Fight of the week #4: Hurricane Carter double feature (Georgie Benton and Giardello)

Ahhhh:
The Pennsylvania Commission ruled that the beard had to go. Giardello said that it would cut him in the clinch, and besides, there were germs in it.

https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/15/...ter-and-retains-world-middleweight-title.html

 

Giardello vs Carter

Round 1- Carter (Carter 5-4) a slow feeling out round. Carter slowly stalking but not pressing lands a couple of nice shots. Giardello ever circling not letting Carter get set and making him track Joey. Joey lands a couple of jabs. Carter lands the cleaner punches and is the aggressor.

Round 2- Giardello (9-9) Giardello continues circling. Not sure about the ring size but looks like they may never fight on the ropes. Giardello scoresca couple of nice combos, Carter a couple solid shots. Giardello slightly ahead, and Joey closes the final 20 seconds strong to seal the round.

Carter stalking but not pressuring Joey and Joey circles looking real comfortable. If I am team Carter I telling him to get inside (not easy on Pal Joey), if I am team Joey I say keep it up this was the plan all along.

 

I felt Carter edged Benton with effective aggression and landing the better punches throughout. Benton did well boxing but didn't do quite enough to win the fight. Great fight to watch if you're looking for a boxer vs puncher.

Giardello beat Carter in my book. Carter was putting the pressure on but Giardello nullifed a lot of it and did really well at landing his own shots while blocking and slipping Carter's. I think Joey did a better job at stinging and taming the bull than the bull did at getting to the matador.

 

Round 3- Carter (Carter 14-13) close round, I felt Carter landed the cleaner punches.

Round 4- Carter (Carter 19-17) big Carter round very nice showing right out of the gate. Carter lands 2 jabs, and then bam cuts Pal Joey, and it is on. Carter more successful at tracking Joey and keeping it close. Joey lands a few combos during the round but this was Carter.

So far Carter has the lead but I feel Joey is still dictating the pace even though he lost the 4th. Carter tracks but can’t get this to the ropes. Not sure if it is ring size, Joey’s movement, or Carters uncertainty of pacing for a 15 rounder or maybe all 3 factors? Either way this is favoring Joey if the cut does not become a factor

 

Round 5- Giardello (Carter 23-22) Joey lands a nice combo to start the round. Following the pattern Carter stalks, Joey circles clockwise keeping range. Joey lands a nice 4 punch combo then a big punch. Joey lands more and better shots. Carter gets Joey to the ropes with about 10 left, scores nice inside as the round ends. Joeys round.

Round 6- Carter (Carter 28-26) Carter lands the bigger punches and gets Joey on the ropes and digs in Joey ties him up right away. Carter round.

 

Thoughts through 6
Carter is a better boxer and counter puncher than I have realized. However that’s not his strong point. And if he continues allowing Joey to circle and keep range, it is not the best strategy. His best moments come inside and against the ropes and he is not forcing the fight that way enough.

Joey’s cut- good cut man, missed his name but worked with Liston as well. Carter lands a few bombs but nothing that reopens the cut.

I will look at 7-12 tomorrow

 

Round 7- Giardello (Carter 32-31) perhaps the least action since round 1. I had it even for the first 2 minutes largely just circling and pawing jabs. I felt like Joey finished the last minute strong enough to take it. Close and slow round.

Round 8- Giardello (36-36) again not the most aesthetically pleasing round or fight. A couple of subtle things. Both guys seem to be conserving energy or Joey is wary/tentative of Carters power coming in and/or Carter is wary of Joey’s countering. Methodical and slow paced. Joey circling not allowing Carter to get set. When Carter does stalk successfully or slips Joey’s jab and gets underneath to get inside Joey ties him up and gets to reset on the break. When Joey moves in and scores inside he also ties up careful not to stay inside to long. Very tactical. When Carter misses it is on heavy wide swings that seem to frustrate him and slow him down. He can’t seem to find a rhythm even in rounds he wins.

 

9 Giardello (Giardello 41-40) Joey does a nice job keeping Carter off balance alternating between a feint and a jab, that sees Carter step back on the feint or caught by the jab when he doesn’t bite. Slow close round, but I gave Joey the nod.

Round 10 Carter (45-45) Carter does a better job of stalking and catching. Again not a lot of action but Carter lands the cleaner shots.

 

11 Giardello (Giardello 50-49)
12 Giardello (Giardello 55-53)

Mind games? Between 10-11 Joey’s corner complains about Carter’s belt being to high, the ref goes and warns Carter and co. Carter seems annoyed. Thinking about this and the bears complaint makes me wonder if Giardello was playing some mind games to frustrate and distract Carter?

Anyway Carter is landing the cleaner more impactful punches, but he is not throwing enough and connecting with few when he does.

 

Interesting!!!! Heading into 13 the announcer says Joey needs to come on these last 3 rounds as it seems he is behind on the cards....

So far only @Pat M and I have cards up. We both have Joey up and it seems a historical consensus. I hope some more cards go up. I would be interested to know if someone else sees it this way. I do think there are maybe 3 rounds I could see going the other way even though I didn’t. That could put Carter up 1...I don’t see it, just wondering if anyone else does

 

Round 13- Giardello (Giardello 60-57) Joey’s best round so far, not to be confused with exciting lol. But Joey ride but not 5-3 wide. Carter still seems to have nice snap and power on his jab, but his hooks are much slower and wider. He is not as crisp as earlier when he throws.

Round 14 Giardello (Giardello 65-61) Carter still has power and lands a few solid shots this round. But his hook has slowed noticeably and those heavy swing and misses are frustrating him and sapping energy. Some of his shots are real slow and wide almost lumbering.

Round 15- Carter (Giardello 69-65) Carter starts strong landing some heavy shots. Giardello comes on mid way through the round. I feel like Carters early work clinched the round.

Giardello 69-65

 

Judges seemed to have 3-5 even rounds on thier cards. I thought there were 3 that were feasible even though I didn’t score any this fight. I wished I could see the rd by rd cards

 

1964-12-14 : Joey Giardello 160 lbs beat Rubin Carter 158½ lbs by UD in round 15 of 15

• Location: Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Referee: Bob Polis 72-66
• Judge: Jim Mina 71-66
• Judge: Dave Beloff 70-67

• World Boxing AssociationMiddleweight Title (1st defense by Giardello)
  
• World Boxing Council Middleweight Title (1st defense by Giardello)

Notes

• Giardello was a veteran of 128 professional fights, while Carter had just 24.
• Giardello and Carter were scheduled to fight in Las Vegas on October 23, 1964, but Giardello pulled out when the promoters failed to come up with the $55,000 which had been guaranteed in the contract.
• Giardello received 60% of the gross gate and paid Carter $10,000 from his end. Giardello also earned about $5,000 more from television to several cities.
• A crowd of 7,652 produced a gross gate of $85,245.
• Carter entered the ring a 6-5 favorite after being a 7-5 underdog earlier in the day.
• The score listed above for judge Jim Mina is incorrect. His actual score was 69-64 for Giardello.
• The Associated Press scored the fight 69-68 for Giardello.
• A poll of ringside scribes showed a 15-5 edge for Giardello.
• The decision was greeted by mingled cheers and boos. One fan heaved a bottle into the ring as the fighters left. Nobody was hit.
• "I won it clear — at least 9-6," Carter said. "I had him on the hook but let him get off. He's cagey and takes a helluva punch."
• "He fought my fight and didn't press as I expected him to press," Giardello said. "He didn't fight inside and made it easy for me. That had a lot to do with it."