Friday, December 26, 2014

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

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