I'm from upstate ny and Carmen Basilio is huge all around my area. The boxing hall of fame in canastota (also happens to be Basilio's home town) is like 100 miles from my house. I've met Carmen a few times. Once when i was younger I shook his hand at a charity boxing event. The time I really met him though was when I was in the gym shadowboxing in the ring, it was a slow day not a lot of people in the gym at all. Then I see an elderly man walk in escorted by a young strong guy. I stared at the old man and recognized him very quickly. I jumped out of the ring to meet an idol of mine and I ran over to him and said "Is this the onion farmer?!" I went to shake his hand but he slapped me twice in the face really hard haha. I was super suprised that he was so quick and make no mistake about it. he swatted me, that hurt lol. His younger friend said "Jesus carmen settle down!" or something like that and I said "you beat sugar ray robinson didn't you?!" He responded by putting up two fingers on his hand and said "I beat him twice!!" (the second fight was officially a SD loss for Carmen but a lot of people including the referee thought he won that fight) He said "he's a middleweight!" about me in kind of an exited voice. He gave me an autographed photo and left. This happened 2 years ago but its one of my fondest memories. Carmen is a really generous genuine person and still has some fight in him! Carmen had everything i love in a fighter...Heart, Power, Chin and Will.
I dunno about that guy. Every time I read some story about him, every single memory includes an instance of him slapping the person he meets, or slugging them in the stomach, or setting them on fire........the guy frankly sounds like a bit of an *******.
I was fortunate enough to meet him without being slapped. The poor guy infront of me was not so lucky, Carmen faked him out with a feint to the body and smacked him in the face. Carmen is a real legend.
a great guy according 2d stories . I want 2 tell my grandchildren some day , that i was smacked in d face by Carmen Basilio himself 2 . How do i get 2 meet d guy ? Does any1 know if he can take some time off 2 smack me 2 ? Does any1 know how busy is his schedule ? Does he do it 4 free ?
He is in Canastota, New York, mostly at events up there. Always at the boxing hall of fame induction weekend, but also at other events in that area of New York. If he is in a good mood he'll smack you or someone near you. And yes, it is completely free.
Anyone see the pics sugar ray leonard posted on twitter after seeing carmen at the latest ibhof inductions?
No, but it was a bit sad to see him in a wheelchair. Although, my grandfather shook his hand and said that he still had a good grip.
Srl said that basilio told him to move or he'd kick his ass and posted a pic giving srl the middle finger.
I seen Basilio fight live against Art Aragon in Los Angeles in 1958. At the weight-in Basilio asked Art, "How are you doing Art?" Art replied "Not so good, both my girlfriend and wife are here"