Joey Maxim

Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli (March 28, 1922 – June 2, 2001) was an American professional boxer. He was a World Light Heavyweight Champion. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs.

Joseph Maxim
Joey Maxim in 1952
Statistics
Real nameGiuseppe Antonio Berardinelli
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach72 1⁄2 in (184 cm)
Born(1922-03-28)March 28, 1922
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 2, 2001(2001-06-02) (aged 79)
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights115
Wins82
Wins by KO21
Losses29
Draws4
No contests0

Early life

Maxim was born and raised in Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.

Career

Early career

Maxim learned to box at a very young age. Following a successful amateur career, during which he won the Golden Gloves, he turned professional in 1940. Maxim boxed fairly regularly at exhibitions during the war years whilst serving as a military police officer at Miami Beach, Florida.

Maxim becomes world champion

It is somewhat surprising that Maxim had to wait so long for a world title shot, he was 28 and had already fought 87 times as a professional, considering his undoubted ability. His chance came on January 24, 1950, against British boxer Freddie Mills, who was making his first defense, at London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. Maxim, very much the underdog against the popular Englishman, won the fight by knockout in the 10th round. After the fight three of Mills's teeth were found embedded in Maxim's left glove, Mills never fought again.

Maxim's next major fight was on May 30, 1951, when he made a bid for Ezzard Charles's world heavyweight title. Maxim was unsuccessful, losing on points.

June 25, 1952: Joey Maxim vs. Sugar Ray Robinson

The most famous fight of Maxim's career was on June 25, 1952, when he made his second defense of his world light heavyweight crown, against Sugar Ray Robinson at Yankee Stadium. The fight had originally been scheduled for June 23, but was postponed due to torrential rain. By the time the fight took place New York City was in the midst of a record heat wave.

During the fight Robinson built up a large points lead over the champion, although Maxim began to come on later in the fight. Robinson gradually succumbed to hyperthermia and Maxim's harder punches. He collapsed to the canvas at the end of the 13th round, but managed to stagger back to his corner. However, Robinson failed to answer the bell at the start of the 14th, even though he only had to remain on his feet to win the fight and Maxim won by a technical knockout. This was the only time that Robinson was stopped in his 200 fight career.

By this time the original referee, Ruby Goldstein, had himself been forced to retire from the fight after collapsing into the ropes complaining that he could no longer continue. This meant that a substitute referee, Ray Miller, had to be called out to finish the fight. Goldstein and Robinson were not the only people who had to be stretchered from the stadium: several dozen spectators also collapsed during the fight. Between them, the two fighters lost over 20 pounds in weight during the fight.

Late career

Despite winning, the Robinson fight took a heavy toll on Maxim. He lost his world title six months later to the veteran Archie Moore. Following this loss Maxim, formerly one of the division's most active fighters, fought only 14 fights in the remaining 6 years of his career. These fights included two rematches with "The Old Mongoose" Archie Moore, both of which Maxim lost. Maxim retired in 1958 after losing six consecutive fights.

Maxim retired with a record of 82 wins (21 by KO), 29 losses, and 4 draws; in his 115 fight career, he was knocked out only once. During his career he defeated such legendary figures as Jersey Joe Walcott, Jimmy Bivins, and Floyd Patterson.

Life after boxing
"Goldilocks and the Three Bares" poster

After his retirement Maxim spent time as a stand-up comic, restaurateur, and taxi driver. He also served as a greeter at hotels and casinos located in Las Vegas.[1]

He appeared in Herschell Gordon Lewis's 1963 nudie-cutie Goldilocks and the Three Bares as himself, playing a nightclub owner. The movie was billed as the "first nudist musical." He was prominently featured on the movie poster, with the blurb:

"It's me...Joey Maxim, the former world's light heavyweight champion! I'm one of the stars! My first screen appearance."

The role did not lead to any more motion picture work, though he did appear as an extra in the 1999 film Play It to the Bone.

He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

Maxim's wife Michelina, with whom he had two daughters, died in 1977.

In February 2001, Maxim suffered a stroke. He died in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 2, 2001.[2] In addition to his daughters, he was survived by his mother, Henrietta Berardinelli, who was 97 years old (died at 101 in 2006), and six great-grandchildren.[3]

Professional boxing record
82 Wins (21 knockouts, 61 decisions), 29 Losses (1 knockout, 27 decisions, 1 DQ), 4 Draws
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 83–28–4 Ulli Ritter PTS 10 May 17, 1958 Eisstadion am Friedrichspark, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg
Loss 83–27–4 Giacomo Bozzano PTS 10 April 27, 1958 Milan, Lombardy
Loss 83–26–4 Heinz Neuhaus PTS 10 April 12, 1958 Killesbergpark, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg
Loss 83–25–4 Bobo Olson SD 10 June 18, 1957 Portland Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Loss 83–24–4 Eddie Machen UD 10 May 3, 1957 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky
Loss 83–23–4 Eddie Machen UD 10 January 25, 1957 Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
Win 83–22–4 Edgardo Romero PTS 10 September 29, 1956 Vancouver, British Columbia
Loss 82–22–4 Willie Pastrano UD 10 June 28, 1955 New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
Loss 82–21–4 Bobo Olson UD 10 April 13, 1955 Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 82–20–4 Paul Andrews UD 10 November 24, 1954 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 81–20–4 Floyd Patterson UD 8 June 7, 1954 Boxing From Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York
Loss 80–20–4 Archie Moore UD 15 January 27, 1954 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida For The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
Loss 80–19–4 Archie Moore UD 15 June 24, 1953 Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah For The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
Win 80–18–4 Danny Nardico UD 10 March 4, 1953 Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida
Loss 79–18–4 Archie Moore UD 15 December 17, 1952 Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri Lost The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
Win 79–17–4 Sugar Ray Robinson TKO 14 June 25, 1952 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
Robinson did not come out for the 14th round due to heat exhaustion
Win 78–17–4 Ted Lowry UD 10 March 6, 1952 Saint Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Loss 77–17–4 Ezzard Charles UD 12 December 12, 1951 Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 77–16–4 Irish Bob Murphy UD 15 August 22, 1951 Madison Square Garden, New York City Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
Loss 76–16–4 Ezzard Charles UD 15 May 30, 1951 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois For The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles
Win 76–15–4 Hubert Hood KO 3 January 27, 1951 Indianapolis Naval Reserve Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana
Win 75–15–4 Dave Whitlock KO 4 December 11, 1950 Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California
Win 74–15–4 Big Boy Brown UD 10 November 22, 1950 Wharton Field House, Moline, Illinois
Win 73–15–4 Bill Petersen PTS 10 October 10, 1950 Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah
Win 72–15–4 Jackie Swanson KO 3 September 25, 1950 Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia
Win 71–15–4 Bill Petersen KO 6 May 12, 1950 Memphis, Tennessee
Win 70–15–4 Joe Dawson KO 2 April 19, 1950 Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
Win 69–15–4 Freddie Mills KO 10 January 24, 1950 Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London Won The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
Win 68–15–4 Bill Petersen PTS 10 December 9, 1949 Grand Rapids, Michigan
Win 67–15–4 Pat McCafferty TKO 4 November 30, 1949 Wichita, Kansas
Win 66–15–4 Joe Kahut TKO 5 October 25, 1949 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio
Win 65–15–4 Gus Lesnevich UD 15 May 23, 1949 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio Won NBA American Light Heavyweight Title
Loss 64–15–4 Ezzard Charles MD 15 February 28, 1949 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio
Win 64–14–4 Jimmy Bivins SD 10 December 7, 1948 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 63–14–4 Bob Satterfield UD 10 November 12, 1948 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss 62–14–4 Joe Kahut SD 15 October 19, 1948 Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Win 62–13–4 Bill Petersen UD 10 September 28, 1948 Auditorium, Portland, Oregon Won Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title
Win 61–13–4 Bill Petersen UD 10 June 29, 1948 Seattle Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington
Win 60–13–4 Joe Kahut UD 10 June 22, 1948 Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Draw 59–13–4 Pat Valentino PTS 10 June 7, 1948 San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Win 59–13–3 Roy Hawkins PTS 10 May 27, 1948 Tacoma Ice Palace, Tacoma, Washington
Win 58–13–3 Francisco de la Cruz PTS 10 May 7, 1948 El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Win 57–13–3 Whitey Berlier PTS 10 April 27, 1948 Houston, Texas
Draw 56–13–3 Pat Valentino PTS 10 March 22, 1948 San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Win 56–13–2 Tony Bosnich UD 10 February 13, 1948 San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Win 55–13–2 Robert Lee Sikes, Jr. PTS 10 February 2, 1948 Barton Coliseum, Little Rock, Arkansas
Win 54–13–2 Olle Tandberg SD 10 January 9, 1948 Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 53–13–2 Billy "Chicken" Thompson UD 10 December 8, 1947 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 52–13–2 Bob Foxworth SD 10 November 12, 1947 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 51–13–2 John Thomas PTS 10 September 17, 1947 Cleveland, Ohio
Win 50–13–2 Clarence Jones KO 5 September 8, 1947 Wheeling Island Stadium, Wheeling, West Virginia
Loss 49–13–2 Jersey Joe Walcott SD 10 June 23, 1947 Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California
Win 49–12–2 Charley Roth KO 4 May 12, 1947 Louisville, Kentucky
Win 48–12–2 Marty Clark TKO 7 January 28, 1947 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Loss 47–12–2 Jersey Joe Walcott MD 10 January 6, 1947 Philadelphia Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Win 47–11–2 Jack Marshall PTS 10 December 17, 1946 Houston, Texas
Win 46–11–2 Dolph Quijano PTS 10 December 12, 1946 El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Win 45–11–2 Jimmy Webb TKO 6 December 3, 1946 Houston, Texas
Draw 44–11–2 Jimmy Richie PTS 10 November 12, 1946 Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri
Win 44–11–1 Bearcat Jones KO 5 October 16, 1946 Rollercade, Toledo, Ohio
Win 43–11–1 Clarence Jones PTS 10 October 10, 1946 Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio
Win 42–11–1 Jersey Joe Walcott PTS 10 August 28, 1946 Public Service Ball Park, Camden, New Jersey
Win 41–11–1 Henry Cooper PTS 10 August 14, 1946 Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois
Win 40–11–1 Phil Muscato UD 10 August 2, 1946 Red Wing Stadium, Rochester, New York
Win 39–11–1 Phil Muscato SD 12 May 14, 1946 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Draw 38–11–1 Charley Eagle PTS 10 May 7, 1946 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Loss 38–11 Phil Muscato UD 10 April 9, 1946 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Win 38–10 Buddy Walker UD 10 April 1, 1946 Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland
Win 37–10 Ralph DeJohn TKO 1 March 27, 1946 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York DeJohn broke his arm during the fight.
Loss 36–10 John Thomas PTS 10 March 11, 1946 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City
Win 36–9 Panther Williams UD 10 March 4, 1946 Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan
Win 35–9 Cleo Everett UD 10 November 26, 1945 Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan
Win 34–9 Clarence Brown UD 10 April 16, 1945 Arcadia Gardens, Detroit, Michigan
Win 33–9 Johnny Flanagan PTS 8 February 2, 1945 Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois
Loss 32–9 John Kowalczyk SD 10 December 19, 1944 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Loss 32–8 Lloyd Marshall UD 10 July 27, 1944 Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 31–8 Frank Androff PTS 8 June 26, 1944 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 30–8 Bob Garner PTS 10 May 29, 1944 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 29–8 Buddy Walker UD 10 April 28, 1944 Detroit, Michigan
Win 28–8 George Parks PTS 10 January 31, 1944 Turner's Arena, Washington, District of Columbia
Win 27–8 Claudio Villar TKO 6 December 1, 1943 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 26–8 Buddy Scott PTS 10 October 29, 1943 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 25–8 Nate Bolden PTS 10 August 9, 1943 Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Win 24–8 Al Jordan PTS 10 April 26, 1943 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 23–8 Curtis Sheppard UD 10 March 31, 1943 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Loss 22–8 Curtis Sheppard KO 1 March 10, 1943 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 22–7 Clarence Brown PTS 10 February 15, 1943 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 21–7 Clarence Brown PTS 8 January 18, 1943 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Loss 20–7 Ezzard Charles UD 10 December 1, 1942 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Loss 20–6 Ezzard Charles UD 10 October 27, 1942 Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Win 20–5 Larry Lane PTS 10 October 13, 1942 Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio
Win 19–5 Hubert Hood UD 10 October 5, 1942 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 18–5 Shelton Bell PTS 10 September 22, 1942 Hickey Park, Millvale, Pennsylvania
Win 17–5 Jack Marshall KO 9 August 27, 1942 Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois
Loss 16–5 Altus Allen MD 10 August 10, 1942 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 16–4 Curtis Sheppard PTS 10 July 27, 1942 Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Win 15–4 Lou Brooks SD 10 July 10, 1942 Wilmington Park, Wilmington, Delaware
Loss 14–4 Jimmy Bivins SD 10 June 23, 1942 Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 14–3 Charley Roth KO 4 June 1, 1942 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Loss 13–3 Charley Roth DQ 2 May 11, 1942 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois Maxim disqualified for hitting Roth while he was down.
Win 13–2 Frank Greene KO 2 April 20, 1942 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 12–2 Lou Brooks SD 10 March 23, 1942 Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland
Win 11–2 Herbie Katz KO 6 March 11, 1942 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Loss 10–2 Booker Beckwith UD 10 January 16, 1942 Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois
Win 10–1 Red Burman PTS 10 December 1, 1941 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 9–1 Oliver Shanks KO 5 October 27, 1941 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 8–1 Bill Petersen UD 10 October 6, 1941 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 7–1 Nate Bolden UD 10 September 15, 1941 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 6–1 Lee Oma PTS 8 August 11, 1941 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 5–1 Johnny Trotter PTS 8 July 28, 1941 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 4–1 Tony Paoli PTS 10 July 11, 1941 Sportsman's Park, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 3–1 Bobby Berry PTS 6 April 29, 1941 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Loss 2–1 Orlando Trotter SD 8 February 17, 1941 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 2–0 Frank McBride UD 8 January 27, 1941 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win 1–0 Bobby Berry PTS 4 January 13, 1941 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

See also
  • List of light heavyweight boxing champions

References
  1. "Hall of Famer Joey Maxim dies aged 79". SecondsOut. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  2. "Joey Maxim". Telegraph UK. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. "Hall of Famer Joey Maxim dies aged 79". SecondsOut. Missing or empty |url= (help)
Achievements
Preceded by
Freddie Mills		 World Light Heavyweight Champion
January 24, 1950 – December 17, 1952		 Succeeded by
Archie Moore
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