Tony Alongi 'Florida Superstar'

Tony Alongi, the most exciting fighter and #1 box-office draw in
Miami Beach in the early 1960's.

A Rocky Marciano protoge', whom Rocky proclaimed would be the
World Heavyweight Champion by the end of 1963.

One of the few Heavyweights, to carry a long-running undefeated record,
and who was well on his way to a World Title shot.

A fan favorite at the Auditorium in Miami Beach.

By the end of 1961, the 22 year-old - 6' 4" 198 lb. Heavyweight was the
'most exciting' young heavyweight out there.

The boxing pundits called Tony, 'an elongated beanpole', with a lightning bolt left-jab.

Undefeated at 28-0-0 (16 KO's), Tony graced the cover of several boxing
magazines, and was high-lighted in all of the Florida newspaper sports sections.

Fresh off a November 1961 victory over #8 Heavyweight - 'Idaho Gladiator'
George Logan, Tony 'Florida Superstar' Alongi was ranked #6 with a bullet.

Tony was listed as the next 'most likely' opponent for Floyd Patterson, after
he disposed of the 'brute and bully' Sonny Liston.

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Saturday Night - November 11, 1961

#7 Heavyweight - Tony Alongi 27-0-0 (16 KO's) faced #8 Heavyweight - George Logan 21-5-1 (13 KO's)
in a 'Televised' 10-Round Heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden.

The 22 year-old 6' 4" 'beanpole', pounded the 'Idaho Gladiator' with ripping left hands, and hard right-hands
to the body, enroute to a one-sided 10-Round Decision.

The 25 year-old George Logan, a hard-punching 6' 1" 205 lb. 'Mountain West' brawler, was unable to get his
powerful right-hand going, and was bothered by the long jabs of the Florida-based Alongi. Each time the
Idaho Heavyweight got close to his opponent, he was met with hard body punches that had him whincing
in the later rounds.

Scorecards { 8-2-0 / 9-1-0 / 6-3-1 }

The undefeated Tony Alongi, now looks for another one of the Top 10 Heavyweights.

 

Anyone group in particular.

* The Detroit Gang
* The 'West Coast Bangers'
* The New York Italian boys
* The Chicago 'mob connected'

 

February 7, 1962

'Big Upset in Miami Beach'

Some controversy developed last night, as the undefeated 'Florida Superstar'
Tony Alongi was 'stopped' by TKO 10 to unheralded Argentinian Light-Heavyweight
Champion - Rodolfo Diaz.

In Round 10, Referee - Dave Felds halted the bout at 2:34 of the '10th-Round', when
he determined that the Tony Alongi was unable to continue, after his left eye was
closed shut, and letting the bout continue may have further injured the now
defeated Heavyweight.

Tony Alongi the 22 year-old Hollywood, Florida Heavyweight had entered the ring
undefeated at 28-0-0 (16 KO's) and ranked as the #6 Heavyweight.

The 6' 4" 198 lb. boxer, built up a solid lead over his shorter opponent, by scoring
with solid left jabs over the first '5-Rounds'. But in Round 6, the 5' 10" Diaz was able to
land a hard right-hand and left hook on Alongi's left eye, causing it to immediately
swell. Follow up hard left jabs, turned the eye to a large lump.

Later, early in Round 7, Diaz accidentaly head-butted the 6" taller Alongi, causing
the left eye to swell shut. Alongi, who was having hard time seeing, and was limited to
inaccurate left jabs as he could not see his crouching opponent.

In Rounds 8 and 9, Rodolfo Diaz was able to land sharp left jabs on the damaged eye of
the undefeated Alongi, as well as backing him up with hard right hooks to the
'rail-thin' #6-ranked Heavyweights body.

In the 10th Round, Alongi was unable to see, and continued to back-up as Diaz ripped
several hard body punches. Alongi attempted to punch back, but he could not land anything
and was missing badly. Suddently, Rodolfo landed '4' good hard left jabs, to Alongi's left eye,
when the Referee - Dave Felds jumped in and stopped the bout with only '26-seconds' left
in the final round.

All hell broke lose, as Tony Alongi complained at the quick stoppage, and argued that
he was not hurt and could continue. Alongi was well ahead on the scorecards, and would
have won a Decision.

The 25 year-old - Rodolfo Diaz, at 5' 10" and 186 lbs., jumped up in the air, as his handlers
came rushing into the ring. Diaz a heavy-underdog as the Argentinian Light-Heavyweight Champion
improves to 20-5-1 (12 KO's). He had lost his '3' previous bouts to American Light-Heavyweights.

Rodolfo Diaz, 'He said it was a head-butt, but my left jabs found his left eye all night.
The Referee did the right thing, he couldn't see my punches and I could have hurt him.'

Charley Goodman, Alongi's Manager, 'Completely ridiculous. Tony was so far ahead on the
scorecards, there was no way he could lose. The guy head-butted him the 7th Round, and
the Referee missed it. He lets it go until there are 26-Seconds left, and then says he was
worried Tony could get hurt. Completely ridiculous.'

Tony Alongi, 'I was in complete control and won every round until he head-butted me. Still,
I was so far ahead in points, and he never hurt me. I couldn't see for 3-Rounds, then the
Referee stops it with 26-Seconds left. Sure, he's worried about my health.'

 

Christa,,,,,,,

New Jersey Newspaper Archives,,,,,,,,,,,

Friday Night - October 19, 1962

Tony Alongi, the 23 year-old Hollywood, Florida 'heavyweight prospect' returned to the ring
last night after being out for 8-months recupperating from an eye injury. But
Tony was not in Florida for his return.

The location, 'Gladiator's Arena', a converted movie theatre in Totowa, New Jersey -
with an attendance amount of 1100 spectators.

The 'tall' 201 lb. Heavyweight, pounded Philadelphia Heavyweight 195 lb. -
Joey 'Football Star' DeGrazio into a TKO stoppage at 2:15 of Round 5.

Referee, Gus Lesnevich - called a halt to the matters after DeGrazio was not
defending himself properly.

Tony, now improves to 29-1-0 after registering his 17th Knockout win.

DeGrazio, now 16-3-0, a popular local fighter, was predicting an upset before the
bout, but after some brief success, Joey fell under the constant pressure from Alongi's
left jab to the face, and hard right hands to the body.

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Friday Night TV Fight

January 12, 1963

Sunnyside Garden Arena - Queens, New York

Billy 'The Barber' Daniels (New York) 17-1- 0 {8 KO's)
vs.
Tony Alongi (Hollywood, Florida) 29-1-0 {17 KO's}

Approximately 2000 boxing fans will turn out for tonights bout
at Sunnyside Garden Arena, a small boxing club owned by
Madison Square Garden.

Billy Daniels, a 25 year-old, 186 lb. - 6' 4" tall and lanky boxer,
with a good clubbing overhand right. Daniels, ranked as the
#6 Heavyweight, is a 2-1 betting-favorite.

23 year-old - Tony Alongi, also at 6' 4" tall is a 195 lb. 'bean-pole'. Alongi, is ranked
as the #15 Heavyweight, and has one of the better left hand jabs
of the Heavyweights

The winner of this bout, has been promised a bout with #3 Heavyweight,
Cleveland Williams for March 1963.

In his most recent bout, in November 1962, Daniels stopped (TKO 10)
Top 10 Heavyweight contender Mike DeJohn.

Also, Billy Daniels fought Cassius Clay 'tooth-and-nail' in May 1962, only to
lose by a TKO 7 as a result of a cut eye.

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Friday Night - January 12, 1963

Sunnyside Garden Arena (45th Street and Queens Boulevard)

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The Fight

Tony Alongi, the 2-1 Underdog, was the aggressor early, and hammered away with
stiff left jabs, and whipping right hands underneath.

Billy Daniels, with his thin-rail frame, was bothered by the right hands to the body,
and fought backing away, instead of his usual forward moving style.

In a battle of left jabs, Tony was getting off first, and snapped some good hard
lefts into Billy's nose, drawing blood. By the end of Round 3, Alongo was in complete
control and had Daniels completely on the defensive.

In Round 4, Alongi started to throw straight right-hands, as Daniels would wait
to counter with his right hand, but he missed more than he landed. Alongi bounced
a few good left-rights to Billy's face, causing a bruise under the left eye.

After 4 Rounds, the Tony was ahead 3-0-1 in Rounds.

Round 5, Tony came out with his hands held a bit low, leaving an opening for Daniels.
After several exchanges of hard left jabs, Alongi backed up and was slightly off-balance,
when suddenly Daniels 'uncorked' a clubbing overhand right that caught Tony on the
left side of the head and neck, dropping him at the 1:22 Mark.

Referee Arthur Mercante started to 'count', as Tony complained that he was off-balance
and the punch did not knock him down. Mercante disregarded Tony's plea, and
administered an '8-Count'.

Daniels, sensing Tony was 'stunned' atacked with a fast '6-punch barrage', driving him
backwards. Both fighters got into a 'heavy exchange', then Daniels dropped another
overhand right to Tony's chin, this time landing more solidly, and dropping Tony in a
heap at the 2:08 Mark.

Tony struggled up at the '7-Count', and was in bad shape. From there, Daniels went on
an all-out attack, catching Tony with another right, forcing him to back off. Daniels
then barrelled into Tony, and landed a good left-right to the chin, where a 'dazed' Alongi
tried to grab ahold of Billy to stop falling. But, Daniels spun him off and threw him to the
canvas where Referee Arthur Mercante called a halt to the bout at 2:50 of Round 5.

After the stoppage, Tony complained that he was thrown to the canvas 'twice', and he
should have been allowed to continue. Tony Alongi stated, 'I was far ahead in this bout,
and Billy clearly shoved me down the last time. I was not knocked down.'

Arthur Mercante, 'Tony was hurt, and '3-knockdowns' prove it. I couldn't let it go on.'

Billy Daniels, 'I just waited for the opening. He had a better jab than me, but I was setting
him up for the right hand. He was hurt, and the Referee did the correct thing.'

 

Christa,,,

Tony Alongi was supposed to fight Joe Frazier on Thurday Night - June 23, 1966.

At 'The Olympic Auditorium', but Tony pulled out because he did not have enough
time to prepare.