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12/10/2008 Entry: "Upon the passing of a warrior gentleman..."
Upon the passing of a warrior gentleman...
Francesco "Kid" Fratalia: Welterweight of Italy and Boston MA
1926 to 2008
By Stephen Fratalia
Born in 1926 in his beloved hometown of Citivavecchia, Italy (a place he has since returned to some 61 times) “Kid”, as he was aptly nick named by his dear friend, Rocky Marciano, Fratalia began his amateur career in 1939 at the tender age of 13. He would go on to fight for 15 years, a journey that would include the horror and personal tragedy of World War II and the joy and agony of a boxing career that included 112 fights and spanned 3 decades and 2 continents.
As an amateur welterweight, Fratalia amassed an impressive 81 fights during a 10 year period, which would see him become the regional state champion of Lazio, Italy for three consecutive years (1946 to 1948) and being named to represent his country in the Olympics; an invitation he was unfortunately forced to decline due to an emergency appendectomy he had to undergo. In getting to this point in his career, he had won the Italian bronze medal in a regional “fight off” that would involve numerous later Italian champions, many he would defeat as both an amateur and a professional. Managed by the immortal Carlo Saraudi, the resident Italian boxing “guru” of his time, “Kid” Fratalia would become one of Sarudi’s many boxing disciples who would go on to achieve both national and international championship notoriety and fame.
In 1948, Fratalia turned professional and in the span of one short and very successful year, he would convince his mentor Saraudi that a trip to America to compete with the world’s best was in his immediate interest. Fratalia’s career would land him in Brockton, MA in 1949 where he lived with his father’s brother Antonio Fratalia and met up with the likes of well-known boxing people such as Allie Colombo, Rocky Marciano, Al Clemente, Frank Valenti and Russ Murray. “Kid” Fratalia would meet the love of his life, Gloria Vena of Roxbury, MA, in 1949 and within 55 days of this chance encounter married, settled in Charlestown (MA) and eventually had six children.
Throughout 1949, his American boxing experience would take him to Manny Almeda Auditorium in Providence, RI where he would fight 2 under cards to Rocky Marciano’s main events. The young Marciano defeated both Joe Dominic and Phil Muscato respectively in that year and Fratalia beat Charlie Holmes (Wu8) and then KO another very good fighter, Joe Trippi in the 3rd round. At another point later in his career, Fratalia would also fight as an under card to a Joe Louis main event, in that same Rhode Island auditorium.
As many older former boxers and followers of the sport know, all too well perhaps, the money in those days was not there. You fought for personal pride, love of the sport and whatever money you were lucky to make. Fratalia’s professional career returned back to Europe in 1951 when he would fight Gustav “Bubbie” Schultz in Berlin, Germany. Schultz at the time was the undefeated European middleweight champion. Fratalia would lose a fiercely contested split decision that included a "long and loud rancorous string of booing from the hometown German crowd at the time of decision." to quote a renowned boxing magazine of the day, the Germans felt that "the Italian had won the fight and in an unusual show of German objectivity they voiced their disapproval." It was a loss for Fratalia but a real confidence-builder just the same.
Three weeks later a trip to Sardinia Island and a sellout crowd witnessed a Fratalia uppercut KO of the Island Champion. A champion whose KO fall literally broke the ropes of the ring and the ensuing endless 5 minutes of nervous and silent wait that followed to literally see if the man would ever wake up. Onto the cities of Rome, Milan, La Spezia, Bari, and back to Civitavecchia. The names of Mario Minatelli, Gino Campagna, Luigi Coluzzi and Luigi Male, who held the legendary Duilio Loi to a draw, to name a few.
Many of them went on to become Italian champions: Coluzzi took his talents to Australia after a Fratalia beating and went on to become the Australian middleweight champion. A return trip by "Kid" Fratalia to American soil in 1952 would include fights with Billy Andy (2), Eddie Andrews (2), Bobby King, Johnnie Walker, Joe Trippi and Charlie Holmes, to name a few. Fratalia plied his trade in venues such as the New Garden Gym, the Boston Arena, The Boston Garden, The Mechanics Building and the Manny Almeda Auditorium and he honed his craft by sparring with contemporaries such as “Kid” Gavalan, “Irish” Bob Murphy, Johnnie O’Brien and “the Champ” himself, Rocky Marciano.
Rocky had personally requested via postcard that his friend "Kid" Fratalia come to upstate New York to train with him for the Ezzard Charles and Roland LaStarza fights and especially to bring with him his classic (now middleweight) European boxing style and blazing foot and hand speed. Fratalia seemed never more content than being in the company of Paul Pender, Tony DeMarco, and Johnnie Buckley and the many other greats of this era, this was just another day in the life of “Kid” Fratalia, a fearless man in a foreign land, far far away from home. Fratalia’s and his newfound land of opportunity, “America” were quickly developing a swift and lasting affection for one another.
When all was said and done, Fratalia had 112 fights in total, 81 amateur and 31 professional. He enjoyed 92 wins and endured 14 losses, along with 6 draws. In all 112 fights one thing is for certain: Fratalia emptied his bucket in every one of his fights, there was nothing left when the final bell would ring. A mark of a true warrior… win, lose or draw. it was about effort and valor in the face of a challenge…. In October of 2008, "Kid" Fratalia was enshrined into the Massachusetts Ring 4 Boxing Hall of Fame, a tribute he and his family were proud of and he cherished this acknowledgement to the very end.
The real winners in all of this history and lore were his family and friends both home and abroad who were so very proud of him. Hard work, fearless determination, respect for others and unfettered devotion to family was what mattered most to him. Francesco "Kid" Fratalia was truly a man to be reckoned with, a man to emulate, a man to respect, a man to fear, a father and husband to love. a true friend to count on in time of need and a man of character and uncommon kindness. His gifts of family value and his tireless work ethic, truly define him as a man and will be his lasting legacy. Like the so many others of this unique and "greatest generation" their collective departure seemingly weakens our nations fundamental core. However their lives and their legacies also serve as a model of hope and inspiration to others.
"Kid" Fratalia and the others of this time and era, may you rest in the eternal peace and light of our almighty. Thank you for making this world a more interesting and better place.
Francesco "Kid" Fratalia died a sudden and painless death on yesterday, December 9th 2008. at his home in Wareham, MA. He and his kind spirit will not be soon forgotten.
Replies: 1 Comment made on this article
Well done cousin!
RIP Uncle Frank,
Your loving, admiring nephew,
John Vena
Posted by John Vena @ 12/10/2008 02:17 PM EST
