8X10" BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF FORMER WORLD CHAMPION CARMEN BASILIO, HAND SIGNED BY CARMEN WITH BLUE SHARPIE.

VERY NICE, LARGE, CLEAN AND BOLD SIGNATURE FROM CARMEN ON THIS 8X10 - SEE PIC.

SIGNATURE AUTHENITCATED BY PSA/DNA, WITH NUMBERED PSA/DNA AUTHENTICATION STICKER ON FRONT OF PHOTO, AND MATCHING NUMBERED PSA/DNA CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) INCLUDED.

PSA COA #F70275. CLICK ON PSA/DNA LOGO BELOW FOR PSA/DNA CERT VERIFICATION.

PHOTO PICTURED IS ACTUAL PHOTO WINNING BIDDER WILL RECEIVE. CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR CLEARER AND LARGER IMAGES.

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION AND MEMBER OF THE IBHOF - INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME.

CARMEN BASILIO - THIS TWO-division champion was one of the most popular fighters or his era. His tough, gritty style not only won him world titles, but it was the heart and desire he displayed in the ring that won him a place in the hearts of 1950s boxing fans, as well as two "Fighter of the Year" honors (1955 and 1957) from the Boxing Writers Association of America. So it's not surprising that his enduring legacy prompted his fellow townsmen of Canastota, New York, to honor him with a statue -- more than two decades after he retired -- which gave them the impetus to found the International Boxing Hall of Fame. After his Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps, this son of an onion farmer turned pro in 1948. For the first four years, most of his fights were in central or western New York. A series of three consecutive tough contests, a draw and a loss to Chuck Davey and a loss to Billy Graham, catapulted him to prominence, where he stayed for the remainder of his career. In 1953, he decisioned former lightweight king Ike Williams and later beat Graham for the New York State welterweight title. He then defended the title with draw, again against Graham. Basilio's fist world title bout, against Kid Gavilan was a grueling contest. He dropped Gavilan in the second round. The Kid barely beat the count and recovered to win a 15-round decision. Undeterred, Basilio continued his quest for a world championship. He went 9-0-2 in his next 11 bouts. In that string, he won rematches with the two opponents he drew with. His dream of winning a world title was realized on June 10, 1955. Before a hometown crowd in nearby Syracuse he went toe-to-toe in a bloody affair with welterweight champ Tony DeMarco. The champ had the best in the early going but Basilio came on strong, dropped DeMarco twice in the 10th round pressed the issue until the referee stepped in and halted the bout in the 12th. Basilio beat DeMarco in his first defense, but lost a 15-round decision to Johnny Saxton in his next fight. But he regained the title from Saxton in a rematch (KO 9) and stopped him in two rounds in the first defense of his second reign. As 1957 moved on, Basilio set his sights on the middleweight crown and its owner, Sugar Ray Robinson. That bout took place Sept. 23, at Yankee Stadium. Giving away advantages in height and reach, he sustained heavy punishment and a badly cut left eye, and won the title in one of the most action-packed bouts of the decade. But in the rematch on March 25, the following year, Robinson regained the title in an equally taxing bout. He peppered Basilio's face, which this time succumbed to Robinson's repeated jabs and right crosses. Basilio fought most of the bout with his left eye totally shut. With this dogged pursuit of victory under such conditions he garnered even more respect. After two wins, he twice unsuccessfully challenged champion Gene Fullmer, who had dethroned Robinson. He was stopped via 14th-round kayo Aug. 28, 1959 and via 12th-round kayo June 29, 1960. He won two more decisions before losing a 15-round decision to middleweight champion Paul Pender on April 22, 1961. Although he left the ring vanquished, it's only fitting that Basilio's last fight was for a world title. In 1974, Basilio's nephew, Billy Backus, became the second Canastotian to win a world title, when he wrested the welterweight belt from the legendary Jose Napoles. The gregarious Carmen, as well as fellow Hall-of-Famer, Willie Pep, is a frequent visitor to the Hall...ibhof.com

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE OTHER PSA/DNA AUTHENTICATED HAND SIGNED BOXING 8X10 PHOTOS WE CURRENTLY HAVE UP FOR AUCTION.

GREAT, AUTHENTIC, CARMEN BASILIO AND BOXING HOF COLLECTIBLE!!!!

COMBINED U.S. SHIPPING ON 8X10 PHOTOS AS FOLLOWS:
1 - 8X10 PHOTO $3.00 (FIRST CLASS MAIL)
2 - 8X10 PHOTOS $6.00 (USPS PRIORITY MAIL)
3+ 8X10 PHOTOS $8.00 (USPS PRIORITY MAIL)

		Authenticator Pre-Certified	Learn More
		Authenticator: PSA/DNA History of item: PRIVATE COLLECTION Describe how you came to possess this item: PRIVATE COLLECTION