Paddy DeMarco (February 10, 1928 – December 13, 1997) was a lightweight professional boxer from Brooklyn, New York, who took the Undisputed Lightweight World Championship on March 5, 1954, against Jimmy Carter. His managers included Jimmy Dixon and Cy Crespi. His trainer was Dan Florio.
Early life and career DeMarco was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 10, 1928. He was raised there and considered it his hometown.
DeMarco won his first five professional fights in 1945, losing for the first time against Butch Charles in October of the same year. It was on the 10th of that month that DeMarco fought the legendary Willie Pep, whose record was an unbelievable 131-1-1 at the time. DeMarco lost the unanimous ten-round decision, one of very few early setbacks.
On March 4, 1949, he defeated 1989 Boxing Hall of Famer Billy Graham in a somewhat close, rather uneventful ten round unanimous decision before 8,493 at New York's Madison Square Garden. DeMarco piled up a big lead in points in the early rounds in a match that the Associated Press scored six to four for DeMarco."DeMarco Upsets Graham", The Troy Record, Troy, New York, p. 14, 5 March 1949.
Three bouts with Featherweight Champ Sandy Saddler, 1949–1951 Many consider his bouts with Sandy Saddler his best. They met three times, with DeMarco impressively winning two of the three bouts. On August 27, 1951, DeMarco beat Saddler, the reigning World Featherweight Champion, in a ten-round split decision at the Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Though he left the ring with his nose bleeding, DeMarco was the clear winner, firing with both hands, and pushing his opponent into the ropes. The bout saw no knockdowns."Paddy DeMarco Sets Blazing Pace, Upsets Sandy Saddler", The La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconsin, p. 14, 28 August 1951.
DeMarco also beat Saddler on December 7, 1951, before 5,635, in another ten round split decision, this time at Madison Square Garden, boxing's New York cathedral. The United Press, believing he dominated gave DeMarco seven rounds with only three for Saddler. In the fifth, DeMarco clearly showed his superiority over his opponent, who was making a return to the ring after a two-month suspension. The bout saw a great deal of clinching and had both participants warned more than once for using tactics more common to wrestling than boxing matches. Saddler complained bitterly after the bout, believing he was the clear winner.Cuddy, Jack, "DeMarco Garners Split Decision Over Saddler", Courier Post, Camden, New Jersey, p. 12, 8 December 1951.
In his first meeting with Saddler before 13,071 on October 28, 1949, DeMarco lost at Madison Square Garden on a ninth-round TKO. Saddler lost the first three rounds on points, and then bored in and demolished his opponent. In the fourth round, Saddler made a mess of DeMarco's face, and continued to gain on points throughout the end of the eighth, when DeMarco's handlers signaled to the referee to end the bout."Saddler Kayoes DeMarco in Ninth Round at Garden", The Times Record, Troy, New York, p. 11, 29 October 1949.
Important early career bouts On December 22, 1949, DeMarco defeated Teddy Davis before 2,500 at the Broadway Arena in Brooklyn in an eight-round unanimous decision."DeMarco Defeats Davis", The Courier-News, Bridgewater, New Jersey, p. 19, 23 December 1949. DeMarco lost to Davis on August 2, 1950, in a ten-round points decision at the Crystal Arena in Norwolk, Connecticut. In a close bout the referee gave Davis three rounds, Demarco two, with five even."Teddy Davis Wins Decision Over DeMarco", Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana, p. 8, 3 August 1950.
On February 1, 1950, DeMarco defeated Cuban lightweight contender Orlando Zulueta for the only time in a ten-round unanimous decision at St. Nicholas Arena in New York. He lost to Zulueta on two other occasions in close ten-round decisions at Eastern Parkway Arena in Brooklyn, first on October 27, 1952, and again on September 21, 1953.
On September 24, 1951, DeMarco defeated Enrique Bolanos at the Coliseum in Chicago in a ten-round unanimous decision. In a decisive victory, one judge gave DeMarco every round, and one round was the most any of the decision makers gave Bolanos in a bout where DeMarco took the offensive from the opening round. There were no knockdowns in the bout."Paddy DeMarco Easily Beats Enrique Bolanos", Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles California, p. 55, 25 September 1951.
DeMarco first defeated Henry Davis comfortably in a ten-round unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 1952. The AP gave seven rounds to DeMarco with only three to Davis. The crowd of 3,418 was not thrilled with the match as the only knockdown came in the third from Davis, and it may have been an accidental slip.Hand, Jack, "DeMarco Mauls Henry Davis, Seeks Title Go", The Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, New York, p. 6, 22 November 1952. DeMarco beat Davis again on March 14, 1953, at Boston Garden in another ten round unanimous decision. In a decisive win, both of Davis's eyes were nearly closed from swelling by the end of the bout."Paddy DeMarco Defeats Davis", The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, p. 10, 15 March 1953.
Taking the World Lightweight Championship, March 1954 In 1954, DeMarco twice challenged Black boxer and reigning World Lightweight Champion Jimmy Carter for the Lightweight Championship of the World. He won the first meeting on March 5, 1954, in a fifteen-round unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden. In a major upset, that saw him as a 4-1 underdog in the early betting, DeMarco won the bout decisively on points and took the world title."Paddy Wakes Up as Champ After Ten Year Dream", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, p. 8, 6 March 1954. In the first two rounds, DeMarco gained a lead on points with close range jabs, hooks, and body punching. Though losing the fourteenth round, DeMarco dominated on points particularly from the sixth and subsequent rounds where he clearly looked the winner."DeMarco Wins Lightweight Crown, Scores Upset", Newport Daily News, Newport, Rhode Island, p. 8, 6 March 1954.
Losing the World Lightweight Championship, November 1954 In his first defense of the World Lightweight Championship, DeMarco lost the title November 17, 1954, to Jimmy Carter in a fifteen-round TKO in Daley, California before 11,000 frantic fans. In the brutal and savage bout, the referee stopped the fighting in the final round, with DeMarco virtually out on his feet, his left eye nearly swollen shut, and his cheek rapidly turning a dark blue."Jimmy Carter Regains Lightweight Boxing Crown by Scoring TKO", The Times Record, Troy, New York, p. 48, 18 November 1954. Carter had DeMarco down on the mat twice, once for a four count from a left hook to the chin in the ninth and once in the fourteenth.
On October 3, 1955, though an underdog in the early betting, DeMarco defeated lightweight contender Kenny Lane in a ten-round split decision at the St. Nicholas Arena in New York. DeMarco hit and held repeatedly in the bout, where clutching was common, and even threw in a few headbutts for good measure. There was little in decisive punching as Lane's southpaw stance and DeMarco's constant clutching threw off the timing of both boxers."DeMarco Gets Split Verdict Over Lane", The Times Record, Troy, New York, p. 20, 4 October 1955.
DeMarco's last fight was in November 1959. He retired with a career record of 75 wins (8 by knockout, 26 losses, and 3 draws). DeMarco died in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 13, 1997.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes104Loss Benny MedinaTKO7 (10) Nov 3, 1959 103Loss75–25–3 Stan HarringtonUD10Oct 20, 1959 102Loss75–24–3 David CervantesMD10Sep 14, 1959 101Loss75–23–3 Denny MoyerTKO10 (10)Sep 3, 1959 100Win75–22–3 Tommy GarrowMD10Aug 11, 1959 99Loss74–22–3 Tony DupasUD10Jul 25, 1959 98Loss74–21–3 Florentino FernándezTKO4 (10)May 9, 1959 97Loss74–20–3 Johnny GonsalvesUD10Feb 10, 1959 96Win74–19–3 Lionel ButlerTKO10 (10)Dec 29, 1958 95Loss73–19–3 Mickey CrawfordUD10Mar 28, 1957 94Loss73–18–3 Stefan RedlUD10Feb 18, 1957 93Loss73–17–3 Larry BoardmanUD10Nov 12, 1956 92Win73–16–3 Jimmy FordMD10Aug 21, 1956 91Draw72–16–3 Pat MallanePTS10Jul 17, 1956 90Loss72–16–2 Don JordanTKO5 (10)Feb 2, 1956 89Win72–15–2 Jackie BlairUD10Jan 9, 1956 88Loss71–15–2 Frankie RyffUD10Nov 2, 1955 87Win71–14–2 Kenny LaneSD10Oct 3, 1955 86Loss70–14–2 Ralph DupasUD10Jul 11, 1955 85Win70–13–2 Libby ManzoSD10May 16, 1955 84Win69–13–2 Libby ManzoMD10Mar 28, 1955 83Loss68–13–2 Seraphin FerrerKO5 (10)Jan 31, 1955 82Loss68–12–2 Jimmy CarterTKO15 (15)Nov 17, 1954 81Win68–11–2 Jimmy CarterUD15Mar 5, 1954 80Win67–11–2 Ralph DupasSD10Jan 1, 1954 79Win66–11–2 Carlos ChavezUD10Dec 7, 1953 78Loss65–11–2 Tony DeMarcoSD10Oct 10, 1953 77Loss65–10–2 Orlando ZuluetaSD10Sep 21, 1953 76Loss65–9–2 Johnny GonsalvesSD10May 16, 1953 75Win65–8–2 Armand SavoieUD10Apr 27, 1953 74Win64–8–2 Henry DavisUD10Mar 14, 1953 73Loss63–8–2 George AraujoSD10Feb 10, 1953 72Win63–7–2 Henry DavisUD10Nov 11, 1952 71Loss62–7–2 Orlando ZuluetaMD10Oct 27, 1952 70Loss62–6–2 Arthur KingUD10May 26, 1952 69Win62–5–2 Johnny GonsalvesUD10Apr 21, 1952 68Draw61–5–2 Eddie ChavezTD4 (10)Jan 1, 1952 67Win61–5–1 Sandy SaddlerSD10Dec 7, 1951 66Win60–5–1 Eddie ChavezUD10Nov 16, 1951 65Win59–5–1 Enrique BolanosUD10Sep 24, 1951 64Win58–5–1 Sandy SaddlerSD10Aug 27, 1951 63Win57–5–1 Arthur KingUD10Jun 25, 1951 62Win56–5–1 Eddie GiosaUD10Jun 1, 1951 61Win55–5–1 Jimmy RichmondTKO3 (10)May 10, 1951 60Win54–5–1 Harry LaSaneUD10Apr 9, 1951 59Win53–5–1 Joey ScarlottaUD10Oct 11, 1950 58Win52–5–1 Doug MedleyPTS8Sep 30, 1950 57Win51–5–1 Young JuniorUD8Aug 28, 1950 56Win50–5–1 Kid DussartUD10Aug 18, 1950 55Loss49–5–1 Teddy DavisPTS10Aug 2, 1950 54Win49–4–1 Ray EdwardsUD8Jun 22, 1950 53Win48–4–1 Reuben DavisUD8Jun 5, 1950 52Win47–4–1 Dennis Pat BradySD10Apr 28, 1950 51Win46–4–1 Eduardo CarrascoPTS8Apr 15, 1950 50Win45–4–1 Charley Cabey LewisPTS8Apr 3, 1950 49Win44–4–1 Orlando ZuluetaUD10Feb 1, 1950 48Win43–4–1 Teddy DavisUD8Dec 22, 1949 47Loss42–4–1 Sandy SaddlerRTD9 (10)Oct 28, 1949 46Win42–3–1 Jackie WeberUD10Oct 3, 1949 45Win41–3–1 Humberto SierraUD10Sep 21, 1949 44Win40–3–1 Clem CusterUD8Jun 6, 1949 43Draw39–3–1 Clem CusterPTS10May 17, 1949 42Win39–3 Chuck BurtonPTS10Apr 11, 1949 41Win38–3 Jimmy CollinsUD10Mar 14, 1949 40Win37–3 Billy GrahamUD10Mar 4, 1949 39Win36–3 Chuck BurtonPTS8Feb 21, 1949 38Win35–3 Humberto SierraUD10Feb 2, 1949 37Win34–3 Bernie BernardUD8Nov 1, 1948 36Win33–3 Paulie JacksonUD8Oct 14, 1948 35Loss32–3 Willie PepUD10Sep 10, 1948 34Win32–2 Paulie JacksonPTS10Jun 21, 1948 33Win31–2 Terry YoungSD10Apr 2, 1948 32Win30–2 Terry YoungSD8Jan 30, 1948 31Win29–2 Roy AndrewsUD8Jan 20, 1948 30Win28–2 Joey CarkidoTKO7 (8)Dec 8, 1947 29Win27–2 Johnny DellSD8Nov 11, 1947 28Win26–2 Danny BartfieldUD10Oct 17, 1947 27Win25–2 Tommy MillsPTS8Oct 1, 1947 26Win24–2 Humberto ZavalaUD8Aug 19, 1947 25Win23–2 Jimmy WarrenTKO6 (8)Jul 24, 1947 24Win22–2 Billy StraussUD8Jun 16, 1947 23Win21–2 Bobby WilliamsUD8May 20, 1947 22Win20–2 Patsy GiovanelliPTS8Apr 29, 1947 21Win19–2 Joe CarneyPTS8Apr 8, 1947 20Win18–2 Mike KonnorsPTS8Mar 4, 1957 19Win17–2 Pedro BiescaPTS8Feb 18, 1947 18Win16–2 Joe HolmesPTS6Jan 17, 1947 17Win15–2 Danny RandyPTS6Dec 23, 1946 16Win14–2 Davey CohenPTS6Dec 3, 1946 15Win13–2 Donald MurrayPTS6Sep 30, 1946 14Win12–2 Donald MurrayPTS4Jun 28, 1946 13Loss11–2 Gaby FerlandPTS6May 11, 1946 12Win11–1 Zack TaylorPTS6Apr 11, 1946 11Win10–1 Gunnar LarsenPTS6Mar 30, 1946 10Win9–1 Johnny PhillipsPTS6Mar 12, 1946 9Win8–1 Everett ChapmanPTS4Mar 2, 1946 8Win7–1 Marty BellKO4 (4)Feb 16, 1946 7Win6–1 Joey FernandezPTS6Nov 13, 1945 6Loss5–1 Butch CharlesPTS6Oct 1, 1945 5Win5–0 Jimmy MasonTKO3 (6)Sep 25, 1945 4Win4–0 Oscar WilliamsPTS6Jul 9, 1945 3Win3–0 Al VictoriaKO1 (4)Jun 18, 1945 2Win2–0 Jimmy GauseKO4 (4)May 9, 1945 1Win1–0 Sal GiglioPTS4Mar 20, 1945
Titles in boxing Major world titles