I wrote this piece about Tommy Ryan, short-lived boss of the Genovese crime family, who was once a manager. His claim to boxing infamy was attacking a referee in the ring and beating up a matchmaker in the dressing room. I think historical articles should be shared for debate, illumination, interpretation, etc. Visit Hannibal Boxing for the entire piece. On January 11, 1951, Castellani would face the limited but dangerous Ernie Durando in a Madison Square Garden main event that would draw fewer than eight thousand spectators. Television blowback was in full effect by then, and live broadcasts left cavernous MSG as empty as Fordlandia on most nights. The fact that Castellani had easily outpointed Durando a year earlier at the Garden hardly helped the box-office take. Through six rounds, a dull repeat performance seemed likely. A nimble Castellani once again was dancing The Bunny Hop under the lights while Durando nearly/merely plodded in place. In the seventh round, however, Durando finally struck. If there was one thing Durando could do, other than lumber after an opponent, it was punch. He landed a whipping uppercut that short-circuited Castellani completely. Knock-kneed and glassy-eyed, Castellani managed to beat the count, but he was so wobbly that Referee Ray Miller decided on mercy and called a halt to the fight. That was when the fireworks began.
