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Syracuse Crunch

Crunch to Honor Boxing Hall of Famer and Canastota Native Carmen Basilio

October 21, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY (October 21, 2008) - The Syracuse Crunch announced today that they will hold a special tribute to boxing great and Canastota, NY native Carmen Basilio prior to their Saturday, October 25 game vs. Rochester.

The Crunch will honor Basilio, 81, in a pre-game ceremony by raising a championship banner to the rafters of the War Memorial at Oncenter, an arena he fought at on numerous occasions. The championship banner will feature the years he held the World Welterweight (1955-56, 1956-57) and World Middleweight (1957) Championships.

In addition to participating in the Crunch's pre-game ceremonies, Basilio will be available for autographs following the first period.

Basilio compiled a record of 56-16-7 in 79 career professional bouts with 27 of his wins coming by way of knockout. He Ranked 40th in Ring Magazine's List of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years.

Working his way up through the Welterweight Division, Basilio received a title shot and defeated Tony DeMarco by knockout in the 12th round on June 10, 1955 to become the World Welterweight Champion.

Basilio lost the title to Johnny Saxton on March 14, 1956, but re-gained it six months later when he avenged his loss to Saxton in front of his hometown crowd at the War Memorial in Syracuse.

After winning the World Welterweight Championship for the second time, Basilio deliberately moved up in weight to challenge all-time great Sugar Ray Robinson for the World Middleweight Championship. In perhaps his most famous fight, the underdog Basilio defeated Robinson in a 15-round decision in front of 38,000 people at Yankee Stadium.

Known for his grit and tenacity, the 'Upstate Onion Farmer,' as he was called, built his career around the attributes of hard work, perseverance and dedication. He is highly regarded as one of the most honorable men in boxing history, refusing to take bribes from organized crime members to throw fights. The International Boxing Hall of Fame is now located in Basilio's hometown of Canastota, NY.

Basilio's banner will join the Paul Newman Number Seven Tribute, 1972-73 Eastern Hockey League Champion Syracuse Blazers, the 2000-01 AHL Central Division Champion Syracuse Crunch, 1936-37 Calder Cup Champion Syracuse Stars, 1954-55 NBA Champion Syracuse Nationals and Crunch right wing John Badduke's fan voted most popular player as the only banners to hang from the rafters of the War Memorial at Oncenter.

The Crunch continue their 15th AHL season on Friday, October 24 for a home match-up against Binghamton and Saturday, October 25, as they take on Rochester at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Tickets for all Crunch home games are available by calling the Crunch Box Office, (315) 473-4444, or by visiting the Crunch office in the War Memorial at Oncenter in downtown Syracuse.

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