Roadside Attraction: Boxing Champion Tony DeMarco - Boston, MA

Boxing Champion

 Tony DeMarco

Boston, MA

N 42° 21.751 W 071° 03.333

Short Description: 

A statue of welterweight boxing champion Tony DeMarco is located at the corner of Hanover and Cross Street in the north End of Boston.

Long Description:

A 6' high bronze statue of legendary boxer Tony DeMarco was unveiled on October 20, 2012 at the entrance to the North End neighborhood in Boston where DeMarco grew up. DeMarco is standing on a 2.5' high by 6' square and tapered polished black granite base. DeMarco depicted in boxing trunks and footwear. He is in a boxing stance with his right foot forward while leading with his left hand. The statue was created by Harry Weber.

There are two bronze plaques attached to the base of the statue. The west side plaque is inscribed:

"THE FLAME AND THE FURY OF FLEET STREET"

TONY DEMARCO

* UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD *

* KO'D JOHNNY SAXON APRIL 1, 1955 BOSTON GARDEN *

* BORN ON FLEET STREET IN BOSTON'S NORTH END *

* FOUGHT 8 WORLD CHAMPIONS *

* DEMARCO VS . BASILIO CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS

VOTED TWO OF THE TEN GREATEST FIGHTS OF ALL TIME *

~

MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF

THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

* BILL SPADAFORA, PRESIDENT * DONATO FRATTAROLI * CHRIS ZIZZA

* VICTOR CORDA * RICH CAPPIELLO 

~

STATUE GIFT OF BY THE PRIVITERA FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The south side plaque is inscribed:

GIFT OF

PRIVITERA FAMILY

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

PRESIDENT PHILIP J. PRIVITERA

CHAIRMAN FRANCIS D. PRIVITERA

TRUSTEE JEANINE PRIVITERA TRUSTEE FRANCIS D. PRIVITERA JR.

***

THIS STATUE OF

TONY DEMARCO

WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD 1955

IS A GIFT TO 

THE NATIONAL ITALIAN-AMERICAN

SPORTS HALL OF FAME

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

JENNIE "JEAN" PRIVITERA

APRIL 5, 1936 - AUGUST 11, 2009

DEDICATED

OCTOBER 20, 2012

A third plaque contains a list of sponsors.

Tony DeMarco (née Leonardo Liotta) was born on January 14, 1932 to Sicilian immigrants, Vincent and Giacomina Liotta, in the North End neighborhood of Boston.

Wikipedia provides the following details of his life and career. Wikipedia Link

Underage Leonardo Liotta used Tony DeMarco's birth certificate so he could complete in is first fight at age 16 on October 21, 1948. He knocked out is opponent, Mestor Jones, in one round. He went on to compile a record of:

71 fights

58 wins

38 wins by KO

12 losses

1 draw