http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/carmen_basilio/73763 Recent articles about Carmen Basilio en-us Today’s Episode: Justin buys a bed. I’m still sleeping in the bed I got the day I moved into New York City, more than 10 years ago. It’s not very big, the mattress is uneven and the frame is bent so much that two legs are resting by hockey pucks and I have a stack of books holding up an entire side of the bed so it doesn’t collapse in the night, forcing me to bang my head of the nightstand and die alone on the floor from a subdural hemotoma. And so, let’s go buy a new bed. HOW THE **** DO YOU BUY A BED???? According to the commericals, The employees of Sleepy’s are “the mattress professionals doin’ it right.” Also, I’m supposed to trust Sleepy’s “for the rest of my life.” I am a fan of both competence and puns, so it seemed like a natural fit. I went over the Sleepy’s showroom last Monday, walked up to the desk and said to the woman sitting there, “Hello, I want to buy a bed.” “OK,” she said, “What kind of bed?” Well, I was stumped. “Umm.. a queen sized one?” “Ok Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:20:54 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/bed_sore_rookie_score_and_daryl_more_y/12342598 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/bed_sore_rookie_score_and_daryl_more_y/12342598 Bed Sore, Rookie Score and Daryl More (y) http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bed_sore_rookie_score_and_daryl_more_y/12342598 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Best Fights of Carmen Basilio Monday was marked by the funeral of Carmen Basilio, the famed welterweight and middleweight warrior of the 1950s who defined "will to win" for many boxing fans of that generation. Fight fans loved Basilio for his crowd-pleasing style, and for those who have watched the old footage and seen the man fight, it's no wonder why. Basilio, or "The Upstate Onion Farmer" (go figure that one), was one of those guys who was so tough it seemed he was impervious to pain. He would come in crouching and relentlessly swarm his opponent, and was especially noted for his sharp uppercut and vicious body attack. The Onion Farmer was also a participant in four consecutive fights of the year, from 1955 to 1958, the longest run for any boxer in history. Basilio's heyday was truly something to behold. Basilio was also the first of 15 world champions that legendary trainer Angelo Dundee would guide to the top. Basilio was more than just a ... Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:22:22 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/carmen_basilios_top_5_fights/12200401 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/carmen_basilios_top_5_fights/12200401 Carmen Basilio’s top 5 fights http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/carmen_basilios_top_5_fights/12200401 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Several hundred people packed a church Monday to say final goodbyes to Carmen Basilio, who won the world middleweight boxing crown from Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957 before losing a rematch six months later. Basilio died Wednesday at a Rochester hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia. He was 85. The Hall of Fame boxer was described as a gentle and kind man at his funeral in his hometown Irondequoit, a Rochester suburb. ''Today, I don't remember Carmen as a fighter. I remember him for being the kindest, gentlest, loyal and great man that he was,'' said longtime friend David Binzak, according to the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester. ''The Champ lived an exemplary life. He held his family, faith, country and his fans very close.'' Basilio grew up on an onion farm in Canastota in central New York as one of 10 children of Italian immigrants. He turned pro in 1948 after a stint in the Marines. At 5-foot-6 1/2, Basilio bored relentlessly into opponents and wore them Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:27:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/funeral_for_former_champ_basilio/12197917 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/funeral_for_former_champ_basilio/12197917 Funeral for former champ Basilio http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/funeral_for_former_champ_basilio/12197917 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Several hundred people packed a church to say final goodbyes to Carmen Basilio, who won the world middleweight boxing crown from Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957 before losing a rematch six months later. Basilio died Wednesday at a Rochester hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia. He was 85. The Hall of Fame boxer was described as a gentle and kind man at his funeral Monday in his hometown Irondequoit, a Rochester suburb. Basilio took the welterweight title from Tony DeMarco in 1955 and added the middleweight belt near the close of a 13-year career. At 5-foot-6 1/2, Basilio bored relentlessly into opponents and wore them down with body blows. He's survived by his wife, four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:01:29 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/final_goodbyes_for_former_boxing_champ_basilio/12191779 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/final_goodbyes_for_former_boxing_champ_basilio/12191779 Final goodbyes for former boxing champ Basilio http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/final_goodbyes_for_former_boxing_champ_basilio/12191779 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Carmen Basilio, a genial onion farmer's son who wrested the world middleweight boxing crown from Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957 and lost an equally epic, razor-edge rematch six months later, died on Wednesday at age 85. Edward Brophy, executive director of the Boxing Hall of Fame in upstate New York, said Basilio died at a Rochester hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia. Basilio was among the first class of Hall of Fame inductees in 1990, a group that includes Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Jake LaMotta. Basilio's ferocious battles with the likes of Billy Graham and Kid Gavilan riveted the U.S. during the age of black-and-white television. Hindered on his ascent by a reluctance to deal with mobsters, he took the welterweight title from Tony DeMarco in 1955 and added the middleweight belt near the close of a 13-year career. In his later years, Basilio still could conjure up dates of championship fights, the size of a purse, the name of a referee he loathed. But his me Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:54:22 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxing_hall_of_famer_carmen_basilio_dies_at_age_85/12152266 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxing_hall_of_famer_carmen_basilio_dies_at_age_85/12152266 Boxing Hall of Famer Carmen Basilio dies at age 85 http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/boxing_hall_of_famer_carmen_basilio_dies_at_age_85/12152266 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Carmen Basilio, a genial onion farmer's son with a malevolent left hook who wrested the world middleweight boxing crown from Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957, has died. He was 85. Edward Brophy, executive director of the Boxing Hall of Fame in upstate New York, says Basilio died early Wednesday morning in a Rochester hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia. Basilio lived in the Rochester suburb of Irondequoit (uh-RAHN'-duh-kwoyt) and was among the first class of hall of fame inductees in 1990, a group that included Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Jake LaMotta. His career ended in 1961 with a 56-16-7 record that included 27 knockouts. Basilio's family said he'd been in failing health since heart-bypass surgery in 1992. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:38:27 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxing_leged_basilio_dies_at_85/12151564 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxing_leged_basilio_dies_at_85/12151564 Boxing leged Basilio dies at 85 http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/boxing_leged_basilio_dies_at_85/12151564 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Sugar Ray Robinson Rules a Middleweight Golden Age in the 1950sWhat with Sugar Ray Robinson generally considered the greatest middleweight of all time, and his heyday being the 1950s, here's my list of the five best middleweights of that decade.  There's been no shortage of great middleweights prior to the '50s -- Harry Greb, for instance -- as well as since (the name Marvelous Marvin Hagler leaps to mind), but the Eisenhower era was certainly golden.Sugar Ray Robinson - Public Domain Photo1.  Sugar Ray Robinson (1940-1965; 173-19-6, 108 KOs).  One too often hears the expression "born fighter", but it fits Robinson like a Savile Row suit.  He entered the professional ring in 1940, winning 40 bouts in a row, 29 by KO or TKO.  Jake LaMotta handed him his first defeat in 1943.  The two men fought six times, Robinson winning all but the first.Five-time holder of the middleweight crown, Robinson first won the title in 1951 by stopping LaMotta in the 13th ... Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:06:47 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/top_5_middleweights_of_the_1950s/11923447 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/top_5_middleweights_of_the_1950s/11923447 Top 5 middleweights of the 1950s http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/top_5_middleweights_of_the_1950s/11923447 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/4/14f55b06e209167e0463f56ceacdda86c1ff4061/mini/Robinson_And_Turpin_1d3d.jpg Stars & public came out in force for Inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Boxing stars joined a sold-out crowd of 500 at this past Sunday's inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame ("NYSBHOF") induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York. "Boxing in New York will not be forgotten," NYSBHOF founder Tony Mazzarella said. "Boxers, cornermen, judges, promoters, announcers and others in boxing are being honored." Inducted into the first NYSBHOF class were "Sugar" Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, Mike Tyson, Carmen Basilio, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, Mike McCallum and posthumously Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard and Tony Canzoneri. Non-participant inductees are judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach/instructor Steve Acunto, trainer/cutman Jimmy Glenn and, posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, The Ring Magazine founder Nat Flei... Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:08:02 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/ny_state_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_huge_photos_quotes_round_up/10473832 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/ny_state_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_huge_photos_quotes_round_up/10473832 NY State Boxing Hall of Fame Induction: Huge photos & quotes round-up http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/ny_state_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_huge_photos_quotes_round_up/10473832 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The inaugural New York State Boxing Hall of Fame ("NYSBHOF") induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, will be held Sunday, April 1 at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York. Legendary "Sugar" Ray Robinson, arguably the greatest boxer of all-time, leads a star-studded list of 12 boxers and eight non-participants to be formally inducted. Boxers joining Robinson in the inaugural NYSBHOF class are Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Carmen Basilio, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, Mike McCallum and the late Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard and Tony Canzoneri. Non-participant inductees are judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach/instructor Steve Acunto, trainer/cutman Jimmy Glenn and, posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer, New York Daily News boxing reporter/cartoonist Bill Gallo, and referee Arthur Mercante, Sr. "We're doing this to honor New York fight people," NYSBHOF presid... Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:08:26 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/inaugural_ny_state_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_dinner_april_1st/10263655 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/inaugural_ny_state_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_dinner_april_1st/10263655 Inaugural NY State Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner April 1st http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/inaugural_ny_state_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_dinner_april_1st/10263655 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Hall of Fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee was remembered Friday as a master motivator and a man who left a legacy of kindness during a funeral service attended by Muhammad Ali. Dundee helped mold Ali into a world champion, and Ali was among several hundred people at the 80-minute service. Dundee died last week at 90. The former heavyweight champion entered the Countryside Christian Center through an entrance not visible to the public. He was seated in the front row in front of the casket and a stage lined with flowers, pictures, a painting, and a pair of red boxing gloves sitting on a stool. Ali's wife, Lonnie, spoke on behalf of her husband, who has Parkinson's disease. ''He used to call us all the time and say it doesn't cost nothing to be nice. ... It was like his mantra,'' she said. ''Whenever we saw Angelo there was a smile of his face. He was always a happy guy.'' Promoter Bob Arum was among the speakers, calling Dundee ''one of the nicest people Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:00:42 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/ali_among_attendees_at_dundee_funeral/9867457 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/ali_among_attendees_at_dundee_funeral/9867457 Ali among attendees at Dundee funeral http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/ali_among_attendees_at_dundee_funeral/9867457 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The recent passing of Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee reminds us of just how important having the consistent services of a top notch coach can be in the career of a fighter. While boxing has many instances of fighters who clearly won a given fight because of their own determination or tactical judgement, the trainer is always in the background as the man who helped bring that fighter to his physical peak and sharpened his skills. In other instances, the trainer is decisive and makes the difference between victory and defeat, either by motivating their man, crafting the winning game plan or shrewd, unorthodox corner tactics. Angelo Dundee's storied career provides several examples of just what a world class trainer can do for a boxer, and also shows how such a trainer is often at least as influential on the history of the sport as any one of his charges. 1. Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston I - The story of this 1964 fight has been retold many times. The 22 year old... Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:29:30 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_fights_of_angelo_dundee/9806797 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_fights_of_angelo_dundee/9806797 Top 10 Fights of Angelo Dundee http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/top_10_fights_of_angelo_dundee/9806797 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Angelo Dundee, the brilliant motivator who worked the corner for Muhammad Ali in his greatest fights and willed Sugar Ray Leonard to victory in his biggest bout, died Wednesday in Tampa, Fla. He was 90. The genial Dundee was best known for being in Ali's corner for almost his entire career, but those in boxing also knew him as an ambassador for boxing and a figure of integrity in a sport that often lacked it. He died with his family surrounding him, said son, Jimmy Dundee, but not before being able to attend Ali's 70th birthday bash in Louisville, Ky., last month. ''It was the way he wanted to go,'' Jimmy Dundee said. ''He did everything he wanted to do.'' A master motivator and clever corner man, Dundee was regarded as one of the sport's great ambassadors. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994 after a career that spanned six decades, training 15 world champions, including Leonard, George Foreman, Carmen Basilio and Jose Napoles. Bu Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:10:10 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/famous_trainer_dundee_dies_at_age_90/9721258 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/famous_trainer_dundee_dies_at_age_90/9721258 Famous trainer Dundee dies at age 90 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/famous_trainer_dundee_dies_at_age_90/9721258 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame recently announced its first list of inductees during a press conference in New York at Manhattan’s Gallagher’s Steakhouse. The class of inductees was led by the late ‘Sugar” Ray Robinson, who many fans and experts consider as the greatest boxer in history.There are 11 other boxers being inducted into the new hall of fame along with eight non-fighting members. The induction ceremonies and dinner are scheduled for New York City in March 2012.The other boxers who will be being inducted are Jake LaMotta, Mike Tyson, Carmen Basilio, Carlos Ortiz, Riddick Bowe, Vito Antuofermo, Mike McCallum, Emile Griffith, and the late Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, and Gene Tunney. The eight non-fighting inductees are Harold Lederman (HBO analyst), Steve Acunto (coach), Jimmy Glenn (cutman/trainer) and the late trainers Ray Arcel and Gil Clancy, Nat Fleischer (founder of Ring magazine), Bill Gallo (boxing reporter), and Arthur Mercante, Sr. (referee).The idea of a New York State ha Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:15:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/new_york_state_boxing_hall_of_fames_announces_inaugural_inductees/7694149 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/new_york_state_boxing_hall_of_fames_announces_inaugural_inductees/7694149 New York State Boxing Hall of Fames Announces Inaugural Inductees http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/new_york_state_boxing_hall_of_fames_announces_inaugural_inductees/7694149 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png