What is your opinion of him as a boxer? As a person I had the luck of meeting him, through the phone, late in his life when I wrote him for an autograph and he sent me a sogned photo, a copy of his book and his phone number. He was a diamond of a person and his book, Nardo, is one of the best and most fun boxing books. His anecdote of meeting Ray Patriarca to get ranked is gold. Patriarca was not interested in boxing per-se as more than just a fan, but he considered De Marco a friend and helped him out! What is your opinion about him as a boxer?
He had obvious raw talent, not the least of which was his terrific 2-fisted power, but despite the best efforts of his trainer(s) it seems he was forever doomed to revert back to free-swinging clubfighter style during his fights, potentially costing him fights w/ Basilio & Akins when he gassed late after leading early.
That was my dad's era. He used to say DeMarco could punch, but he had a stamina problem which cost him in two fights against Basilio. From what I've seen of him, he looks like a rough and tumble free swinger, a brawler type. That's great to hear he was a nice guy with you. I always found most of those old-timers appreciate their fans.
Very tuff,two of his fists were like gunpowder wrapped stone heating up to explode sooner or later in his opponents skin.
I wish I could have gotten in contact with more of them. the International Boxing Hal of fame was really hit and miss when it came to forwarding letters to people. Thiis is something that;s well documented by fellow autograph collectors. They claim they forward all letters but they etther do or don't. In my case they forwarded my letters to Carmen basilio and willie Pep because both were workers there at the time so it was easy, they just gave them their letters by me personally when those letters arrived, and also Bob Foster and Carlos Ortiz. My letter to Emile Griffith and to Joe Brown, however, apparently ended up on their trash in! As far as de Marco, he was not in the IBHOF yet. he asked me, as a favor, to talk to the IB HOF for him which i obviously did, and eventually, thank God, he was selected before dying so he enjoyed that. I found his home address by using Star tiger.com You pay 6 dollars for that but ive found boxers, Hollywood stars and even social advocates like Elizabeth Smart that way and gotten several autographs through them thanks to Star Tiger. its worth the 6 monthly dollars! The down side to Star Tigers...well i dont want to talk about it but.....I have to mention it...Rebecca Schaeffer. if I was famous, I'd demand ST to remove my address as a means of protection. But you can find many boxers' addresses through that website!
Welterweight Champion Of The World 1955...Tony could punch like hell...He took on everybody...Jimmy Carter...Gasper Ortega...Teddy "Red Top" Davis...Chico Vejar...Don Jordan...Kid Gavilan...Johnny Saxton...Denny Moyer...Virgil Atkins...etc. KO'd Johnny Saxton to win the title in Boston in April 1955. Fought 2 of the greatest welterweight fights in history against Carmen Basilio...both in 1955...losing the title to Basilio in his first defense in Syracuse...and in the rematch at the Boston Garden in November 1955. Had his last fight in Feb.1962. 71 fights...won 58 with 33 KO's. Extremely popular champ in New England...HOF in 2019...Tony passed away in 2021 at age 89.