile until the movie about Carter's life came out. Angry that his win over Carter was portrayed as a racist "fix", he sued the movie's producers and won a settlement.

He was named to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. His career record was 101 wins, 25 losses and 7 draws, but even more impressively, he was 5-3-1 against other boxers in the Hall of Fame, including a 2-2 mark against Tiger.