Joe Louis vs Tony Gallento 28.6.1939 - World Heavyweight Championship (Highlights)

Tony Galento was meant to be an easy win for Joe Louis in this 1939 title defense however Two Ton Tony proved to be more trouble than expected for the Brown Bomber. More info below...
"Two-Ton" Tony Galento was one of the most colorful characters in the history of boxing. Standing just 5'9" and weighing 230-plus pounds, Galento claimed that he trained on beer, hamburgers and spaghetti. He was a rough-and-tough brawler, but not without skill. Galento fought out of a very low crouch and would feint his way into a position to launch his devastating left hook. His left hook was so devastating that he was also nicknamed the "New Jersey Night Stick". Galento turned pro after a brief amateur career in 1928 however over the next 9 years he would only find mediocre success as any momentum he gained would be stopped by an untimely loss. Galento only had himself to blame however as he failed to take training seriously. In the first 9 years of his career Galento may not have fought the best heavyweights of the era but he had beaten some tough competitors such as one time prospect Ad Stone (45-5-1), experienced journeyman Frankie Wine (51-23-12), former World Light Heavyweight challenger Abie Bain (40-12-4), former 3 x New York State National Guard Heavyweight Champion Charley Boyette (42-14-3), undefeated Eddie Blunt (8-0-1) and fellow New Jersey native Roy Lazer (44-6-3). In 1937 Galento fought a couple of fights with future South American Heavyweight champion and World title challenger, Arturo Godoy losing both by decision. The losses to Godoy however would mark the turning point in Galento's career as he would go undefeated over the next 2 years winning every fight by KO to earn his shot at the World Heavyweight title. His wins included beating former top 10 ranked heavyweight Al Ettore, talented black boxers Leroy Haynes and Otis Thomas, USA Illinois State Heavyweight Champion Harry Thomas and former top 10 ranked light heavyweight Abe Feldman among others. Galento's record heading in against Louis was 76-23-5 with 53 wins by way of KO.
Joe Louis had won the World Heavyweight title by stopping James J. Braddock back in 1937. In his first 3 title defenses Louis had stopped former World Heavyweight Champion Max Schmeling, reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion John Henry Lewis and experienced journeyman Jack Roper all by 1st Rd KO. His record was 38-1 and had already set himself up as one of the most dominating heavyweights of all time.
Most boxing fans didn't give Galento a chance against Louis. Louis held a 5" height advantage and a 4" reach advantage and had clearly fought and beaten tougher competition than Galento had. Galento on the other hand was confident he could beat Louis and in the opening round he showed why when he landed a thunderous left hook from a low crouch which sent Louis reeling across the ring, Galento followed up with a barrage of shots in the corner on the dazed champ but Louis fought back and survived the round. In round 2 Louis fought more cautiously and flattened Galento with a perfect straight right-left hook combo that lifted Galento off his feet! But to the shock of everybody Galento got up almost right away. In the third round, with Louis mistakenly thinking the fight was nearing it's end, Galento caught the champ off guard with a short left and dropped him to the canvas. Louis got straight back to his feet and once again survived the round. In round 4 Louis didn't hold back and he battered Galento so bad he simply collapsed unable to take anymore punishment. What was meant to be an easy night turned into one of the greatest fights in Yankee Stadium history.
In his next fight Galento beat Lou Nova by TKO in round 14 however it was deemed a disgraceful fight in which Galento should have been disqualified for repeated thumbing and low blows. Galento only had 2 more fights in him before he retired, losing back to back fights against the Baer brothers, Buddy and Max in 1941. Galento came out of retirement in 1943 and knocked out light heavyweight journeyman Herbie Katz in 25 seconds, although Katz was giving away 48lbs to the more rotund Galento. Galento competed in a couple of cross promotional wrestler vs boxer fights to end his career, stopping both Fred Blassie and Jack Suzek. Although they were possibly fixed fights they are recorded as actual contests on Galento's final professional record which stands at 80-26-5.