Carmine Orlando Tilelli (July 16, 1930 – September 4, 2008) was an American boxer who was the world middleweight champion from 1963 to 1965. He adopted the name Joey Giardello (the name of a cousin's friend) in order to join the U.S. Army while underage, and continued to use the pseudonym throughout his boxing career.
Early life Giardello was born in Brooklyn, but lived most of his life in the Lower Moyamensing area of South Philadelphia. He joined the U.S. Army while underage towards the end of World War II, using a cousin's friend's name, and volunteered for airborne duty. During his military time, he took part in Army boxing matches, and after his discharge in 1948, began boxing professionally. He continued to use the name he had enlisted under, Joey Giardello, in his boxing career.
Professional career During his early career, he had a scuffle at a gas station which cost him $100,000 in prize fight money and five months in jail.
As a pro, he quickly racked up a 15–1–2 record in his first 18 fights while facing less-than-stellar opposition. His only loss was a decision to undefeated boxer Jimmy Morton. During this time, he fought just three men who had previously won a fight. It caught up with Giardello on January 16, 1950, when he was handed his second defeat by Joe DiMartino, a journeyman with a 6–10 record.
After that embarrassment, he began to face better opposition and by 1951, was beating some of the better middleweight boxers on the Philadelphia scene. On June 4, 1954, Los Angeles-based heavyweight boxer Clarence Henry, who was managed by Mafiosi Frank "Blinky" Palermo, was arrested in New York City for attempting to bribe Oakland middleweight Bobby Jones to throw his June 11 Madison Square Garden match with Giardello. Henry allegedly offered $15,000 to Jones to throw the fight. Once the third-ranked heavyweight contender, Henry was released after posting $2,000 bail and subsequently retired from the ring. Giardello beat Jones in a close decision.
Giardello's fight vs. Billy Graham was the next significant bout. The decision first was awarded to Giardello, then later reversed to a decision in favor of Graham, then reversed again, some time later as a result of litigation, in favor of Giardello. This fight is known in boxing lore as "The reversed reversal."
In 1960, Giardello received his first championship opportunity. On April 20, he faced Gene Fullmer for the National Boxing Association version of the world middleweight title. He missed out on the title when he and Fullmer fought to a draw over 15 rounds.
Giardello lost four of his next six fights, but then came back strong with an 8–1–1 record in his next 10, all of which were over some of the biggest names in the division at that time. One of his wins, a 10-round decision over Henry Hank on January 30, 1962, was chosen as Ring Magazine's fight of the year. Then, on June 24, 1963, Giardello upset boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, and at the age of 33, was finally named as the No. 1 challenger for the world middleweight title.
On December 7, 1963, Giardello faced Dick Tiger in Atlantic City for the title and won a controversial decision in 15 rounds.
He reigned as world champion for nearly two years, winning four fights during that time. On December 14, 1964, he fought "Hurricane" Rubin Carter in a title defense. In the first three rounds, Carter stalked Giardello and was the aggressor, as the champion looked to stay away from Carter's left hook. In the 4th round, Carter opened a cut over Giardello's left eye and staggered him with several head shots. By the 13th round, Carter had begun to tire, and Giardello began pounding Carter's head and body, which continued through the 15th and final round. According to Carter, he dominated Giardello the first ten rounds, but Giardello was awarded a unanimous decision, an event dramatized in the 1999 film The Hurricane. Carter would later revise his claims, admitting he should have fought Giardello more aggressively.
In a rematch with Dick Tiger on October 21, 1965, the Nigerian won a unanimous decision over Giardello in 15 rounds to regain the belt. Giardello was described as "back pedaling for most of the fight." Giardello fought just four more times over the next two years before retiring.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes133WinJack RodgersSD10Nov 6, 1967132Loss97–26–8 Jack RodgersUD10May 22, 1967131Loss97–25–8 Nate CollinsTKO8 (10)Dec 5, 1966130Win97–24–8 Cash WhiteUD10Sep 22, 1966129Loss96–24–8 Dick TigerUD15Oct 21, 1965128Win96–23–8 Gil DiazPTS10Apr 23, 1965127Win95–23–8 Rubin CarterUD15Dec 14, 1964126Win94–23–8 Juan Carlos RiveraUD10May 22, 1964125Win93–23–8 Juan Carlos RiveraSD10Apr 17, 1964124Win92–23–8 Dick TigerPTS15Dec 7, 1963123Win91–23–8 Sugar Ray RobinsonUD10Jun 24, 1963122Win90–23–8 Ernest BurfordUD10Mar 25, 1963121Win89–23–8 Wilf GreavesSD10Feb 25, 1963120Win88–23–8 Johnny MorrisSD10Nov 12, 1962119Loss87–23–8 George BentonUD10Aug 6, 1962118Win87–22–8 Jimmy BeechamUD10Jul 9, 1962117Win86–22–8 Henry HankMD10Jan 30, 1962116Draw85–22–8 Joe DeNucciMD10Dec 12, 1961115Win85–22–7 Jesse SmithUD10Nov 6, 1961114Win84–22–7 Jesse SmithUD10Sep 12, 1961113Loss83–22–7 Henry HankUD10Jul 10, 1961112Win83–21–7 Wilf GreavesTKO9 (10)May 15, 1961111Loss82–21–7 Ralph DupasUD10Mar 6, 1961110Loss82–20–7 Peter MüllerPTS10Dec 1, 1960109Loss82–19–7 Terry DownesPTS10Oct 11, 1960108Win82–18–7 Clarence HinnantTKO3 (10)Sep 27, 1960107Draw81–18–7 Gene FullmerSD15Apr 20, 1960106Win81–18–6 Dick TigerUD10Nov 4, 1959105Loss80–18–6 Dick TigerUD10Sep 30, 1959104Win80–17–6 Chico VejarSD10Aug 11, 1959103Win79–17–6 Del FlanaganKO1 (10)Jun 16, 1959102Win78–17–6 Holley MimsSD10May 6, 1959101Loss77–17–6 Ralph Tiger JonesSD10Jan 28, 1959100Loss77–16–6 Ellsworth WebbTKO7 (10)Nov 19, 195899Loss77–15–6 Joey GiambraSD10Jun 30, 195898Win77–14–6 Frank SzuzinaMD10Jun 11, 195897Win76–14–6 Rory CalhounUD10May 5, 195896Win75–14–6 Franz SzuzinaUD10Feb 12, 195895Win74–14–6 Ralph Tiger JonesUD10Dec 27, 195794Win73–14–6 Wilf GreavesUD10Nov 5, 195793Win72–14–6 Bobby LaneTKO7 (10)Sep 27, 195792Win71–14–6 Chico VejarUD10Jul 17, 195791Win70–14–6 Joe GrayRTD5 (10)Jul 2, 195790Win69–14–6 Rory CalhounSD10May 17, 195788Win68–14–6Randy SandySD10Feb 6, 195787Win67–14–6Charley CottonUD10Dec 14, 195686Win66–14–6Charley CottonUD10Nov 15, 195685Win65–14–6Bobby BoydKO5 (10)Sep 28, 195684Win64–14–6Georgia KidTKO9 (10)Aug 28, 195683Win63–14–6Franz SzuzinaUD10Jul 26, 195682Win62–14–6Tony BaldoniKO1 (10)Jul 2, 195681Loss61–14–6Charley CottonSD10May 28, 195680Loss61–13–6Charley CottonUD10May 7, 195679Win61–12–6Joe ShawUD10Mar 27, 195678Win60–12–6Hurley SandersPTS10Mar 10, 195677Win59–12–6Tim JonesTKO10 (10)Feb 11, 195676Win58–12–6Peter MüllerKO2 (10)Mar 1, 195575Win57–12–6Andy MayfieldTKO8 (10)Feb 15, 195574Win56–12–6Al AndrewsUD10Jan 25, 195573Win55–12–6Ralph Tiger JonesUD10Sep 24, 195472Win54–12–6Billy KilgoreUD10Jul 7, 195471Win53–12–6Bobby JonesUD10Jun 11, 195470Loss52–12–6Pierre LangloisUD10May 21, 195469Win52–11–6Willie TroyTKO7 (10)Mar 19, 195468Win51–11–6Walter CartierTKO1 (10)Feb 5, 195467Win50–11–6Garth PanterTKO5 (10)Jan 8, 195466Win49–11–6Tuzo PortuguezUD10Nov 23, 195365Win48–11–6Walter CartierUD10Oct 26, 195364Loss47–11–6Johnny SaxtonUD10Sep 29, 195363Win47–10–6Ernie DurandoUD10Jun 26, 195362Win46–10–6Hurley SandersPTS10May 30, 195361Win45–10–6Gil TurnerUD10Apr 7, 195360Loss44–10–6Billy GrahamUD12Mar 6, 195359Win44–9–6Harold GreenUD10Feb 2, 195358Win43–9–6Billy GrahamSD10Dec 19, 195257Loss42–9–6Joey GiambraUD10Nov 11, 195256Win42–8–6Joey GiambraUD10Oct 13, 195255Win41–8–6Georgie SmallUD10Sep 15, 195254Win40–8–6Billy GrahamSD10Aug 4, 195253Win39–8–6Pierre LanglisUD10Jun 23, 195252Win38–8–6Roy WoutersPTS6Jun 5, 195251Draw37–8–6Joe MiceliPTS10May 5, 195250Draw37–8–5Sammy GiulianiPTS8Mar 28, 195249Draw37–8–4Sal DiMartinoPTS10Jan 9, 195248Loss37–8–3Bobby DykesSD10Dec 12, 195147Loss37–7–3Rocky CastellaniMD10Nov 13, 195146Win37–6–3Tony AmatoKO7 (8)Oct 8, 195145Win36–6–3Tommy BazzanoPTS6Sep 14, 195144Win35–6–3Johnny NoelUD8Aug 27, 195143Win34–6–3Otis GrahamUD8Aug 13, 195142Loss33–6–3Gus RubiciniPTS8May 25, 195141Win33–5–3Ernie DurandoUD10Apr 30, 195140Win32–5–3Roy WoutersUD8Apr 12, 195139Win31–5–3Primos CutlerPTS8Mar 29, 195138Loss30–5–3Roy WoutersMD8Mar 15, 195137Win30–4–3Tony WolfeKO3 (8)Feb 24, 195136Win29–4–3Harold SampsonSD8Feb 22, 195135Win28–4–3Jan HenriUD8Jan 27, 195134Win27–4–3Freddie LottPTS8Jan 6, 195133Win26–4–3Leroy ColemanKO5 (6)Dec 18, 195032Draw25–4–3George RobertsPTS6Nov 27, 195031Loss25–4–2Harold GreenRTD6 (10)Oct 26, 195030Win25–3–2Bruce UbaldoPTS8Oct 16, 195029Win24–3–2Ted DiGiammoKO1 (6)Sep 26, 195028Win23–3–2Don BerryKO1 (6)Aug 25, 195027Loss22–3–2Carey MaceTKO8 (8)May 17, 195026Win22–2–2Hurley SandersUD8May 5, 195025Win21–2–2Tommy VarsosKO1 (8)Apr 20, 195024Win20–2–2Steve SabatinoKO1 (8)Mar 27, 195023Win19–2–2Armando AmaniniPTS8Mar 23, 195022Win18–2–2Johnny BernardoMD8Feb 9, 195021Win17–2–2Johnny BernardoPTS8Jan 26, 195020Loss16–2–2Joe DiMartinoPTS8Jan 16, 195019Win16–1–2Johnny FryPTS6Jan 5, 195018Win15–1–2Jim DockeryKO2 (6)Dec 5, 194917Win14–1–2Mitch AllenPTS6Nov 14, 194916Win13–1–2Leroy FlemingKO1 (6)Jul 13, 194915Win12–1–2Ray HaasTKO3 (6)Jun 20, 194914Win11–1–2Henry VonsavageTKO2 (6)June 6, 194913Win10–1–2Emerson CharlesPTS4May 2, 194912Win9–1–2Joe AurilloPTS6Apr 28, 194911Win8–1–2Ray MorrisPTS4Apr 25, 194910Win7–1–2Bill MongomeryKO1 (6)Apr 7, 19499Win6–1–2Johnny BrownPTS4Mar 29, 19498Win5–1–2Don EnnisKO4 (6)Mar 15, 19497Draw4–1–2Clyde DiggsPTS6Feb 24, 19496Loss4–1–1Jimmy MortonPTS6Jan 13, 19495Win4–0–1Willie WigfallTKO1 (4)Dec 30, 19484Draw3–0–1Bobby ThomasPTS4Dec 17, 19483Win3–0Johnny MadisonKO1 (4)Dec 16, 19482Win2–0Jackie ColeKO1 (4)Nov 16, 19481Win1–0Jimmy LarkinKO1 (4)Oct 10, 1948
Titles in boxing Major world titles WBA middleweight champion (160 lbs) WBC middleweight champion (160 lbs)
The Ring magazine titles The Ring middleweight champion (160 lbs)
Undisputed titles Undisputed middleweight champion
Life after boxing After retirement, he went into private business and went back to his real name. He was an insurance salesman and later joined the Misco International Chemical Company as their New York-Philadelphia-New Jersey distributor. He had married his wife Rosalie in 1950, with whom he had four children. He did work with the intellectually disabled, particularly for St. John of God School Community Services in Westville Grove, New Jersey, where his son, Carman, who had Down syndrome, lived for ten years. He met the pope and was invited to President John F. Kennedy's Inauguration. With his celebrity and title, he participated in countless fundraising events for the intellectually disabled and contributed his time and talent to the Special Olympics, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. At one event he taught the Special Olympians to jump rope.
He had a small role as a man from "The Syndicate" in the 1975 movie Moonrunners.
In 1996, he was invited to a Hungarian TV talk-show, (Friderikusz show) in which he made appearance in Budapest, Hungary, to celebrate Laszlo Papp's 70th birthday, that was an honorary invitation because of eastern communist block did not let Papp to match with Giardello in 1966, therefore Giardello could keep holding the two world titles, while Laszlo Papp was forced by the communist Hungarian government to bring his boxing career to an end.
He later filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Pictures, Beacon Communications and Aloof Films, for unspecified damages, for its "thoroughly false depiction" of his bout with Rubin Carter in Norman Jewison's 1999 film The Hurricane. The case was settled out-of-court and the DVD version of the film included scenes from the actual fight, as well as Jewison's statement that Giardello "no doubt" was a great fighter.Stephen Brunt. The Italian Stallions: Heroes of Boxing's Glory Days. Sport Classic Books. 2003 p 213.