Tony Janiro, From Youngstown, Ohio who moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey. A highly-regarded amateur, who turned professional, as a 16 1/2 year-old 5' 7 1/2" - 135 lb. Lightweight. Not big with the punch, but had quick hands, and good footwork. To say they kept him busy in the ring is an 'understatement', as by October 1947 - the 19 1/2 year-old had moved up to 147 lbs. Welterweight, and had compiled a record of 57-3-0 (20 KO's), and was ranked as the #1 Welterweight. In a move to get the 'Good Looking Kid' some exposure, Manager Frank Jacobs decided to test Tony against 'The Raging Bull', Jake La Motta. In theory, it was not a 'smart management move', as there was no 'upside' to the bout. This content is protected
Ah, Tony Janiro, a name from the past...I saw Tony Janiro from Youngstown, Ohio when he first fought in New york...What a great prospect he was the. He was being compared to Tony Canzoneri ,but Janiro was a lot better looking...I would also see Tony train at Stillman's gym...With his rosy cheeks he looked like a choir boy...He was so highly regarded coming up that after a bout he won at old MSG, Vice President Harry Truman shook his hand. So impressive was young Janiro...But Tony loved the ladie's more than he liked training and he never became a champion... He became a bartender in NY after he retired....
June 6, 1947 Madison Square Garden,,,,,,, Fred Jacobs believed he 'scored' a 'coup' over Jake La Motta, by getting the near 26 year-old to agree to come in at 155 lbs. - Jake had been campaigning at 161+ lbs. in recent bouts, and in his last bout 3-months earlier with Tommy Bell, LaMotta could not make the contract weight of 158 lbs., which cost him some dollars. Jake, with a record of 63-10-3 (19 KO's), and a tough brawler, didn't appear to have the power-punch in the later rounds, especially if he had the 'drain out' to make weight. Tony Janiro, still a 19 1/2 year-old kid, despite a 57-3-0 (20 KO's) record, looked to have the speed and skills to out-box Jake, with his cat-quick moves Tony would be a difficult opponent to catch cleanly.
Tony Janiro, After the 'loss' to Jake LaMotta on June 6, 1947 - Tony was back at it 3-months later, and won all '6' bouts for the rest of 1947. At 63-4-0 (21 KO's), his Manager Fred Jacobs wanted another bout with Jake LaMotta, but LaMotta would not agree to a 155 lb. contract weight. Tony 'Good Looking Kid' was only 20 years-old, and regarded as a certified Top 10 Welterweight.
20 years old + over 60 fights.Floyd ''1 fight a year'' mayweather is lucky he werent around in the 40s
Yes, The movie 'The Raging Bull' portrayed it that Jake LaMotta ruined Tony Janiro. The kid was only a 19 1/2 year-old - 147 lb. Welterweight - a good boxer with little punch. Jake LaMotta was a 26 year-old seasoned Middleweight. Tony was back at it 3-months later, and won 6 in a row, before heading into 1948. On January 16, 1948 - Tony lost a 'heart-breaking 10-Round Decision to (156 lb.) Laverne Roach 21-1-0 (9 KO's), in a Middleweight Bout. The 20 year-old Tony at 69-6-0 (22 KO's) was forced to move up to a higher weight, as none of the other Top Welterweights wanted to fight him. This content is protected
Senor, your avater above brings back memories of Beau Jack in great pain when he broke his kneecap in the fight with Tony Janiro at MSG in 1947... I saw that depressing bout where the brave Beau was in great pain hopping on one fought, until the referee stopped the fight...The crowd was so sad as Beau Jack was the greatest ring attraction in MSG in the 1940s selling out MSG SEVEN TIMES one year...It is too bad that ESb poisters cannot see the young Beau Jack that I saw when he was in his ptime... The only fight on film of Beau we see today was in 1948 being slaughtered by Ike Williams in Philly which I saw ringside...Best action fighter I ever saw...Hooks, crosses, uppercuts, bolo punches without stop...
Burt, Tony's win (KO 4) over Beau Jack, Why did they rule it a KO 4, and not something else, like a Technical Decison. It was because of an injury.
It was not Tony Janiro's fault that Beau Jack couldn't continue the bout, therefore Janiro was awarded a tko...Beau was hopping around on one foot and the ref stopped the bout and Beau Jack as your avater shows was picked up by his handlers and carried to his corner...I loved Beau Jack as a brave non stop puncher. What a warrior he was, but his "brave' manager matched him too often from the start and Beau burned out like a meteor...
