Carmen Basilio (1996) Remembers

Carmen Basilio, former Welterweight and Middleweight Champion of the World, recalls highlights from his career in an interview in February 1996 in Jamestown NY. the interview was conducted by WJTN's Jim Roselle and Russ Diethrick.

[@sgtwarden5020]

A great athlete and a great person. People like Carmen should never be forgotten. May he truly REST IN PEACE.

[@Ocantus]

Took all those shots, and doesn't speak slurred, knows what he's talking about. My god, this guy...

[@popolbruh8263]

he speaks better than mayweather who's taken less shots than arguably any boxer in history lol

[@beans3158]

Old comment but it’s crazy seeing him so healthy despite having like 5 fights of the year in a row

[@LMatters1]

Carmen Basilio, what a legend! Boxing fans allover the world owe this great fighter big time.

[@brianpressman8304]

I met Carmine Basilio way back in 1984, in the summer For some reason he come down to Allen st. between Rivington & Stanton st. and sat down quietly drinking, I believe it was Gin. well anyway, me and a couple of friends of mine were talking about Ray (Boom Boom) Mancini . because there was an article in the New York Post or Daily news, I don't remember which one. but anyway, me and my friends were talking about how in the article Boxing Great Champion Carmine Basilio said he liked Mancini , but that he was too prone to getting cut. Here I am, having a couple of beers on my day off from work, Talking about boxing, with my friends, and All of a sudden This man starts joining in our conversation. And I'm listening to him, And noticing how knowledgeable he is about boxing, bare in mind, I'm having a couple of beers, A little Buzzed, When it hit me Looking at his face. wholly Shit! !!! I Can't believe it. it's Camine Basilo. I couldn't believe it. The Fm Champ, and I knew it was him. Cause I loved to read Ring Magazine, and all the other boxing magazine,s when I was a kid. And, Always, Always watch boxing. And also Anyone who knows boxing, Especially the OLD time boxers, Just KNOWS Camine Basilio,s face. Man, That made my Summer, he was such a good guy, we Bs,ed about boxing for a couple of hours, then we went to The Lismar Louge, a bar that used to be on 3thd st. and First ave. Let me tell you, he could drink, I noticed he kept drinking Gin all night long. It's funny, I remember, at first, My friends didn't believe who he was, until I showed them the Newspaper article. I think he must've been around late 65-67 yrs old. but he was in Very good shape. he showed us a couple of boxing moves. You could Definitely see he could easily have STILL Hurt someone, NO DOUBT. I only recently found out Camine Basilio passed away some years ago. He Served his Country, Was a Marine Veteran, of which I Have the Greatest Respect for, and, Of Course He was a Great Welterweight and Middleweight Champion.

[@acewilliams7917]

that's a good story. I'd love to chat with boxing greats from the 40s and 50s.

[@kickboxingunderground]

Awesome story. My GF is in an antique shop right now and she sent me a picture of a signed glove by him and asked if I knew of him. So I came to KZbin to check him out! (I do personally know Pinklon Thomas, however. He used to come by my gym all the time.)

[@johnjarou2357]

thanks for sharing. great fighter. WAAAY underated!

[@colinbartlett9851]

Great story ,

[@user-ox1be6qc6n]

I met this great, tough as nails fighter As well as great man in Vegas in the early 90s. Who graciously gave me his autograph And couldn't wait to get home and tell my dad. Because he lived in this era And told me all about these great fighters. What a courageous gentleman Who stood toe to toe with the best of them.

[@llynfach]

I just learned that Basilio had died. A sad loss to the world. Never was there a fighter with greater courage than the wonderful Carmen.

[@franko1616]

I met Carmen Basillio back in 1963. He came to Kimgston, Ontario as a surprise 'guest referee' at the request of his good friend and Canadian Boxing Hall of Famer, Tommy Chesson! Tommy, was still in the army {1st Canadian Guards} and was the coach of our Guards Boxing Team. We were stationed in Picton, On. I was working in the ring when Carmen came with Tommy to our gym in CFB Picton. We all stopped what we were doing and got to meet and greet this great man. Suddenly, Carmen takes off his suit coat, loosens his tie and slips under the roops and into the ring next to me and says..."Want to go a round with me, kid"? I almost fainted. In a flash, Tommy gets him a pair of gloves. And here I am face to face with Carmen Basillio, in a boxing ring. I've got to be dreaming. Needless to say, he didn't kill me. To this day, it was the greatest thrill of my life. Little did I know...there was more to come. The next day was the Army Boxing Tournament held at the Kingston Armory. and Carmen refereed my fight. Which I won by KO. The next day on the front page of the Kingston Wig newspaper was a photo of my fight. It showed my opponent on his way to the floor with the caption, "Going, Going, Gone". My right glove is just coming off his chin and Carmen has a "wow" look on his face. Then, on the inside page are two more photos. One with Carmen and I in a boxing stance, facing each other, and Hall of Famer Ted Swane in between us. The third photo was of Tommy Chesson facing off with Carmen, along with ted Swane and I hanging over their shoulders. The memory of those two days, along with those photos always puts a smile on my face. R.I.P. CHAMP! He was one great boxer and fine gentlemen.

[@mrtruth5854]

This guy has a great story - Basilio is really a great and under rated Champ - and to beat the Great Sugar Ray Robinson - what a great accomplishment. Basilio must have had great motivation, discipline and training plan.

[@normangautreau1135]

Carmen was a tough all=around Fighter, I Had the pleasure of sparring with him when he fought Tony Demarco. I met him 55 years later @ the 2012 Hall Of Fame In Canastota N.Y. 83 years & he remember Me. ""WOW" Carmen Made us small Guys Proud, Thank -Carmen"" Norman Gautreau Vancouver B.C. Canada Inducty to Canada Boxing Hall Of Fame

[@popolbruh8263]

I didn't know you could make the hall of fame with a losing record.

[@williammedve4930]

Great story Norman I met him also had pic taken 20 yrs.ago with him in LV I said the same thing as you .You can't tell he was a boxer no damage

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Please be serious

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

RIP Carmen Basilio Great Fighter

[@danguerriero3094]

The old fighters before 1960 were the toughest and the best. Today we do not have fighters that grew up tough like these guys. Braddock, Marciano, Basilio even tommy lochran.

[@jbcheema9883]

A greatfighter and a great human being!

[@Roadhouse1999]

I Was Very Lucky To Meet Carmen At A Bar Called The Pine Grove In In N.Y.,, He Was With His Hunting Buddies At A Table In The Back ,,, Word Got Out From The Bartender That I'd Like To Meet Him ,, low And Behold He Walked Up To The Bar And Jokingly Grabbed My Jersey ,,, Got His Autograph !!!! What A Great Human being !!!! I'll Never Forget It !!!

[@kevintrace5396]

One of the greats Carmen old school 1 off

[@teyoken4016]

My uncle was a good friend of carmen, what a legend

[@katis999]

unbelievable that basilio is in such a good shape at that age. he was a real punching bag . he got hit with more shots than jake lamotta in his career

[@paulfiore7083]

I'm from Carmen's hometown of Canastota, NY. My family was very close friends with his. He had such a great sense of humor. We shook hands at a family event when he was in his 70s and as I went to shake his right hand he playfully (and skillfully) hit my ribcage with a quick left. He laughed, "you're too slow!" I worked in the same onion farm fields as Carmen and I can tell you I never had a job I thought was hard after that

[@k13ubba13]

Talking to old people is so great... they always have awesome stories to tell :D

[@inbredagogo]

this guy is amazing, still alive and kicking at 83

[@sanfor43]

DESDE CHILE,SUDAMERICA.......UN RECUERDO A DON CARMEN BASILIO. GRAN BOXEADOR. QUE EN PAZ DESCANSE (RIP CARMEN)

[@RagingTiger89]

Italian/American fighters are the toughest! Basilio and La Motta were too beasts!

[@mikewhitney8615]

So was Marciano.

[@jamesking5508]

@@mikewhitney8615 GRAZIANO, LA STARZA, WILLIE PEP..CARMEN SAID WILLE WAS BEST FIGHTER POUND FOR POUND....TWO TON TONY GALENTO....TONY DEMARCO...JOEY DEJOHN. MIKE DEJOHN CHAMP JOEY MAXIM

[@marcxopoco]

Thank you brampete. This sort of video is valuable, coming straight from the fighter himself.

[@beatlejim64]

A real FIGHTER!!!

[@thomasgrizzell9730]

Carmen basilio was a legend R.I.P. they don’t do fighters like this truly great great champion anymore what a tough crack 🙏

[@GChris-ny8fp]

Them old timers, boy, they were special!

[@Shaison_]

Basilio was a great fighter. One of my favorites of the old days.

[@sismael]

RIP Champ.

[@davidbolen8982]

Man was epic. Someone please make the movie.

[@thedetnice]

R.I.P!

[@krypticzisback]

Amazing that he still had his wits at this age!

[@justdynee]

Boxing will always be corrupt and slime ballish. Basilio and guys like Sugar Ray Robinson validate and raise the sports stature and purity as a legitimate sport by putting it all on the line on fight night and spending a lifetime in the gym and on the lonely roads training and learning the sweet science.

[@aznblade]

RIP champ

[@puertecitos6888]

he was a beast

[@inbredagogo]

RIP Mr. Basilio

[@alexandredenis712]

Warrior spirit at its best!

[@pukulu]

Basilio was a great guy. You could tell by his sense of humor. He also left the fight game with his mind and health intact. His memories of those days in the early to mid 1950s were very accurate. Basilio finally met his match in Gene Fullmer who stopped him twice. Basilio was like Dick Tiger who lost quite a few fights on the way up but learned from his losses, trained well, stayed in great shape and became world class. He was a credit to the fight game. He lived to be 85 years old. boxrec.com/en/proboxer/8997

[@richardlstern9840]

Tougher than a boiled owl. Salt of the earth. RIP

[@charleswinokoor6023]

I don’t think Carmen exaggerated anything. The interviewer is slightly goofy.

[@crazysnipe626]

RIP

[@Chief2Moon]

I like hearing memories of retired boxers. Some still talk well, some are like Meldrick Taylor,who can hardly be understood, then there are guys like Floyd Mayweather Sr or James Toney too, who slur, stutter, mumble&repeat themselves .

[@GuerreroDelInfo]

this guy beat the great sugar ray robinson.

[@junjunrodriguez2010]

slit gloves trick just like ali

[@Gyro7eppeli]

Chuck Davey is actually my great uncle

[@chetholmes4068]

what ever happened to kid firpo?

[@Atomicflash500]

theres no sound

[@Rasclot222]

@FritzieZivic People have no respect for great fighters.

[@tigsouth40]

Wow,.he sounds good,not stutterrn,slurrn his words,complete sentence,.unreal,,dnt see this often from exfighters.

[@richardv.582]

Amazing how corrupt boxing was,and still is.

[@Mjolbaggar]

Na, he just bleed a lot more than Lamotta.

[@marcxopoco]

@skaha77 I thought it was PARKINSONS. LOL