Carmen Basilio
Onion farmer from Canastota who beat Sugar Ray Robinson for the middleweight title
Overview
Basilio won the welterweight title from Tony DeMarco in 1955 and moved up to face Sugar Ray Robinson at Yankee Stadium in 1957, taking the middleweight championship on a split decision. Robinson won it back in another split decision in 1958. His relentless pressure and toughness made him a fan favorite, and his hometown of Canastota, New York, became home to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
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