Born near in Canastota NY, Carmen Basilio fought his way out of childhood poverty to become a world-renown, boxing champion. Basilio began his professional boxing career in 1948 with a victory over Jimmy Evans in the third round. By 1953, he began rising in the ranks, winning his first world title fight, beating Cuba's Kid Gavilán. In 1957, Basilio would win the biggest fight of his career, going a full 15 rounds to beat Sugar Ray Robinson. He would continue to defend his titles until 1961 when he retired with a record of 56 wins, 16 losses and 7 draws. He would live out his retirement in Rochester, New York; working for a brief time at the Genesee Brewing Company. In 1990, Basilio was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame which was founded in Basilio’s honor, back in his birthplace of Canastota, NY.
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