...that trend abraq mentions is apparant at the very end. He lost to Jack Rodgers in '67, he beats Jack Rodgers 5 months later. Then retires.
Hearing Joey G died saddens me. One more link to my youth gone. Tried to affect the same tousled pompadour. Thats as close as I ever got to lookin like him in the ring. For a street tough-guy where youd just expect Graziano bunker busters -- the man could box cutya ta ribbons, and had Billy Conns legs. Thought you might get a kick out of a behind-the-scenes moment: Joey G was gonna fight Walter Cartier, a tough NY middleweight, in the main-go at the old Garden. I was in the dressing room with a buddy who was fightin on the undercard. Walter was a very serious, intense guy -- strapping shoulders and chest -- trained religiously under the watchful eye of his twin brother at Stillmans Gym. Walter was an orthodox, stand-up boxer, with a solid right hand. And you could see, under his brothers encouragement, he believed he could beat Joey, and be vaulted into the title picture. He was getting his game face on. All of a sudden, the locker room door burst open. Its Giardello in an outrageously expensive camels hair coat tied at the waist -- cigar in his yap -- surrounded by an army of goombahs spilling into the room. All commotion and noise. Joey strode over to Cartier, whos mouth was open, and gavem a big slap on the back: Hi ya doing, Walter? The blood drained from Cartiers face. The TKO in the first round was a formality; Walter lost it in the dressing room.
Real good story about Joey and Cartier. I too am saddened by his loss and I too, feel he was a connection to my younger days.
r.i.p. joey. another magical name from my childhood gone.in 1960 joey came to england and lost to terry downes on points over 10 rounds,does anyone know how the fight went did terry deserve the decision? i know downes beat pender for the title a while later but the giardello win must be the best one of his career.