Tony Janiro
Encyclopedia
Tony Janiro was an Italian-American
middleweight
boxer
from Youngstown
, Ohio
. Janiro never won a championship, although he faced many of the top fighters of his era. Despite his reputation as a playboy who avoided training, Janiro compiled a record of 83 wins (26 KOs), 11 losses, and two draws.
, but his family relocated to Youngstown when he was four years old. He left Youngstown for New York
at the age of 16 to pursue a career in boxing. Janiro received advice and assistance from fellow Youngstown native Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini (father of Ray Mancini
), who introduced Janiro to his manager, Frankie Jacobs, and boxing trainer Ray Arcel
. In the 1940s, Janiro was ranked among the top 10 middleweights and fought Hall of Famers such as Rocky Graziano
, Jake LaMotta
, and Kid Gavilan
. During one bout at Madison Square Garden
, the young boxer was introduced to ringside fan Harry S. Truman
, then President of the United States. Janiro had one draw with Graziano, who knocked him out in 1951. He fought from 1943 to 1952.
that was frequented by boxing managers and trainers. (The bar is often referred to in journalist A.J. Liebling's boxing articles.) Several years before his death, Janiro returned to Youngstown, where he was employed at the Mahoning County Courthouse. In 1984, he was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame, and was honored at a testimonial banquet held in Boardman, Ohio. Speakers at the event included former boxing champions Willie Pep
, Jake LaMotta, Beau Jack
, and Carmen Basilio
.
Tony Janiro died of kidney failure after suffering a heart attack in his home in the spring of 1985. He was survived by his sister, Mrs. Amelia Marian; a brother, Frank of Youngstown, and a granddaughter. Funeral services for Janiro were held at St. Christine's Roman Catholic Church
, in Youngstown.
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Youngstown
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Janiro never won a championship, although he faced many of the top fighters of his era. Despite his reputation as a playboy who avoided training, Janiro compiled a record of 83 wins (26 KOs), 11 losses, and two draws.
Early life and boxing career
Janiro was born in Springdale, PennsylvaniaSpringdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River. The population was 3,405 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Springdale is located at ....
, but his family relocated to Youngstown when he was four years old. He left Youngstown for New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the age of 16 to pursue a career in boxing. Janiro received advice and assistance from fellow Youngstown native Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini (father of Ray Mancini
Ray Mancini
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...
), who introduced Janiro to his manager, Frankie Jacobs, and boxing trainer Ray Arcel
Ray Arcel
Ray Arcel was a boxing trainer who was active from the 1920s through the 1980s. He trained eighteen world champions....
. In the 1940s, Janiro was ranked among the top 10 middleweights and fought Hall of Famers such as Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
, Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
, and Kid Gavilan
Kid Gavilan
Gerardo González , better known in the boxing world as Kid Gavilan, was a former world welterweight champion from Cuba...
. During one bout at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, the young boxer was introduced to ringside fan Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
, then President of the United States. Janiro had one draw with Graziano, who knocked him out in 1951. He fought from 1943 to 1952.
Retirement and final years
After his retirement, he worked as a bartender at the Neutral Corner, a bar located near Stillman's GymLou Stillman
Louis Ingber , better known as Lou Stillman, was a legendary boxing trainer who had a gym in New York City, but whose fame transcended beyond New York and into boxing circles virtually everywhere else...
that was frequented by boxing managers and trainers. (The bar is often referred to in journalist A.J. Liebling's boxing articles.) Several years before his death, Janiro returned to Youngstown, where he was employed at the Mahoning County Courthouse. In 1984, he was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame, and was honored at a testimonial banquet held in Boardman, Ohio. Speakers at the event included former boxing champions Willie Pep
Willie Pep
Guglielmo Papaleo was an American boxer who was better known as Willie Pep. Pep boxed a total of 1956 rounds in the 241 bouts during his 26 year career, a considerable number of rounds and fights even for a fighter of his era. His final record was 229-11-1 with 65 knockouts...
, Jake LaMotta, Beau Jack
Beau Jack
Sidney Walker, better known as Beau Jack, , was an American lightweight boxer, he was a world champion twice...
, and Carmen Basilio
Carmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
.
Tony Janiro died of kidney failure after suffering a heart attack in his home in the spring of 1985. He was survived by his sister, Mrs. Amelia Marian; a brother, Frank of Youngstown, and a granddaughter. Funeral services for Janiro were held at St. Christine's Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, in Youngstown.