alibrat66
2nd String
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- Aug 23, 2011
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Carmen Basilio was arguably one of the most famous athletes to come out of the Syracuse area in the 20th century. Standing about 5' 6", many of his opponents towered over him; several were better pure boxers. However, none of the fighters he battled had as strong a heart. The second fight against Robinson, when he fought half blind, was without question one of the best indicators of his refusal to lose; quitting was never an option for Carmen. Sugar Ray, the winner, spent a few days in the hospital recuperating from the fight. He took two or three punches to get inside, where he'd turn his opponent's midsection into broken kindling.
My father was a huge fan of Carmen's; he rarely missed one of his fights. When I was a kid, my dad attended the Basilio-Robinson fight in which Carmen won the championship. My father brought home Carmen's corner towel (the one fighters spit in, blow their nose on, get their blood wiped off their faces with, etc.) after a night of post-fight drinking and celebrating with his buddies. He hung it on one of the lamps in our living room. My mother awoke and found the towel; not knowing what it represented, and disgusted by the looks of it, she threw it in the trash. My father woke up later that day and had to go through the trash to save his souvenir of Carmen beating Sugar Ray Robinson.
Lionhearted Carmen Basilio may finally be down for the count, but he will never be forgotten.
My father was a huge fan of Carmen's; he rarely missed one of his fights. When I was a kid, my dad attended the Basilio-Robinson fight in which Carmen won the championship. My father brought home Carmen's corner towel (the one fighters spit in, blow their nose on, get their blood wiped off their faces with, etc.) after a night of post-fight drinking and celebrating with his buddies. He hung it on one of the lamps in our living room. My mother awoke and found the towel; not knowing what it represented, and disgusted by the looks of it, she threw it in the trash. My father woke up later that day and had to go through the trash to save his souvenir of Carmen beating Sugar Ray Robinson.
Lionhearted Carmen Basilio may finally be down for the count, but he will never be forgotten.
