Boxing Legend Basilio Dies
By: John Kucko
Updated: November 7, 2012
Carmen Basilio, long considered one of boxing's legends, died earlier today after a lengthy illness, he was 85. Basilio, a Canastota native, made Rochester his home after taking a job with the Genesee Brewery. He retired in 19621 with a record of 56 wins, 16 defeats. In what was considered his crowning moment, in 1956 Basilio defeated Sugar Ray Robinson to win the Middleweight championship in a 15 round classic. The following year, Basilio won the prized Hickok Belt, given to the nation's top professional athlete. His career came full circle in 1990 when Basilio was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in his native Canastota. WROC-TV Sports Director John Kucko did an in-depth, sitdown interview with Basilio in his trophy room at his home in 2010. John will share excerpts of that interview on News 8 at noon, 6 and 11, as well as Fox First at Ten.
