10 Legendary Boxers Fighting Out of New York
New York has a long and storied history in the world of boxing, with countless legendary fighters hailing from the state. Some on our list were born there while others were born elsewhere, but called it home for their professional careers. We take a look at some of the top boxers in history from New York.
10 Boxing Legends From New York
Sugar Ray Robinson
Born in Ailey, Georgia, Robinson moved to New York City as a child and grew up to become one of the greatest boxers of all time. He held titles in multiple weight classes and had a record of 173 wins, 19 losses, and 6 draws.
Mike Tyson
Jan 16, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is seen before the Deontay Wilder and Artur Szpilka heavyweight title boxing fight at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
When you think of New York fighters, likely the first who comes to mind is “Iron” Mike Tyson. Born in Brooklyn, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20. He had a career record of 50 wins, 6 losses, and 2 no contests. Despite now being 58 years old, “Iron Mike” is preparing for a return to the ring to face Jake Paul on November 15. Speaking on the upcoming fight “Iron Mike” recently said: “I’m going in there with bad intentions. My intention is to hurt this young man [Jake Paul]. [The fans] won’t believe the spectacle that’s gonna happen. It’s gonna be something they’ve never experienced before, as far as pain is concerned.”
Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta, also known as the “Raging Bull,” was a professional boxer born in The Bronx, New York in 1922. LaMotta had a long and storied career in the ring, with a record of 83 wins, 19 losses, and 4 draws. He won the middleweight championship in 1949 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. LaMotta’s life story was the basis for the 1980 film “Raging Bull,” directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro as LaMotta.
Carmen Basilio
Carmen Basilio was a professional boxer born in Canastota, New York in 1927. Basilio won world championships in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions during his career, which spanned from 1948 to 1961. He had a record of 56 wins, 16 losses, and 7 draws. Basilio was known for his aggressive style and toughness in the ring, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. After retiring from boxing, he worked as a bartender and owned a bowling alley.
Benny Leonard
Benny Leonard was a professional boxer born in New York City in 1896. Leonard was a lightweight champion in the 1920s, with a career record of 183 wins, 24 losses, and 6 draws. He was known for his speed and ring intelligence, and was often compared to the great Sugar Ray Robinson. Leonard retired from boxing in 1932 and later became a referee and boxing analyst. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born as Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City in 1919, was a professional boxer who competed in the middleweight division. Graziano had a career record of 67 wins, 10 losses, and 6 draws, and won the middleweight championship in 1947. Graziano was known for his powerful punches and brawling style in the ring. After retiring from boxing, he worked as an actor and appeared in several films and TV shows. Graziano was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
Riddick Bowe
Born in Brooklyn, Bowe won the heavyweight championship in 1992 and had a career record of 43 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no contest. One question mark over his career is that he didn’t get a chance to fight Mike Tyson for conflicting reasons.
Billy Conn
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Conn moved to New York City as a teenager. He competed in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions during his career, and had a record of 64 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw. He is best known for his fight against Joe Louis in 1941, where he famously said he was going to “Joe, you’re in a fight tonight” before losing in the 13th round. Conn retired from boxing in 1948 and later worked as a sports commentator. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Floyd Patterson
Floyd Patterson was a professional boxer born in Waco, North Carolina in 1935, but raised in Brooklyn, New York. Patterson won the gold medal in boxing at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. He went on to become the heavyweight champion of the world, winning the title twice during his career. Patterson was known for his quick hands and footwork in the ring. After retiring from boxing, he worked as a trainer and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
Gene Tunney
Gene Tunney was a professional boxer born in New York City in 1897. Tunney competed in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions during his career, and had a record of 65 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. He is best known for his two fights against Jack Dempsey, where he won the heavyweight championship in 1926 and successfully defended it in a rematch the following year. Tunney retired from boxing in 1928 and later worked as a businessman and philanthropist. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
These are just a few of the many great boxers to come out of New York over the years. Their achievements in the ring have left a lasting impact on the sport of boxing and helped establish New York as one of the epicenters of the sport.
