To the mafia, according to the book "The Good Son". Also, the family name is Mancino, not Mancini... I dont think his grandpa's past influenced Boom Boom's career in any way or shape. hmnn...interesting...hah?
There’s for sure levels to this, and ‘connected’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘powerful forces aligned behind.’ The corner grocery in an Italian neighborhood is probably connected by blood and association with mobsters, but it doesn’t make him a mob boss. If Grandpa Mancino wielded any power, Lenny would have gotten more breaks and either been maneuvered into a title or propped up to the point that he’d have been a staple for a while. By the time Ray came along, his father was fading and I assume gramps wasn’t around anymore or wasn’t in position to influence anything. Dave Wolfe, whom afaik had no organized crime connections, was the force who guided Ray’s career. He saw a good story and a guy who could fight and sold that package to the networks. Mancini became a true box-office attraction and paid his dues. Mancini (Ray) probably never becomes a champ in the one-belt era, but he was a solid entry as a beltholder when there were two to be had. Gave Alexis Arguello a great fight and got a shot at the other belt and he was far above the Art Frias-Ernesto Espana types the WBA was pushing.
It really isn't that shocking bro, to warrant an exclamation point. Most old school Italians from New York, Jersey, Philly, Chicago, or Ohio have family members who were connected. Not necessarily meaning "made guys," but associated in some capacity.
Jersey Joe Walcott the boxing equivalent of a saint was connected, everybody is probably one way or another even if you don’t want to be.
Boxers on the small time period of their career have been known to work as muscle for gangsters on the way up, one was Barney Ross if my recollection is correct and Liston famously.
True, but 'the Sport' isn't, a sport, that is, it's a racket, it's a projection different to what may have been natural outcomes. the more I learn, gather and read about, the more I have less respect for it. JJW and Lloyd Marshall among many, many others, are, were, walking living breathing proof of that. Good Point!
In that particular era a mob controlled organization the IBC ran boxing. So yeah this is not even a speculative matter. But naturally the mob in this time wouldn't have appeared as the mob to those who were dealing with them. MMA had this same thing happen in Japan just much more recently. Sainthood requires miracles and I guess Walcotts many title shots coming off losses would be classified as miracles.
The "on the small time period of their career" is funny, just because one imagines what the world would be like without that qualifier. "Oh, so youse don't wanna pay protection? Howsabout I have my friends Joe Louis and Max Baer work youse over?"
