Paddy DeMarco | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Real name | Pasquale DeMarco |
Nickname(s) | The Brooklyn Billygoat |
Rated at | Lightweight |
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
Nationality | American |
Born |
Brooklyn, New York |
February 10, 1928
Died | December 13, 1997 Salt Lake City, Utah |
(aged 69)
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 104 |
Wins | 75 |
Wins by KO | 8 |
Losses | 26 |
Draws | 3 |
No contests | 0 |
Paddy DeMarco, (February 10, 1928 – December 13, 1997) was a lightweight professional boxer from Brooklyn, New York who took the Lightweight World Championship on March 5, 1954 against Black lightweight boxer Jimmy Carter. His managers included Jimmy Dixon and Cy Crespi. His trainer was Dan Florio.
DeMarco was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 10, 1928. He was raised there and considered it his hometown.
DeMarco won his first five professional fights in 1945, losing for the first time against Butch Charles in October of the same year. It was on the 10th of that month that DeMarco fought the legendary Willie Pep, whose record was an unbelievable 131-1-1 at the time. DeMarco lost the unanimous ten round decision, one of very few early setbacks.
On March 4, 1949, he defeated 1989 Boxing Hall of Famer Billy Graham in a somewhat close, rather uneventful ten round unanimous decision before 8,493 at New York's Madison Square Garden. DeMarco piled up a big lead in points in the early rounds in a match that the Associated Press scored six to four for DeMarco.
Many consider his bouts with Sandy Saddler his best. They met three times, with DeMarco impressively winning two of the three bouts. On August 27, 1951, DeMarco beat Saddler, the reigning World Featherweight Champion, in a ten round split decision at the Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Though he left the ring with his nose bleeding, DeMarco was the clear winner, firing with both hands, and pushing his opponent into the ropes. The bout saw no knockdowns.
DeMarco also beat Saddler on December 7, 1951 before 5,635, in another ten round split decision, this time at Madison Square Garden, boxing's New York cathedral. The United Press, believing he dominated gave DeMarco seven rounds with only three for Saddler. In the fifth, DeMarco clearly showed his superiority over his opponent, who was making a return to the ring after a two month suspension. The bout saw a great deal of clinching and had both participants warned more than once for using tactics more common to wrestling than boxing matches. Saddler complained bitterly after the bout, believing he was the clear winner.
In his first meeting with Saddler before 13,071 on October 28, 1949, DeMarco lost at Madison Square Garden on a ninth round TKO. Saddler lost the first three rounds on points, and then bored in and demolished his opponent. In the fourth round, Saddler made a mess of DeMarco's face, and continued to gain on points throughout the end of the eighth, when DeMarco's handlers signaled to the referee to end the bout.