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12/03/2003 Archived Entry: "A Eulogy for Alongi"
A Eulogy for Alongi
by Jim Amato
It did not receive much press but a very fine heavyweight from the 60's recently passed away. Tony Alongi who amassed 46 fights from 1959 to 1967 died at the age of 64 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Tony won nine straight fights in his maiden year of 1959. He followed that by winning twelve more in 1960. In 1961 he stepped up the quality of his opposition. Trained by the masterful Charley Goldman, Tony won seven more contests. Among his victims were Tod Herring, Jefferson Davis and George Logan. In 1962 Tony suffered his first setback being stopped in ten rounds by Rodolfo Diaz. He came back to stop Joe DeGrazio in four but in 1963 he was stopped in five by the talented Billy Daniels.
Tony bounced back defeating Prentice Snipes and Don Warner. He then met George Chuvalo. The decision was first announced as a win for Alongi but a recheck of the cards led to the verdict being changed to a draw.
Tony won two fights in 1964. One of them against tough Chip Johnson. In 1965 he defeated Levi Forte and Snipes again.
On March 4, 1966 in New York Tony fought a draw with the highly regarded Jerry Quarry. They met again on May 28th in Los Angeles and again it was judged a draw. On November 23rd Tony and Bill McMurray fought a six round technical draw as both men were cut badly. Tony had has last two professional fights in 1967 outpointing the clever Chuck Leslie and knocking out Charlie Hall in two rounds.
Alongi won 40 contests, 23 by KO. He lost only two and had four drawsMay he rest in peace.
