Joey Maxim
| Joseph Maxim | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli |
| Rated at | Light heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Reach | 72 1⁄2 in (184 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
March 28, 1922 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died |
June 2, 2001 (aged 79) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 115 |
| Wins | 82 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 29 |
| Draws | 4 |
| No contests | 0 |
Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli (March 28, 1922 – June 2, 2001) was an American professional boxer. He was a World Light Heavyweight Champion. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs.
Early career
Maxim was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He learned to box at a very young age. Following a successful amateur career, during which he won the Golden Gloves, he turned professional in 1940. He boxed fairly regularly at exhibitions during the war years whilst serving as a military police officer at Miami Beach, Florida.
Maxim becomes world champion
It is somewhat surprising that Maxim had to wait so long for a world title shot, he was 28 and had already fought 87 times as a professional, considering his undoubted ability. His chance came on January 24, 1950, against British boxer Freddie Mills, who was making his first defense, at London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. Maxim, very much the underdog against the popular Englishman, won the fight by knockout in the 10th round. After the fight three of Mills's teeth were found embedded in Maxim's left glove, Mills never fought again.
Maxim's next major fight was on May 30, 1951, when he made a bid for Ezzard Charles's world heavyweight title. Maxim was unsuccessful, losing on points.
June 25, 1952: Joey Maxim vs. Sugar Ray Robinson
The most famous fight of Maxim's career was on June 25, 1952, when he made his second defense of his world light heavyweight crown, against Sugar Ray Robinson at Yankee Stadium. The fight had originally been scheduled for June 23, but was postponed due to torrential rain. By the time the fight took place New York City was in the midst of a record heat wave.
During the fight Robinson built up a large points lead over the champion, although Maxim began to come on later in the fight. Robinson gradually succumbed to hyperthermia and Maxim's harder punches. He collapsed to the canvas at the end of the 13th round, but managed to stagger back to his corner. However, Robinson failed to answer the bell at the start of the 14th, even though he only had to remain on his feet to win the fight and Maxim won by a technical knockout. This was the only time that Robinson was stopped in his 200 fight career.
By this time the original referee, Ruby Goldstein, had himself been forced to retire from the fight after collapsing into the ropes complaining that he could no longer continue. This meant that a substitute referee, Ray Miller, had to be called out to finish the fight. Goldstein and Robinson were not the only people who had to be stretchered from the stadium: several dozen spectators also collapsed during the fight. Between them, the two fighters lost over 20 pounds in weight during the fight.
Late career
Despite winning, the Robinson fight took a heavy toll on Maxim. He lost his world title six months later to the veteran Archie Moore. Following this loss Maxim, formerly one of the division's most active fighters, fought only 14 fights in the remaining 6 years of his career. These fights included two rematches with "The Old Mongoose" Archie Moore, both of which Maxim lost. Maxim retired in 1958 after losing six consecutive fights.
Maxim retired with a record of 82 wins (21 by KO), 29 losses, and 4 draws; in his 115 fight career, he was knocked out only once. During his career he defeated such legendary figures as Jersey Joe Walcott, Jimmy Bivins, and Floyd Patterson.
Life after boxing
After his retirement Maxim spent time as a stand-up comic, restaurateur, and taxi driver. He also served as a greeter at hotels and casinos located in Las Vegas.[1]
He appeared in Herschell Gordon Lewis's 1963 nudie-cutie Goldilocks and the Three Bares as himself, playing a nightclub owner. The movie was billed as the "first nudist musical." He was prominently featured on the movie poster, with the blurb:
"It's me...Joey Maxim, the former world's light heavyweight champion! I'm one of the stars! My first screen appearance."
The role did not lead to any more motion picture work, though he did appear as an extra in the 1999 film Play It to the Bone.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.
Maxim's wife Michelina, with whom he had two daughters, died in 1977.
In February 2001, Maxim suffered a stroke. He died in West Palm Beach, Florida on 2 June 2001.[2] In addition to his daughters, he was survived by his mother, Henrietta Berardinelli, who was 97 years old (died at 101 in 2006), and six great-grandchildren.[3]
Professional boxing record
| 82 Wins (21 knockouts, 61 decisions), 29 Losses (1 knockout, 27 decisions, 1 DQ), 4 Draws | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 10-1 |  Ulli Ritter |
PTS | 10 | 17/05/1958 | Eisstadion am Friedrichspark, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg |
|
| Loss | 16-0 |  Giacomo Bozzano |
PTS | 10 | 27/04/1958 | Milan, Lombardy |
|
| Loss | 41-7-7 | Heinz Neuhaus |
PTS | 10 | 12/04/1958 | Killesbergpark, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg |
|
| Loss | 71-9 |  Bobo Olson |
SD | 10 | 18/06/1957 | Portland Auditorium, Portland, Oregon |
56-54, 52.5-57.5, 54-56. |
| Loss | 20-0 | Eddie Machen |
UD | 10 | 03/05/1957 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky |
|
| Loss | 19-0 | Eddie Machen |
UD | 10 | 25/01/1957 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
94-98, 93-97, 90-99. |
| Win | 8-3 |  Edgardo Romero |
PTS | 10 | 29/09/1956 |  Vancouver, British Columbia |
|
| Loss | 29-4-4 | Willie Pastrano |
UD | 10 | 28/06/1955 | New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana |
4-5, 4-5, 3-6. |
| Loss | 68-6 | Bobo Olson |
UD | 10 | 13/04/1955 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California |
50.5-59.5, 50-60, 48-62. |
| Win | 28-3 | Paul Andrews |
UD | 10 | 24/11/1954 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
98-96, 99-93, 96-95. |
| Win | 13-0 | Floyd Patterson |
UD | 8 | 07/06/1954 | Boxing From Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York |
4-3, 7-1, 5-3. |
| Loss | 142-19-8 | Archie Moore |
UD | 15 | 27/01/1954 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida |
World Light Heavyweight Title. 145-137, 148-135, 148-134. |
| Loss | 139-19-8 | Archie Moore |
UD | 15 | 24/06/1953 | Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah |
World Light Heavyweight Title. 6-7, 7-8, 5-8. |
| Win | 44-8-4 | Danny Nardico |
UD | 10 | 04/03/1953 | Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida |
97-91, 95-94, 98-94. |
| Loss | 132-19-8 | Archie Moore |
UD | 15 | 17/12/1952 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri |
World Light Heavyweight Title. 74-76, 58-82, 63-87. |
| Win | 131-2-2 | Sugar Ray Robinson |
TKO | 14 | 25/06/1952 | The House that Ruth Built, Bronx, New York |
World Light Heavyweight Title. Robinson did not come out for the 14th round due to heat exhaustion. |
| Win | 64-63-10 | Ted Lowry |
UD | 10 | 06/03/1952 | Saint Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
|
| Loss | 70-6-1 | Ezzard Charles |
UD | 12 | 12/12/1951 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California |
64.5-67.5, 63.5-68.5, 62-70. |
| Win | 60-5-1 | Irish Bob Murphy |
UD | 15 | 22/08/1951 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
World Light Heavyweight Title. 10-3, 10-5, 10-5. |
| Loss | 68-5-1 | Ezzard Charles |
UD | 15 | 30/05/1951 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
World Heavyweight Title. 72-78, 65-85, 65-85. |
| Win | 15-20-3 | Hubert Hood |
KO | 3 | 27/01/1951 | Indianapolis Naval Reserve Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana |
Hood knocked out at 0:40 of the third round. |
| Win | 28-7-1 | Dave Whitlock |
KO | 4 | 11/12/1950 | Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California |
Whitlock knocked out at 2:37 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 14-21-2 | Big Boy Brown |
UD | 10 | 22/11/1950 | Wharton Field House, Moline, Illinois |
|
| Win | 52-36-8 | Bill Petersen |
PTS | 10 | 10/10/1950 | Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah |
|
| Win | 16-10-1 | Jackie Swanson |
KO | 3 | 25/09/1950 | Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia |
Swanson knocked out at 2:35 of the third round. |
| Win | 51-35-8 | Bill Petersen |
KO | 6 | 12/05/1950 | Memphis, Tennessee |
Petersen knocked out at 1:22 of the sixth round. |
| Win | 3-4 | Joe Dawson |
KO | 2 | 19/04/1950 | Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska |
Dawson knocked out at 1:18 of the second round. |
| Win | 77-17-6 |  Freddie Mills |
KO | 10 | 24/01/1950 | Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London |
World Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 50-31-8 | Bill Petersen |
PTS | 10 | 09/12/1949 | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
|
| Win | 67-6 | Pat McCafferty |
TKO | 4 | 30/11/1949 | Wichita, Kansas |
|
| Win | 44-10-5 | Joe Kahut |
TKO | 5 | 25/10/1949 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
|
| Win | 60-12-5 | Gus Lesnevich |
UD | 15 | 23/05/1949 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
NBA American Light Heavyweight Title. |
| Loss | 59-5-1 | Ezzard Charles |
MD | 15 | 28/02/1949 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
|
| Win | 67-13-1 | Jimmy Bivins |
SD | 10 | 07/12/1948 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
4-6, 5-4, 5-4. |
| Win | 20-6-2 | Bob Satterfield |
UD | 10 | 12/11/1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Loss | 40-7-4 | Joe Kahut |
SD | 15 | 19/10/1948 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon |
87-78, 80.5-84.5, 79-86. |
| Win | 47-26-7 | Bill Petersen |
UD | 10 | 28/09/1948 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon |
Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 45-25-7 | Bill Petersen |
UD | 10 | 29/06/1948 | Seattle Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington |
Jack Dempsey refereed the bout. |
| Win | 39-6-4 | Joe Kahut |
UD | 10 | 22/06/1948 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon |
|
| Draw | 41-10-3 | Pat Valentino |
PTS | 10 | 07/06/1948 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California |
|
| Win | 17-4-3 | Roy "Fighting Hawk" Hawkins |
PTS | 10 | 27/05/1948 | Tacoma Ice Palace, Tacoma, Washington |
|
| Win | 16-12-4 |  Francisco de la Cruz |
PTS | 10 | 07/05/1948 | El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas |
|
| Win | 5-6-1 | Whitey Berlier |
PTS | 10 | 27/04/1948 | Houston, Texas |
|
| Draw | 41-9-2 | Pat Valentino |
PTS | 10 | 22/03/1948 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California |
|
| Win | 31-4-1 | Tony Bosnich |
UD | 10 | 13/02/1948 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California |
|
| Win | 42-8-1 | Robert Lee Sikes, Jr. |
PTS | 10 | 02/02/1948 | Barton Coliseum, Little Rock, Arkansas |
|
| Win | 18-4-1 |  Olle Tandberg |
SD | 10 | 09/01/1948 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
7-3, 7-3, 4-5. |
| Win | 26-3-2 | Billy "Chicken" Thompson |
UD | 10 | 08/12/1947 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| Win | 15-1 | Bob Foxworth |
SD | 10 | 12/11/1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 25-19-1 | John Thomas |
PTS | 10 | 17/09/1947 | Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Win | 19-16-2 | Clarence Jones |
KO | 5 | 08/09/1947 | Wheeling Island Stadium, Wheeling, West Virginia |
Jones knocked out at 2:47 of the fifth round. |
| Loss | 43-11-2 | Jersey Joe Walcott |
SD | 10 | 23/06/1947 | Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California |
52.5-55.5, 53-55, 55-53. |
| Win | 21-31-7 | Charley Roth |
KO | 4 | 12/05/1947 | Louisville, Kentucky |
|
| Win | 30-7-3 | Marty Clark |
TKO | 7 | 28/01/1947 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida |
|
| Loss | 41-11-2 | Jersey Joe Walcott |
MD | 10 | 06/01/1947 | Philadelphia Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio |
5-5, 4-6, 3-6. |
| Win | 29-30-5 | Jack Marshall |
PTS | 10 | 17/12/1946 | Houston, Texas |
|
| Win | 26-1 | Dolph Quijano |
PTS | 10 | 12/12/1946 | El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas |
|
| Win | 53-16-4 | "Irish" Jimmy Webb |
TKO | 6 | 03/12/1946 | Houston, Texas |
|
| Draw | 6-0 | Jimmy Richie |
PTS | 10 | 12/11/1946 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri |
|
| Win | 4-37-1 | Bearcat Jones |
KO | 5 | 16/10/1946 | Rollercade, Toledo, Ohio |
|
| Win | 19-12-2 | Clarence Jones |
PTS | 10 | 10/10/1946 | Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio |
|
| Win | 41-9-2 | Jersey Joe Walcott |
PTS | 10 | 28/08/1946 | Public Service Ball Park, Camden, New Jersey |
5-3. |
| Win | 31-47-2 | Henry Cooper |
PTS | 10 | 14/08/1946 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 36-12 | Phil Muscato |
UD | 10 | 02/08/1946 | Red Wing Stadium, Rochester, New York |
|
| Win | 36-10 | Phil Muscato |
SD | 12 | 14/05/1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
5-7, 7-5, 6-6. |
| Draw | 29-23-6 | Charley Eagle |
PTS | 10 | 07/05/1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
5-5, 5-5, 5-5. |
| Loss | 34-10 | Phil Muscato |
UD | 10 | 09/04/1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
4-6, 4-6, 5-5. |
| Win | 70-22-5 | Buddy Walker |
UD | 10 | 01/04/1946 | Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland |
|
| Win | 50-13-3 | Ralph DeJohn |
TKO | 1 | 27/03/1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
DeJohn broke his arm during the fight. |
| Loss | 21-13-1 | John Thomas |
PTS | 10 | 11/03/1946 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City |
|
| Win | 7-2 | Panther Williams |
UD | 10 | 04/03/1946 | Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 5-15-2 | Cleo Everett |
UD | 10 | 26/11/1945 | Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 19-14-5 | Clarence Brown |
UD | 10 | 16/04/1945 | Arcadia Gardens, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 6-0 | Johnny Flanagan |
PTS | 8 | 02/02/1945 | Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Loss | 24-20-2 | John Kowalczyk |
SD | 10 | 19/12/1944 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Loss | 50-11-3 | Lloyd Marshall |
UD | 10 | 27/07/1944 | Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Win | 22-6-5 | Frank Androff |
PTS | 8 | 26/06/1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 25-6-2 | Bob Garner |
PTS | 10 | 29/05/1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 60-14-5 | Buddy Walker |
UD | 10 | 28/04/1944 | Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 8-7-2 | George Parks |
PTS | 10 | 31/01/1944 | Turner's Arena, Washington, District of Columbia |
|
| Win | 21-22-3 |  Claudio Villar |
TKO | 6 | 01/12/1943 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Win | 68-15-5 | Buddy Scott |
PTS | 10 | 29/10/1943 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 46-17-4 | Nate Bolden |
PTS | 10 | 09/08/1943 | Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 4-1-1 | Al Jordan |
PTS | 10 | 26/04/1943 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 20-13 | Curtis Sheppard |
UD | 10 | 31/03/1943 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Loss | 19-13 | Curtis Sheppard |
KO | 1 | 10/03/1943 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
Maxim knocked out at 0:51 of the first round. |
| Win | 11-8-5 | Clarence Brown |
PTS | 10 | 15/02/1943 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 11-7-5 | Clarence Brown |
PTS | 8 | 18/01/1943 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Loss | 27-2-1 | Ezzard Charles |
UD | 10 | 01/12/1942 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Loss | 26-2-1 | Ezzard Charles |
UD | 10 | 27/10/1942 | Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|
| Win | 42-10-3 | Larry Lane |
PTS | 10 | 13/10/1942 | Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio |
|
| Win | -- | Hubert Hood |
UD | 10 | 05/10/1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 6-0 | Shelton Bell |
PTS | 10 | 22/09/1942 | Hickey Park, Millvale, Pennsylvania |
|
| Win | 24-12-5 | Jack Marshall |
KO | 9 | 27/08/1942 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Loss | 16-7-1 | Altus Allen |
MD | 10 | 10/08/1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
47-53, 47-53, 50-50. |
| Win | 18-11 | Curtis Sheppard |
PTS | 10 | 27/07/1942 | Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|
| Win | 19-3 | Lou Brooks |
SD | 10 | 10/07/1942 | Wilmington Park, Wilmington, Delaware |
|
| Loss | 26-5 | Jimmy Bivins |
SD | 10 | 23/06/1942 | Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Win | 5-8-3 | Charley Roth |
KO | 4 | 01/06/1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Loss | 4-8-3 | Charley Roth |
DQ | 2 | 11/05/1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
Maxim disqualified for hitting Roth while he was down. |
| Win | 6-10-1 | Frank Greene |
KO | 2 | 20/04/1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
Greene knocked out at 2:06 of the second round. |
| Win | 16-2 | Lou Brooks |
SD | 10 | 23/03/1942 | Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland |
|
| Win | 49-14-1 | Herbie Katz |
KO | 6 | 11/03/1942 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Loss | 16-1 | Booker Beckwith |
UD | 10 | 16/01/1942 | Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 76-19-1 | Red Burman |
PTS | 10 | 01/12/1941 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Win | 18-10-1 | Oliver Shanks |
KO | 5 | 27/10/1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
Shanks knocked out at 2:49 of the fifth round. |
| Win | 14-3-1 | Bill Petersen |
UD | 10 | 06/10/1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 29-10-3 | Nate Bolden |
UD | 10 | 15/09/1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 10-8-1 | Lee Oma |
PTS | 8 | 11/08/1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 5-4-2 | Johnny Trotter |
PTS | 8 | 28/07/1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | -- | Tony Paoli |
PTS | 10 | 11/07/1941 | Sportsman's Park, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Win | 5-4 | "Irish" Bobby Berry |
PTS | 6 | 29/04/1941 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
| Loss | 17-5-2 | Orlando Trotter |
SD | 8 | 17/02/1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 3-0 | Frank McBride |
UD | 8 | 27/01/1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 3-1 | "Irish" Bobby Berry |
PTS | 4 | 13/01/1941 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio |
|
See also
References
- ↑ "Hall of Famer Joey Maxim dies aged 79". SecondsOut. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ "Joey Maxim". Telegraph UK.
- ↑ "Hall of Famer Joey Maxim dies aged 79". SecondsOut.
External links
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Freddie Mills |
World Light Heavyweight Champion 24 January 1950 –17 December 1952 |
Succeeded by Archie Moore |