Charley Fusari

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charley Fusari (August 20, 1924 — November 1, 1985) was an American boxer born in Italy.[1]

Fusari fought for the vacant National Boxing Association World welterweight title in 1951, but lost a majority decision to Johnny Bratton [2], fight in which Fusari was down for a four-count in the 4th round and a nine-count in the 10th.

this was an article i found on him i am his great niece Sylvia Fusari

CHARLEY FUSARI

THE IRVINGTON MILKMAN-CHARLEY FUSARI NEW JERSEY'S GOLDEN BOY

By: Bob Fernandez, Sr.

It would be impossible to write about New Jersey Boxing and the great boxers the State produced and not include the Irvington Milkman-Charley Fusari. He never won a championship but if ever there was a Golden Boy he was it. He had Hollywood leading man good looks. This handsome blonde Italian-American was very popular with the fans. Men were won over to him by his power punches plus his will to win along with large amounts of courage and heart. Charley gave 100% of himself every time he stepped through the ropes. Never in a dull fight. The women fans just liked to look at him.

Charley was a welterweight, slim yet well muscled for his frame. The 147 pounder always appeared in public well dressed and neat in appearance. We the fans saw him as soft spoken, well behaved, and very articulate. He treated his fans with respect as he did his opponents. There was no braggart or loud foul mouth behavior that sorrowfully we see in some of today' s superstars. Charley was down to earth and he became Jersey's star. Even when his career hit the heights Charley never got a swelled head. The young man had class and charisma. He became a role model to young fighters coming up.

This writer never knew Fusari personally nor have I interviewed him. I write this sketch of him as his fan who followed his career from the first time I ever heard of him. All a loyal fan can learn of his hero is to attend his fights when and if possible. Catch his TV fights. Read all you can find on him. If possible visit his training camp and of course keep rooting for him. I can only offer the reader the things I learned about Charley's Boxing career. His personal life aside, we will focus on only the boxing side that we know.

We do know Charley was born in Acamo, Sicily, Italy in 1924. He came to America at a very young age. His family settled in Irvington, New Jersey. Charley had an older brother who began boxing and Charley took up after him. Tommy Fusari started fighting professionally at the New Jersey clubs on the undercards. Charley entered the amateur ranks briefly and then turned pro in May of 1944 at age nineteen. Older brother Tommy's career fizzled while Charley's caught on. Young Charley had a job on a milk delivery truck and claimed his good conditioning came from the many thousands of stairs he'd climbed and the running involved in delivering the bottles of milk. This caught on with boxing writers and the name Irvington Milkman was born.

As a youngster of twelve, I remember vividly the year 1945. I kept seeing fight Dosters around town. Some were put in store and bar windows. Others were nailed to telephone poles or tacked on to nonresidential buildings. To explain their existence one had to know our town Elizabeth, New Jersey. We had a local promoter; his name was George "Korn" Kobb. He should be enshrined in the Boxing Hall of Fame. He made Elizabeth a boxing town and developed on his boxing cards some of the great names of the day. Kobb ran weekly fights at the Elizabeth Armory and at Twin City Bowl on the Newark Elizabeth city line. Before that he had run shows at tiny Scott Hall in downtown Elizabeth. Some bright stars got their start at Scott Hall such as Rocky Graziano, Joe Baksi, Freddy Archer, Freddy Russo, Frankie Duane, Clint Miller, etc., etc.

Getting back to the posters, the residents were used to seeing them from all the boxing activity we had. The aforementioned names were familiar to all. Kobb was responsible for distributing the posters all over town. They were his main source of advertising his fight cards. In 1945, I noticed a new name on the posters. One I couldn't pronounce. Fusari. If you are not familiar with fight posters you would find them to be a 24" x 20" cardboard. Across the top would be the locale and date of the fight. Below this would be the favorite's name in large bold red letters. The name below on the bottom would always be in black. The name in black would be the underdog. Some posters would also have the photo of each fighter in his best fighting pose. Under the large name in black was the line "other star bouts", which would start with the semifinal. It would be names like Johnny "Red" DeFazio of Bayonne vs. Tommy Kaczmerek of Elizabeth. Names for the other bouts on the card were something like Joey Gabrielle of Orange vs. Charley Mc Garry of Rahway. Maybe names like Tic

Mollozzi of Elizabeth vs. Eldred "Fox" Williams of New York would be mentioned fighting the four rounders on the card. Other names you might find on these posters who fought the undercards were well known to the fans. Men like Tony Rose, Johnny Darby, Lenny LaBrutta, Birdie Loffa, Tommy Parks, Butch Charles, Freddy Hermann, etc., etc. All good fighters who came to fight. Truly a fight fans bonanza. None of these guys ever came into the ring dressed like clowns or wrestlers as some fighters do today. I noticed the Fusari name was always in red, the favorite. In fine print under his name it would say undefeated Irvington sensation. I was hooked. I became a fan. I asked some adults how they would pronounce that name. One bright guy told me to accent the U and then give the I an E sound. It worked and the name was easy to pronounce thereafter.

That year 1945 the Fusari name was top name over fighters like Lou Miller, Pat Scanlon, Pat Demers and Joey Peralta. Charley was making it big with win after win. They even started putting posters in Elizabeth of Charley's fights that were held in Newark. The names in black were getting to be well known but Charley was always on top in his favorite color red. I didn't know then but those posters would become collector items in future years. The main thing with Fusari was his win streak. It reminded me of the weekly serial at the movie theatre. They had fifteen chapters. Each week the hero, lets say, the Green Hornet was in distress at the end of the chapter. It was only fitting for the kids to return next Saturday to see if the Green One survived. Good business, because the Hornet would again be ready for his demise this week also. It went on for fifteen chapters that way the movie house was filled to capacity each Saturday. So it was with Charley Fusari. We would all be tuned in to see if he would remain undefeated, taking on foe after foe. When he fought out of town, we kids were after the next day's afternoon edition of the newspaper. And Charley, he was great. He kept it going. It's incredible, compared to today's standards, but check the record books if you are a non-believer. Fusari fought twenty two times in 1945. His streak was thirty-two straight at years end. Fights were available and they fought them in those days. With the arrival of Fusari on the fistic scene it couldn't have been better timing. TV was becoming immensely popular. In Elizabeth, on the Avenue at evening time. appliance stores would set up and turn on a TV in the window when closing for the night. At each store it was common to see groups of people standing on the sidewalk in all kinds of weather watching the TV until the programs went off the air for the night. The playing of the National Anthem signified the station was through for the evening thereby dispersing the crowd.

I recall seeing my first TV fight in July of 1945, standing outside a local tavern looking at the set through a side screen door. My friends and I were considered too young to be left inside the bar. The tavern was packed with fans, there to see the Friday Night Fights from M.S.G. in New York City. The bar owners who could afford a large TV set had found a goldmine in the fights. A good set went for big bucks then, and was out of reach for most blue collar folks. They however could afford to nurse a few beers while enjoying the fights. From our position on the sidewalk we picked a bummer of a fight to watch. In a clash of styles Freddy Russo of Rahway, N.J. lost a dreary ten rounder to Sal Bartolo, partial featherweight champion by unanimous decision. Undefeated Russo lost his first fight.

Boxing being the easiest of all sports to televise because the "playing field" is so small and stationery became the darling of the networks. Fights started being televised ~ nights a week in the next few years. TV sets were getting easier to purchase by the working class. With it, boxing boomed.

Nineteen forty six was Fusari's break-out year. He got his first St. Nicholas Arena main event. St. Nick's was the Garden's farm club. Charley took on old vet Maxie Berger and walked away with the decision. He was called back a few months later to defeat Humberto Zavala, a rugged pug who tested all the young rookies. Charley made it thirty-nine straight.

With his win streak in tact and his pleasing wins over Berger and Zavala, the promoters began looking to Freddy Archer as Fusari's next opponent. Freddy was a top welterweight for years, and beat some of the best, such as two wins over Beau Jack and also a decision over Ike Williams. Enough said. Archer was also a Newark, New Jersey boy, a neighbor to Irvington Charley. A match between the two would fill Ruppert Stadium and supply the acid test to the all winning Fusari. Charley would be going after his 42nd win in Archer.

The fight was a blow-out. Fusari simply blew poor Freddy out of the ring. Charley came out of his comer with the opening bell and showered Archer with knockout punches, showing no respect at all for the highly regarded Newark fighter. Archer was sent crashing to the canvas three times in the first round. Somehow he managed to last out the round only to take a severe pasting till he was floored again in the sixth round. Archer's comer did not leave him answer the seventh round bell. It was Fusari's biggest win. His next stop M.S.G.

The wheels were turning for a match with the Garfield Gunner, Tippy Larkin, my favorite fighter. I really hated to see this match made. I figured Larkin would ruin a terrific prospect. The fight was set for December 13, 1946. Larkin pulled out of the match and Chuck Taylor would be his substitute. Taylor boasted two wins over Archer and already fought two main events at the Garden Fusari would have his hands full. For three rounds it looked that way with Fusari taking a pounding. Taylor was winning easily and then Charley got hot. He started to bang Taylor all over the ring landing one bomb after another. Taylor couldn't come out for the seventh. Charley had a kayo for his 44th straight and his first main event in the Garden. The postponement of the Larkin fight and the convincing win over sub Chuck Taylor made the Larkin-Fusari fight a sellout for the Garden when it was finally put on in February 1947.

Larkin came into the ring a huge favorite. He had over one hundred victories on his ledger and loads of experience over the 21 year old blonde bomber. A crowd of over 18,000 showed up for a gross gate of over $115,000.00 huge for the times. Charley not only looked like a "Golden Boy" he was.

Charley and his brain trust must have looked at it this way? It was impossible to outpoint Tippy Larkin. Their only chance was to throw the right hand bomb over and over and take charge. That's exactly what Fusari did. He came out swinging at the first round bell. Midway through the round he floored Larkin for a six count. From there on until the end it was a rout. Tippy would be dropped again in the second, seventh, and twice in the ninth before Referee Arthur Donovan stopped the fight. Charley had his 45th. Straight win and was ranked number two after Tommy Bell for Sugar Ray Robinson's welterweight title. The Garden had a new drawing card, the best since Beau Jack and Rocky Graziano. Charley made Ring Magazine cover for June 1947. With caption: Charley Fusari undefeated New Jersey Welterweight Sensation New Contender for Ray Robinson's Title.

Garden officials put the new drawing card to work just four months later. Charley was matched against another Garden favorite. Tough Tony Pellone. Tony was a well respected opponent. He had some very good wins under his belt and it was thought he'd give the Golden Boy a real battle. Tony was not a hard puncher and a lot of people figured Charley could finally walk through him. They overlooked the fact just how tough Tony was. He was a brawler who threw punches in bunches and he knew what he was doing inside them ropes. Tony had victories over Bob Montgomery, Billy Graham, and Paddy Young among others. Tony was an expert at stealing rounds. Fight buffs called him Tony (Split Decision) Pellone.

It was uncanny the way he'd "shoe-shine" as Teddy Atlas would say. The shoe-shine would come into play near the ending of any close round. Tony would unload bunches of these harmless type punches to finish the round in an attempt to sway the judges. Although his opponent fought the entire round landing the harder and cleaner punches as Charley did. It's only human nature to recall the last furious rally of the round and some judges and fans fell for it. I believe that's what brought Charley his first defeat.

On June 13.1947 Charley Fusari's streak was ended at forty five straight. His 46th fight spelled disaster for the Blond Bomber. Some records record 48 straight for Fusari. Take your pick. The fact remains Charley never fought such a tough cagey guy like Pellone before. Charley's right hand bombs only shook Pellone but didn't drop him. Tony, with his punch in bunch rough-house style had Charley baffled in this rough Garden bout. Charley, who was installed by the gamblers as a 12 to 5 favorite started swelling around the left eye by the end of the fifth round. Fusari took his first loss like the pro that he was and called Pellone "tough". The scoring was Judge Jack O'Sullivan, 5-4-1 Fusari. Judge Marty Monroe 6-4 Pellone, and Ref. Arthur Donovan 6-3-1 Pellone. So again Tony lived up to his nick name "Split Decision". Pellone fought the fight he had to fight and it was one of his best efforts. In any event both fighters fought hard and well.

The Garden big-wigs were stunned by Charley's loss. They had to get Fusari back on track. Their new drawing card had to regain lost prestige. Fusari fans felt bad because Charley had worked so damn hard to get to the top and the bigger money, only to lose such a close one.

Everyone involved with the matchmaking agreed Fusari needed some immediate wins to take the sting out of the Pellone loss. A little over a month later Charley was back in the Garden paired with Eddie Giosa. Boxing buffs couldn't understand why Giosa was chosen. He had a style almost a carbon copy of Pellone's. If they wanted to get Charley back on the winning side their selection of Giosa was in error. Maybe Fusari' s recent smashing kayo victories had the matchmaker seeing through rose colored glasses.

The fight with Giosa was a nip and tuck slam bang affair. Steady Eddie was slipping and sliding, ducking and countering in most likely the fight of his life. Giosa bullied and tried to keep Charley off stride. The writers called it the best fight of the season which was halfway into the yearly schedule. Little Eddie Giosa came into the Garden ring a 5-17 underdog. Charley was pegged at 2 to 1 to score a kayo. Giosa being shorter and lighter in weight it certainly looked like a mismatch.

The fight drew the smallest turnout of the year. Giosa wasn't given a chance and the tickets didn't sell. He had earned the fight by being a consistent winner in the smaller New York City clubs the past year. The fans that did show up at the Garden were in for a huge surprise. "Upset". Giosa came to fight and fight he did. The small crowd immediately got behind the underdog as boxing fans usually do. They rooted little Eddie all the way in for his victory. Ref. Arthur Donovan had it 5-5 in rounds and 12 points to 12 for a~. Judge Tom Guilhoyle had it 5-5 in rounds with 10-9 in points for Giosa. Judge Frank Forbes had it 5-4-1 Giosa. How close can you get?

Two losses in a row set Fusari back big time. People wondered was he a "flash in the pan"? A bright shooting star that burned out so soon and completely? We all would find out soon enough. The heart and determination of this fighter would now be tested. Would he feel sorry for himself and lay down or would he stand up and be counted? The best of Charley Fusari was yet to come. That's what made it a pleasure to follow this Golden Boy's career.

The Pellone and Giosa losses jolted Charley's fans back to the world of reality. With each KO win he had scored some people including boxing writers were getting carried away with visions of Charley defeating the impossible to defeat Sugar Ray Robinson. In all probability Fusari's Right hand fascinated them into that belief.

Charley was handled by the Marsillo Brothers. Vic was his manager and a very good one by the way. He had the right connections and the know-how to take Fusari to the heights. Vic's brother Tony was a good trainer. With the Marsillo Brothers and Charley's punch and will to win, I couldn't see him out of the limelight for any length of time. As a fan, about this time I received a huge lift as far as Charley's ability was concerned. One evening while watching fighters train at the local gym I had the pleasure of meeting Butch Charles. This retired fighter was pointed out to me by a trainer who knew I was a Fusari fan. I walked up to Butch and asked him if what the trainer had told me was true. The trainer (Tony Orlando) claimed Butch had fought and lost twice to Fusari. Butch Charles admitted he lost two six round decisions to Fusari. He also fought and beat Paddy DeMarco. (DeMarco was destined to become lightweight champion of the world). I asked Butch what he thought of Fusari. He claimed Charley was a very good puncher especially with "that right hand." "If Fusari stays dedicated and listens to his trainers he can't miss". I was surprised by his comments. Usually when you talk to a fighter about his losses they almost always claim they were robbed or the ref had it in for them etc., etc. Not Butch Charles, he simply answered my questions never claiming anything to benefit himself or make excuses for the losses. He praised his opponent. Butch Charles showed class. His comments picked me up out of the doldrums from any subconscious thoughts that Fusari couldn't come back.

A month after the Giosa loss Fusari was back at MSG. This time against a former service champion who won an all Army title while overseas. Joe DiMartino. After his discharge Joe fought mainly in the New England area winning some, losing some until he finally got a match with a big name. The former welterweight champion of the world Marty Servo. Marty was on a comeback after relinquishing the title. DiMartino grabbed the "Go1d Ring", and scored a stunning kayo over the bewildered ex-champ. When you get the gold ring you always get a big-money reward. For Joe it was a Fusari bout in the garden. DiMartino's first garden main event was a disaster. Either he choked or suffered the fate of so many first time main eventers in Boxings "Punch Palace"_Gardenitus. Fusari simply slammed Joe around like a beach ball. DiMartino wasn't in the fight at all. The win did nothing to enhance Charley's prestige. It went into the books as a four round kayo win for Fusari, best to be forgotten.

Vic Marsillo decided to take his charge to the New England area for further seasoning and hopefully some impressive wins in a series of fights against styles the more difficult the better. Charley was known to have an "awkwardly clever style," along with a right hand bomb. So some good fights were at hand for Fusari. Also a learning process which would pay off big in Charley's future. Marsillo knew exactly what he was doing. Now the reader must grasp the situation as it was in late' 47 and all of 1948. Here was this young handsome kid. A fan favorite. A large drawing card who was still a leading contender for the title, in short a Golden Boy ready to fight local boys in their hometowns. These fighters who Charley would be fighting were never rated, never fought for big money. Grant you they were good, only never got the right breaks. Here was their chance to fight a big name. They simply got ready for the fight of their lives. They trained like Rocky Balboa and fought like they never had before. If they caught the Gold Ring as DiMartino did against Servo they would be rewarded with all the things a top fighter got in those days. A money bout and a chance to be rated in the top ten.

Charley caught hell in most of his next dozen fights. He had to fight for his life for small purses. He did get the experience and the wins kept him rated among the top ten. He would battle his way back to Madison Square Garden for some money fights. His first fight after the lackluster De Martino win was a bout with Johnny Cesario a very slick boxer not nationally known but well thought of in New England rings. Charley fought him in Boston to a very hard fought draw. Charley's brain trust thought he was robbed and demanded a return bout. Only this time in Newark, New Jersey, Charley's turf. Charley lost in an upset in the return. Cesario caught the Gold Ring fought the two best fights of his career, became nationally known, rated, and got more than a few TV fights for good money. Charley went back to Boston to kayo Gus "Pell" Mell another New Englander and then went right back to Boston and lost to Al "Red" Priest in a torrid ten rounder. Priest was a good fighter but only known by hard core boxing fans and his Boston faithful. Now he was known throughout the boxing world at Fusari' s expense. He too had caught the Go1d Ring. Two months later Charley reversed the tables right there in Boston. And so it went. Charley came back to my hometown for fights with Laurie Buxton and Ruby Kessler. Both were average to good club fighters who were believed to be able to give Charley good workouts. They both fought the best fight of their careers. Everything to gain and nothing to lose. Charley had to fight like hell to take down both decisions. The Fusari vs. Kessler fight set an all time record in money and attendance for Promoter George "Korn" Kobb at Twin City Bowl. I had the pleasure of attending both fights and Kobb out did himself with the Fusari-Kessler brawl. Twin City Bowl was packed. Fans were turned away. At least twenty people crawled up on the dressing room roof. They perched there to watch the fights to the dismay of the police who tried to get them down, but gave up trying when the prelims started. It was lucky that the roof was able to hold up under all that weight avoiding a horrific accident.

Fusari and Kessler was a huge success, both boys very popular with Elizabeth fans. When I think back, George Kobb brought so many good fighters to Elizabeth. Recalled are Sugar Ray Robinson (three times), Beau Jack, Willie Pep, Arturo Godoy, Melio Bettina, Tami Mauriello, Fritzie Zivic, Tommy Bell and so many others too numerous to mention. Kobb's shows were always well contested bouts available to the fans at down to earth prices.

Charley was becoming a finished fighter, gaining mucho experience in these competitive fights. He finished 1948 with a kayo in Boston and two knockouts in Jersey City over Tony Riccio the tough Bayonne battler and a second kayo win over Tippy Larkin, his old foeman.

It was now 1949, Charley's best year. He started with a ten round win over little known Frankie Palermo at the Mosque Theatre in Newark, N.J. A bam burner, Palermo was determined to come away with an upset win. Charley had to climb off the floor to win this one. I attended the fight and it was worth every penny of the dollar fifty I paid for my ticket. Kobb was branching out into Newark for this one.

Charley was now through with school. His next bout would be where he belonged. Back at Madison Square Garden. Six weeks after Palermo he would take on the highly regarded Rocky Castellani. Charley had fought his way back into the Garden main bout by fighting a host of rough tough determined fighters.

I like to call the Castellani fight one of the top wins of Charley's career. Rocky was a tough complete fighter. He was a very good boxer and he could punch, very tricky and ring wise was he. Rocky was installed the favorite at 7-5. He was the "Rookie of the year for 1948," and had a four pound pull in the weights. Fusari 147-1/2 to Rocky's 15l-1/4. His punch put Fusari down right off the bat in the first round. Charley survived t he round and fought uphill for the remainder of the pleasing fight and walked off with the unanimous decision. Rocky Castellani was the best fighter Charley had defeated up to this point in his career. Rocky being young, strong and able. I'm not forgetting Tippy Larkin. Larkin was in the twilight of his long career when he first fought the young Fusari but it too was a big win for Charley.

As Fusari was battling his way back to the big time another young welterweight was making huge waves out in the mid-west. His name was Vince Foster; he was managed by the affabled Jack Hurley and could punch like a mule kick. His style was exactly like Rocky Graziano's. With a string of kayos behind him. Hurley brought Foster to New York. Foster was easy to sell. He had youthful good looks and a muscular body with an all out killer style. The Garden matchmakers put him in a semi-final bout against fan favorite Nick Mistovich, a real tough guy. Both boys went at it hammer and tong with Foster winning the decision. The fans loved this kid who was billed as of Irish-American Indian heritage. The Indian part of it was true, his family lived on a mid-west reservation and he had attended Indian schools. That blond hair had to be the Irish in him. The fighting instincts could be attributed to both nationalities both being noted for ferocious fighting qualities. The garden was quick to match this dynamo with Tough Tony Pellone. Tony fought many main bouts in the Garden. Although he took on the best likeIke Williams, Kid Gavilan, Tony Janiro, Billy Graham, Charley Fusari he was never kayoed there. This kid Foster would change all that. Pellone was installed the 9-5 favorite to whip the 22 year old upstart.

In a stunning upset Vince Foster flattened Tony Pellone in :44 seconds of the seventh round. Tony was down for a four count in the third round a no count in the fourth and finally twice in the fatal seventh. Long right hands followed by crunching left hooks to the body did Tony in. He took the full ten count. The fans were stunned never having seen Tony down before. The New York News Saturday Edition had a large photo of Foster standing over a downed Pellone with the words "Tough Tony Hardened - in Starch". It was a sensational win, very impressive. This kid had the old-timers of the era buzzing. He looked like the real article. One could see real greatness in this solid socking brawler. Only thing was there was a flaw, he was too good to be true. The fans would fmd out soon enough.

The Garden promoters couldn't have been happier. With Foster's great KO win over Pellone and Charley's fine win over Rocky Castellani, what better fight could they come up with than Foster vs. Fusari? A real puqchers battle. They went for it. The winner of this fight would be pitted against the "Dead End'Kid" Rocky Graziano, outdoors. The N.Y. State Athletic Commission was getting ready to reinstate Graziano after a three year suspension. The Foster-Fusari winner would welcome back Rock-A-Bye-Rocky in a city ball park. Lots of great action ahead for the fans. Foster was made the favorite over Charley probably because they were using Tony Pellone as a yardstick. Fusari had lost to Pellone. Foster had run over Pellone like a steamroller for a sensational kayo win over the Greenwich Village tough guy. The fight was set for May 13, 1945.

Before the first round bell had faded away Foster was on the attack. He landed the same crunching and bruising left hooks to Fusari' s body that had set up Pellone. They only shook Charley. Foster came rushing in to deliver more of the same and was caught with the best of Fusari. A smashing right hand flush on his jaw. It dropped the westerner for the first of three trips to the canvas and Fusari's greatest win. Fusari had won a ballpark fight with the homecoming Rock.

For Foster it was his last fight. A bit over two months after his kayo defeat he was killed in a car crash. His car traveling at a very high rate of speed smashed into the rear of a trailer truck. He and a woman companion perished. His manager, Jack Hurley who had piloted many fighters including Billy Petrolle, the Fargo Express, explained to reporters that this kid Foster was unmanageable. A wild unruly rebel with an unpredictable temperament. Wine, women, partying and speed was his forte. So on that lonely Pipestone, Minnesota road this mixed up kid threw his life away and destroyed what looked like to many, despite the Fusari loss, a great talent as a fighter that could have made him very rich and famous. What a tremendous waste. It was all at his fmgertips for the taking. But playing the part of the fool was more important. He was one month away from his twenty-second birthday.

Fusari was on top of the world. He would now face the former middleweight champion of the world. The very popular Rocky Graziano. Their fight would be set for mid September 1949 in New York's Polo Grounds. Rocky would be the favorite because of his huge punching ability. The Rock-A-Bye-Baby also would have a pull in the weights of twelve pounds. Those close to the sport gave Fusari a good chance of pulling the upset. Charley too was a good puncher; he was also very durable never having been knocked out before. He also had developed into a fine boxer. These assets especially the boxing ability could bring home the victory for Charley. There was a lot of anticipation before the fight. New Yorkers' had missed their beloved "Rocky". He hadn't appeared in that city for three years. They were anxious to get Rocky back a winner.

Charley set up camp at the old "Madame Bey" training camp at Summit, N.J. now known as Ehsans. It was one of the most famous training camps in boxing history. All the greats trained there at one time or another. Some friends and I made out way to the site to watch Charley work out. Fusari looked very good in a brisk sparring session with Johnny "Red" DeFazio. After his workout Charley hit the shower. Most of the fans waited for him outside hoping to talk to him and maybe get a snap shot of their favorite fighter. Charley came out and graciously, talked and shook hands with his fans. I was able to wish him good luck against Graziano with a hand shake. Charley also stood still for the cameras before his team whisked him off. We were able to get two snaps of Charley which I still have to this day. He appeared more than ready and confident for the biggest fight of his life.

Graziano came into the ring a fit 159-1/2 pounds. Fusari scaled 147-1/2. These two warriors put on a great fight with Rocky throwing his usual bombs and pursuing the Irvington Blonde. Charley kept sticking out his jab and making Rocky miss. Fusari mixed it up with straight jarring rights that stung Rocky more than once. They would often engage in spirited exchanges some of which Charley came out on top. Fusari had to be very careful in these exchanges. Slugging it out with Rocky was like handling a rattler. One mistake and you're out. Going into the ninth round Fusari was doing so well he took all out liberties with Rocky and won the round big. Going into the tenth and last round Fusari was ahead on all scorecards. Rocky was swinging like a gate, huge haymakers. Fusari was punching back while slipping the bombs. Rocky had become totally desperate and came on in maniacal charges. One bomb finally caught Charley on the chin driving him against the ropes. Charley was in trouble. Rocky battered Charley along the ropes and Fusari slid to the canvas. Charley took nine and got up wobbly. Graziano was on him like a cat slinging rights and lefts into his helpless foe until the referee stopped the deadly onslaught with less than a minute left to the final bell. Fusari could have played it safe and he would have walked away with the decision. But that just wouldn't be Charley Fusari. He was a fighter first and always.

In the next eight months Charley would fight in Madison Square Garden three times. Terry Young was badly beaten into an eighth round stoppage. Jimmy Flood was thrashed in ten rounds, Fusari romped. Charley then fought Paddy Young in a brutal ten rounder won by Young by one point. A slam-bang battle that most observers thought Charley on. Including your writer. Ironically it was the third Garden main bout that Charley lost by split decision. Give the man a break, please.

The break if anyone can call it that was a shot at the championship of the world. A chance at the title is the pinnacle of every fighter's dreams. The goal that only so few achieve. The pot of gold at rainbows end. Only for Charley it was never sugar and honey. The only sugar in this deal was "Sugar" Ray Robinson the welterweight champ. He offered to defend his title against Charley at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. Charley as a top contender and Robby figured the challengers back yard would be the right place. This was a fight Charley couldn't win. He and his team knew only a miracle could bring Charley home a winner. He would be up against the greatest fighter to ever lace on a glove. Robby would enter the ring with only one loss in over one hundred fights. obinson could box, punch and had an iron chin. Some people believed Charley's great right hand was his only hope. If they checked, Robby had fought the best punchers in three divisions' lightweight, welter and middleweight and no one came near kayoing him.

Robinson was having a difficult time making the 147 lb. limit. He had defended his title four times in three years. Rules called for two defenses a year. It wasn't Robinson's fault he was behind in title bouts. Some of the contenders turned down offers to fight for the championship. They knew they couldn't win. A situation unheard of in boxing history.

That's how good Robby was. Robby didn't mind this turn of events because making 147 was getting to be almost impossible for him. He kept busy fighting middleweights. He'd like to hold on to the welterweight title till he could get a middleweight champ into the ring with him. He had to make a welterweight defense in 1950 or run the risk of getting stripped by the commission. Fusari was offered the bout and he took it. Charley would fight an army tank, he believed in himself. One had to feel sorry for Fusari, he had fought long and hard to get a title shot only to get his chance at a super champ. Charley would be a huge, huge underdog.

At the weigh-in Charley looked to be in great shape. Robby looked drawn and gaunt from hours of steam room time and crash dieting. This, some Fusari supporters were wishful in their thinking might be the key for a Fusari win. Robinson would be weak and not at his best especially in the later rounds.

In August of 1950 Sugar Ray Robinson took on Charley Fusari in that Jersey City ring. The undisputed title up for grabs. The fight was a sparring session. Robinson retained his title with a fifteen round decision. The referee Paul Cavalier had it 13-1-1, Robinson. At that time New Jersey used the referee as lone judge. He and only he decided the winner.

Robby simply outclassed Fusari, never setting down on his punches, it was a boxing clinic. Robinson must have decided not to go to war with the youngster. He was so weak from making weight it would be easier to just box smoothly to an easy decision. There was some talk after the fight that Charley midway through the bout told his comer he was ready to "go for broke." Cooler heads told him if the champ wants to box, box. The loss certainly didn't hurt Fusari. Nobody beats Sugar Ray, yet Charley could say he went the fifteen round route with the best.

In February of 1951 Robinson won the middleweight championship. That left his welterweight title vacant. The National Boxing Association (NBA) set up a match between Charley Fusari vs. Johnny Bratton for their version of the title. The New York Commission had Kid Gavilan as their title holder. Fusari went to Chicago to fight Bratton in Johnny's hometown. He did himself proud. In a grueling fifteen round war Charley fought one of the best fights of his career. Although dropped twice in the contest, Charley came back like a man possessed meeting Bratton toe to toe in a torrid bout. Bratton a slick boxer-puncher was a fighter who had ups and downs in his career, but when he was on he was on. Charley met him on his on night and what a brawl it was. TV viewers cross the country disagreed with the split-decision Bratton received. I believe if the fight was held in New York City, Fusari would have won the title.

Kid Gavilan would defeat Bratton to claim the full title. Fusari went on to meet the up and coming Gil Turner, a real whirlwind hard puncher who was undefeated.

It was another barn-burner with both boys going all out. Fusari was floored in the eleventh round for the count. Turner was quoted as saying "I said a prayer so that guy wouldn't beat the count. I had enough of him for one evening."

Charley took time off and returned to the ring half a year later. He was lucky to gain the decision over Jimmy Champagne, a local club fighter. Charley thought the layoff was esponsible for his poor showing and took a rematch three weeks later. Charley had nothing left and was easily out pointed. Fusari was smart enough to see this and retired for good. No comebacks as most fighters do. Charley was 27-1/2 years old.

Insiders in the know could see why Charley's skills had eroded so soon. Charley always fought hard. His fights from the Graziano bout till the Gil Turner fight was a two year period in which Fusari left all he had in the ring. What more can any fight fan ask of a fighter?

My memorial to Charley is this story. My way of paying him for my being able to reminisce, to jog ones memory back in time into a "twilight zone" of boxing, to a decade when boxing was king.

One can turn off the television set. Ignore that book with its stale story. Relax in an easy chair, close your eyes and click one's mind back to the "posters", for a full evening of enjoyment. Immediately the grand years of 1944 through 1947 focus into play. The undefeated Fusari years dance across the scene and bring with them the Golden age of New Jersey boxing. The fistic career of Charley Fusari, the Blonde Bomber a.k.a. '"The Irvington Milkman" the "Golden Boy" of the times. A time of many fight clubs, offering fights to a legion of fighters, good ones, who battled it out for recognition. The reliminary boxers who fought on the under cards were as important and adored by the fans as the main eventers. One could pick out the future stars among them and follow their careers as hey worked their way up the pugilistic ladder. What a great time it was for fight fans. A time which sadly will never be seen again. The sport pages of your local newspapers were full of boxing news and file photos of the favorites of the time in their fighting oses. A fan was able to make a scrapbook of his heroes. That would be impossible in recent times; most sport pages are barren of boxing news.

With so little fight news covered by the media I am often compelled to click on the "Posters" to my favorite time, when always the top name was in red and always the name on top was Fusari. Along with fans of Charley's that are still around, we believe the name Fusari was always in red his entire career because he was our favorite, win, lose or draw. The beat goes on.

Charley Fusari

Country US American Hometown Irvington, NJ Birthplace Acamo, Sicily, Italy Division Welterweight Born 1924-08-20 Died 1985-11-01 Stance Orthodox Height 178 Manager Vic Marsillo Trainer Tony Marsillo

Career Record © www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result 1944-05-08 Jimmy Mills Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 4 1944-05-22 Johnny Spoon Newark, NJ, USA W KO 4 1944-06-07 Gary Williams Union City, NJ, USA W PTS 4 1944-07-11 Butch Charles Union City, NJ, USA W PTS 6 1944-07-25 Charley Worthem Union City, NJ, USA W KO 1 1944-07-28 Artie Di Pietro New York, NY, USA W PTS 4 1944-10-09 Lloyd Lasky Newark, NJ, USA W TKO 4 1944-10-23 Butch Charles Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 6 1944-11-03 Gary Williams New York, NY, USA W TKO 1 1944-11-14 Russell Richter Jersey City, NJ, USA W KO 7 1945-02-01 George Holden Camden, NJ, USA W TKO 2 1945-02-08 Joe Baker Camden, NJ, USA W KO 1 1945-02-22 Joey Neil Camden, NJ, USA W TKO 1 1945-03-01 Jackie Peters Camden, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1945-04-05 Jimmy McDowell Camden, NJ, USA W KO 2 1945-04-16 George Johnson Newark, NJ, USA W KO 3 1945-04-30 Tommy Mills Newark, NJ, USA W KO 3 1945-05-21 Tommy Sloan Newark, NJ, USA W KO 6 1945-06-06 Charlie Finley Elizabeth, NJ, USA W TKO 3 1945-06-13 Lou Miller Elizabeth, NJ, USA W KO 2 1945-07-03 Patsy Zoccano Newark, NJ, USA W KO 2 1945-07-11 Pat Scanlon Elizabeth, NJ, USA W KO 6 1945-08-07 Julie Bort Newark, NJ, USA W KO 1 1945-08-13 Jackie Leamus Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1945-08-27 Jackie Leamus Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1945-09-11 Joey Manfro Newark, NJ, USA W KO 1 1945-09-19 Al Freda Elizabeth, NJ, USA W TKO 3 1945-10-04 Johnny Rinaldi Camden, NJ, USA W KO 1 1945-10-15 Victor Moreno Newark, NJ, USA W KO 7 1945-11-19 Pat Demers Newark, NJ, USA W KO 3 1945-12-11 Joey Peralta Elizabeth, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1945-12-17 Ruby Garcia New York, NY, USA W KO 2 1946-01-24 Al (Baby) Brown Orange, NJ, USA W KO 6 1946-02-11 Maxie Berger New York, NY, USA W UD 10 1946-02-27 Ralph Walton Orange, NJ, USA W KO 6 1946-03-14 Ralph Walton Orange, NJ, USA W PTS 10 1946-03-25 Joey Peralta Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 10 1946-04-02 Annunzio Ferraro Elizabeth, NJ, USA W PTS 10 1946-04-26 Humberto Zavala New York, NY, USA W PTS 10 1946-07-16 Benny Singleton Elizabeth, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1946-07-29 Johnny Lovett Newark, NJ, USA W TKO 8 1946-08-22 Freddie Archer Newark, NJ, USA W TKO 7 1946-10-31 Jack Larrimore Fall River, MA, USA W KO 3 1946-12-13 Chuck Taylor New York, NY, USA W TKO 7 1947-02-14 Tippy Larkin New York, NY, USA W TKO 9 1947-06-13 Tony Pellone New York, NY, USA L SD 10 1947-07-18 Eddie Giosa New York, NY, USA L MD 10 1947-08-22 Joe DiMartino New York, NY, USA W KO 4 1947-09-15 Johnny Cesario Boston, MA, USA D PTS 10 1947-10-08 Humberto Zavala Providence, RI, USA W PTS 10 1947-10-30 Johnny Cesario Newark, NJ, USA L PTS 10 1947-12-08 Sammy Adragna Pittsburgh, PA, USA W PTS 10 1948-01-26 Gus Mell Boston, MA, USA W KO 4 1948-02-16 Al Priest Boston, MA, USA L PTS 10 1948-04-09 Al Priest Boston, MA, USA W PTS 10 1948-06-01 Laurie Buxton Elizabeth, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1948-07-20 Ruby Kessler Elizabeth, NJ, USA W PTS 10 1948-09-20 Johnny Dudley Boston, MA, USA W KO 4 1948-09-28 Tony Riccio Jersey City, NJ, USA W KO 8 1948-10-21 Tippy Larkin Jersey City, NJ, USA W TKO 6 1949-01-06 Frankie Palermo Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 10 1949-02-18 Rocky Castellani New York, NY, USA W UD 10 1949-04-06 Al Guido New York, NY, USA W UD 10 1949-05-13 Vince Foster New York, NY, USA W TKO 1 1949-07-07 Al Evans Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1949-09-14 Rocky Graziano New York, NY, USA L TKO 10 1949-11-11 Terry Young New York, NY, USA W TKO 8 1950-01-11 Tony Janiro Detroit, MI, USA L MD 10 1950-03-10 Jimmy Flood New York, NY, USA W UD 10 1950-04-19 Joey Carkido Philadelphia, PA, USA W UD 10 1950-05-12 Paddy Young New York, NY, USA L SD 10 1950-08-09 Sugar Ray Robinson Jersey City, NJ, USA L PTS 15 1950-10-18 Tony Pellone Chicago, IL, USA W TKO 10 1951-03-14 Johnny Bratton Chicago, IL, USA L SD 15

       Vacant National Boxing Association World Welterweight Title

1951-06-07 Tony Janiro Newark, NJ, USA L PTS 10 1951-07-09 Gil Turner Philadelphia, PA, USA L KO 11 1952-02-19 Jimmy Champagne Newark, NJ, USA W PTS 8 1952-03-11 Jimmy Champagne Newark, NJ, USA L PTS 8

Record to Date Won 65 (KOs 38) Lost 12 Drawn 1 Total 78