Mike Ballerino
| Mike Ballerino | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Rated at |
Super featherweight Junior Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Born |
April 10, 1901 Asbury Park, New Jersey |
| Died | April 4, 1965 (aged 63) Tampa, Florida |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 98 |
| Wins | 39 |
| Wins by KO | 5 |
| Losses | 36 |
| Draws | 18 |
| No contests | 5 |
Mike Ballerino (April 10, 1901 – April 4, 1965) was an American World Jr. Lightweight boxing champion who began his career in the Philippines boxing with the U. S. Army. Ballerino took the World Jr. Lightweight Championship against Steve "Kid" Sullivan on April 1, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a ten round Unanimous Decision.
The Jr. Lightweight class is now referred to as Super featherweight.
Ballerino was born to an Italian family in Asbury Park, New Jersey on April 10, 1901. At the age of seventeen he began boxing for the Army in the Philippines where he was stationed, and according to one source won the bantam championship of the Orient in a 20 round match. Many of his bouts were never documented. At the age of 18, he would become known as a skilled bantamweight in Manila. He is not remembered as a polished boxer with refined, scientific technique, but a relentless and determined fighter who thrilled audiences. He lacked a frequent record of knockouts and a strong punch, but he made up for it with enthusiasm and a relentless attack.
A few sources state he began boxing as early as 1918 with the Army, but Ballerino's first known bout in the Philippines was in January 1920 against Kid Ponzo, which he won in a third round knockout. Rising to face top-rated opponents quickly, he met future Filipino World Flyweight Champion Pancho Villa nine times between January 1920, and October 1921 losing to him in six bouts.
Leaving the Army in the Philippines in late 1921, Ballerino decided it was time to begin "boxing in earnest".
He fought his first bout in the United States at the Eagles Athletic Club in Tacoma, Washington on December 21, 1921, against Frankie Britt. Britt was a well known American featherweight and later lightweight who would contend for the Pacific Coast Title in both these weight classes. Though the bout was a six round draw, the crowd was thrilled with the pace of the fight and Ballerino's value as a future contender for the Jr. Lightweight Title was established. His primary opponent in the Philippines, Pancho Villa arrived in America to fight the following year, with the assistance of legendary manager and promoter Tex Rickard.
Ballerino was managed in his early career in Tacoma, Washington, by Eddie Tait, a former American featherweight boxer, who had briefly managed boxers and opened movie theaters in the Philippines where Ballerino had his start.
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